Roland, don't be offended but have you ever been told you are a "Doubting Thomas" ? Two folks have already posted pics of what and where I described. A couple more seem to remember this setup. And you still will not believe unless you get photos from me? So if this doesn't look factory to you then what? I did a quick glance in my IH parts manual and one of the rear ends lists the tube and dipstick at the end of the parts list but they are not shown.
Regarding parts books being entirely accurate, don't bet on it. My dad spent 23 years selling parts and managing the shop at an IH dealer. I worked there part time 20 years ago. Practically everything we had were physical parts manuals (not computer or micro-fiche) and occasionally there were notes and corrections hand-written in the books. I imagine what was scanned to go in the online parts books was simply the best available. Considering IH was in financial trouble and preparing to sell-off Cadet, I can see them not fixing/upgrading the manuals or bothering to tell MTD.

:beatdeadhorse:

Here ya go guys, from my famous manual stash:biggrin2:, right out of the original IH 982 manual
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3b92eac9.jpg
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/...psb79d3d27.jpg

Well that possibly explains what the access hole is for on my 782
Always wondered why It was there, because it was off location to service the check/relief valves.

--thinking they used the same stamping dies for those models??

Well, I learned something today and discovered another Cub Cadet discrepancy.

The Owner's manual show the feature but the parts manual does not. Go figure....:bash2:

Roland,
Mom always said:
"When we are done learning is when they lower us into the ground"
Mom was always right, Ha,LOL!

I was just thinking the same thing? I have looked and saw no reason for that little access door in front of my seat.

Told you before we think alike, must be a Michigander thing,Ha,LOL
(or too much snow/cold)

I always thought the little door in front of the seat was for the Manual Transmission Gear Shift Lever. The seat pans are the same for Manual Transmissions as well as Hydros. :Huh:

Probably all those fumes, from having to work on our Cubs in a cold / closed garage!

That would explian it too, I hadn't thought about the manuals.

I think quite a bit was unearthed regarding this issue. You mention discrepancies in the manuals, look at the pull tab in the photo posted from a manual vs. the photos of actual parts posted. The parts show a T-handle (so you can twist the top to tighten the rubber plug) The manual shows a dipstick with a pull tab such as on an older car. Were the manuals done with some type of prototype dipstick? Did some clever engineer/designer find and borrow the expansion style dipstick from the tractor division? I guess we'll never know.

Regarding the little door you remove to access the dipstick, I too have always wondered what exactly was its purpose.

For what it's worth, dad is 83 and has been around Cadet since 1968. When I told him I was going to check the fluid on the dipstick he said he didn't think it had one. I assured him I saw one while loading the mower. When I did find how to get to it, he had a bit of bewilderment on his face not knowing about it. I'll let him know today this was on the ones with 3 pt hitch. They never sold a Cadet with 3pt and very few with the sleeve hitch.

Thanks again to everyone that dug deep into your books and took photos to help figure out what setup I have going on.