Cub Cadet 1527
 

Hi All,

I have a 1527 that I have owned since it was new. I think the hydraulic drive is bad. It's been burning drive belts within minutes of me putting them on. The last one I put on, I pulled the fenders off and got to looking at the hydro. It spun just fine but seemed stiff. I don't know what a good unit would feel like so I put it back together and installed the new belt. After about 3 minutes it started smoking.

I really don't want to get rid of the tractor. It only has 400ish hours and the Kawaski motor is great. So I would like to fix it but I have other mowers and don't think it's wise to put a lot of money into this tractor.

I see other Cub Cadets that look like they are very close to my 1527, I wonder if the hydro unit can be swapped?

Does anyone have any tips?

Thanks

Have You ever changed the fluid? The Hydro-Gear In your 1527 is a serviceable transmission and Hydro-gear does sell rebuild Kit for there Transmissions
Here is the service Manual https://www.hydro-gear.com/wp-conten...N-51260_P8.pdf :ThumbsUp:

I did not know that it was serviceable and I have not added any fluid. I thought it was a sealed unit. Thanks for the link, I'll read that now.

If and when you do a service use a full synthetic oil for a longer change-over period and in my opinion works better
Hydro-gear recommend either a regular oil or synthetic
Oz

Ok, it's been a long time but I have had many projects and this one got put on the side. Today I looked at the tractor again and started it up, the smoke is coming from directly under the engine. i don't know if this means anything, but I am not convinced my problem is the transmission. Anyone have any thoughts?

You have three idler pulleys involved in that drive belt system. You haven't mentioned you have inspected them and that they spin freely.

Did this problem arise and cause you to change the original belt or did it arise after you changed the original belt. Have you double checked to see that you have the drive belt routed correctly?

If something is binding so that the belt cannot move, of course smoke will be produced from under the engine because that is where the drive pulley is and the belt is spinning in the drive pulley.

Good information, it arose after I changed my original drive belt. I haven't checked all pullies, that is something I will need to do. Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure when I'll get to it but I will reply when I do.

Ironman, you are a genius. One of my pulleys was frozen. I don't know why I didn't think to check that. I was close to writing this Cub off, but I didn't want to. I owned it since it was new, the Kawaski is trouble free, and it's my only mower that has a mulching deck. Thank you very much for your help.

Well, it was a bad pulley. I installed a new pulley and belt and the 1527 is running like a champ. Thanks to everyone for their help.