Hydro linkage question
 

I just picked up a 149. The engine starts and runs good, but the hydro linkage needs some help. When the brake is applied the transmission goes into reverse. It can only be started without the brae down and with the hybdro lever held in neutral. Once driving, speed is all over the place unless I hold onto the lever. Left on its own the control lever falls into the reverse postion. I had the speed control issues on my other 149 and fixed it by tightening the bolt at the bottom of the hydro control column.
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I tried this yesterday and no matter what I do, I can't tighten this linkage. There is a bushing in there, does it have to be replaced, or could the clamp or the column be worn?
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The Cub Cadet parts finder shows two different setups. Should I look for the newer parts, replace the bushing, or do something else to fix this?

This should be an image from the parts look up. (Edit: It worked!!!)

There is a plastic bushing that goes in there. I have had to replace them before. It is probably worn down to nothing. Make sure there isn't any oil or lube on it, it needs friction to work.

OK. I figured that was the problem. Is pulling that column as easy as loosening that clamp and lifting it up?

It's been a while but if I remember correctly there is a snap ring on the very bottom of the shaft you have to remove, then loosen the bolt and it should slide right out. I think I took the whole unit loose to get to the snap ring on the bottom of the shaft.

edit:
I just remembered. There are two bolts that hold the bracket to the frame, take those out and you can lift the whole unit up to get at everything easier.

Thanks. That all makes sense to me. Now to find the bushing... maybe i can make something. My local dealer doesn't have it and he'll probably charge me the shipping to get it. The part is around $7, but with shipping that will likely double. I hate to pay so much for something so small.

I think ive read somewhere that someone took the screw out and ground the gap a little wider which then allowed it to tighten up again. Have not done it yet i have to do it on my 149

Before you do anything you should pull it out and make sure the bushing is bad. If you still have some left you may want to try what ajcombs suggested, that sounds reasonable.

Unless you can make the bushing perfectly symmetrical it won't work good, it will keep getting loose. I tried it once and gave up and bought the bushing and I'm cheap:biggrin2:. Look at it this way, $7 and it's good for another 30 years. That's what I did.
I didn't go through the trouble of trying to find something else that would work, you may have some luck there.


My dealer doesn't charge for shipping unless I want it the next day. They order it with other parts and it's delivered with them at no charge.

My dealer is a jerk! They want to charge me shipping the their store. I told them flat out that I will buy from somebody else and pay for it to be shipped to house rather than use them.

I checked some of the sponsors and they have the part but they are charging $10 for shipping!!!!!!!!!! It shouldn't cost more than 1 or 2 bucks to ship this or $5 for priority shipping at the most.
I did look at cubcadet.com and they ship it for about $3.
The part # you need is 680521-R1. Go there and see what it cost to ship it to you. Probably cheaper than others.
I'm lucky, our CC dealer doesn't charge a bit for shipping if I wait until they fill an order which is once or twice a week. I've never waited more than 3 or 4 days to get a part.