Thought my 1872 was done for

[diesel_nut]

I was mowing and I heard a noise coming from the engine that " wasn't good". Sounded like the head gasket blew or it threw a rod or whatever. Smoke was coming out of the exhaust and she seemed hot.
I shut it down and let her sit while I contemplated(blasphemed) what new tractor to get.
I came back, cranked her over and she barely started. The noise continued. I held my hand over the engine because it sounded like compressed air escaping.
Yup the spark plug on the left cylinder had FALLEN OUT
I put it back in and she purrs like she hasn't in quite some time.....obviously.

I can't imagine thinking of actually getting one of those new MTD "Cub Cadets". Not wanting to start a flame war but things sure have changed with the new ones and it ain't all good
Gonna nurse this old thing along as long as I can.

60" deck, power steering, hydraulic deck, large wheels, FAST gearing(I swear this thing will go 20mph), true hydrostat tranny. It ain't gonna be cheap to find a replacement for all that..........
Bought her used about 3.5 years ago for $1,500. Best $$ I have ever spent.

-living on borrowed time

 

[TractorLarry]

That's pretty weird. Chevy Vega's used to do that, except it was from blown head gaskets and water entering the cylinder, pressurizing it and blowing the plug out of the head like a torpedo Seen em' make dents in the hood!

When I brought the 1864 back to life I put in new plugs, with some anti-sieze, and torqued them to 20 ft lbs.

Hard to imagine they could work loose!

As for the speed, yeah. They do haul My book says it's actually 8mph but it feels faster.

Especially when the tires are a bit square from sitting for 6 years. It was like riding a horse at first LOL They are round again though. Didn't take long.

-Larry

I was mowing and I heard a noise coming from the engine that " wasn't good". Sounded like the head gasket blew or it threw a rod or whatever. Smoke was coming out of the exhaust and she seemed hot.
I shut it down and let her sit while I contemplated(blasphemed) what new tractor to get.
I came back, cranked her over and she barely started. The noise continued. I held my hand over the engine because it sounded like compressed air escaping.
Yup the spark plug on the left cylinder had FALLEN OUT
I put it back in and she purrs like she hasn't in quite some time.....obviously.

I can't imagine thinking of actually getting one of those new MTD "Cub Cadets". Not wanting to start a flame war but things sure have changed with the new ones and it ain't all good
Gonna nurse this old thing along as long as I can.

60" deck, power steering, hydraulic deck, large wheels, FAST gearing(I swear this thing will go 20mph), true hydrostat tranny. It ain't gonna be cheap to find a replacement for all that..........
Bought her used about 3.5 years ago for $1,500. Best $$ I have ever spent.

-living on borrowed time

 

[JTKub]

Good to hear she's good to go. Manufacturers really have slowed down the 'residential' grade machines ground speed over the years. Our big old heavy 10hp JD 110 would pop a wheelie in 4th gear it was so fast! No more road gears I guess. On the other hand, lots of my mowing can be done with the go pedal mashed to the floor on my 2544. Very slow ground speed.

Joel

 

[Fordlords]

I used to see this now and then when I worked as a motorcycle mechanic. Owners thought they were doing a good thing by changing their plugs, but sometimes on bikes where the plugs were hard to get at, especially inline fours, they didn't get one or more of the plugs seated all the way or torqued right.

By the time problems developed and it got to the shop the aluminum plug threads were usually completely destroyed by the vibrating plug. If they were lucky, a heli-coil repair kit would put it back in business, if not a new head had to be installed in really bad cases.

Most of the newer LGT engines use the washer type plugs that once properly torqued or even close will stay tight. Taper fit plugs used on a lot of the old Kohler K's and Magnums had a tendency to work loose easily if not torqued right the first time around. A basic torque wrench available at an auto parts store or Sears is a really valuable asset for one who works on their own tractor.

That is one good thing about the Cub lineup overall- they don't seem to have cheaped them out as much as other makers have done with their lines. The 2500 and 3000 lines still have the heavy frames and hydros, shaft drive and decent decks. Kohler doesn't make the Magnum cast iron engine line anymore, but at least the big Cubs are getting the Command which I think is an excellent engine, or one of the lesser-of-the-evils as far as OHV aluminum engines go.

-Fordlords-

 

[diesel_nut]

The last people to service my tractor was the dealer
OH well. Live and learn. I SWEAR they did it on purpose to get me to buy a new one. They "are just like that".
This winter the tractor gets a much-needed once-over................by me!