New Member - Questions from an idiot

[spumco]

Hi, and THANK YOU all for this awesome fund of technical info. Lurking for a while, but I've now - obviously - joined the forum.

Needed a lawn mower last summer, and I refused to buy some plastic & sheet metal bit of poo. So, I've acquired my first Cub - first tractor, frankly - and have a few questions for any and all who may wish to answer.

(please be gentle. I've searched this and other forums quite a bit, so forgive me if most of these have been answered eight squillion times already)

1a. What the heck is my tractor? It's a 682, but I've found confusing/conflicting info on what year & what company made it. I thought all 682's were IH built, but my original manual includes the 1282/682/782 units. This leads me to question maybe it's a CCC/MTD thingy. Serial #2050600U738478. Model #1456782397.

1b. If it's IH-made, does this mean I can thumb my nose at the MTD tractors? If not, can I pretend it's a real tractor?

2. Has a Series II sticker on the air cleaner. Is it really a KT17 Series II with the improved oil system? Is there any way I can tell from the engine external appearance? It doesn't appear to have been replaced, based on the level of grime and corrosion. Spec #24302, Model 3KT17S.

3. If it is a Series II, anything I need to do besides usual maintenance to keep it alive?

4. High-speed miss. Under load (plowing snow or whacking the hydro lever to ramming speed from a crawl), one or the other of the cylinders cuts out and doesn't come back until I backup and slow the RPM down a bit. Takes a few seconds to clear up, then I can raise the speed again until I ram the next iceberg. Obviously, the engine bogs down when it starts missing.

This is intermittent, but it happens more often than not. Spark plugs, HT wires and wire from coil to points replaced. Carb sort of cleaned out (not overhauled). Points set using static method in Kohler KT17 manual. No obvious electrical shorts (watching engine run in the dark). Plugs look clean or slightly rich. No smoke other than a slight puff on startup. 440 hours on the clock.

Started great after I set the points, but the second time I ran it after that it was back to the old

"WAAAHHHHHsputtergurglesputtersputtergurgle...VROO M!"

Seriously irritating. The tractor and I need some help from a Cub Jedi.

5. Long-term stuff. I've done the transaxle (scrape out snot, clean, replace with HYTRAN and filter), lubed everything I could find, replaced the front kingpins, and am overhauling the mower deck this winter. Anything else I need to know to keep this thing alive for another 30 years?

6. Calcium filled tires. Mine has calcium, should I get rid of it and get some other weight material? I don't want to rot my wheels, and I'm discovering the joy of owning obsolete equipment. Finding parts can be like archeology.

I'm kidding myself about not getting the fever. I just needed a mower, and now I'm trying to figure out how to add hydraulics and a 3-pt. This going to get silly.

I feel like I've got a new mistress in a red dress.

Thanks again,
Ralph Christy

[R Bedell]

Serial #2050600U738478. Model #1456782397.

Your 682 was built by MTD. (1456782397) is not a good number. I suspect the correct model number is 145682399. Thus it would be a red 682 in the 1985 production year.

Spec #24302, Model 3KT17S.

YUP....KT-17 Series II motor.

If it is a Series II, anything I need to do besides usual maintenance to keep it alive?

NOPE

High-speed miss.

This could be electrical as well as a fuel problem. Need more information.

Long-term stuff

Just good regular maintenance.

Calcium filled tires

If this were my Cub, I would have the Calcium Chloride out of there in a New York second. I am NOT an advocate of fluid filled tires, but if you are going down that road, I would suggest a newer solution that won't rust out & rot your rims.

Lastly, welcome to our Forum..............

[Leon renaud]

Welcome to the group with lots of mechanical/welding experience I too am a Red 682 owning idiot so other than welcome I'm not much help but these are a great bunch of guys here and I'm sure all your questions will get answered.Post up where your from you may have other forum members near you.

[camarokidz28]

[spumco]

R Beddel: Thanks a ton. You're correct, I added an extra "7" in there. Seems it's newer than I was led to believe.

So...MTD. Hmm. Interesting.

This could be electrical as well as a fuel problem. Need more information.

Compression checks out. Its never died outright; only one of the cylinders cuts out. I'm assuming it's a lost spark system, so I should be able to figure out which cylinder it is by yanking a plug wire when its missing. Then swap the wires at the coil and see if it changes. Right?

On to fuel. When it's running on both cyls, it runs perfect. Plenty of power. Idles smooth. Its not acting like a fuel issue. Rich or lean condition should affect both cyls and show up on the plugs?

Doesn't make any difference warmed up or not. Not acting like a valve clearance issue based on my motorcycle repair experience. Those tend to get worse/better as things warm up and the valve stems grow.

Any other info I can post to help with troubleshooting-at-a-distance?

As to the calcium: Uh... how do I get it out? Pull the valve core and drain it?

Leon:
Thanks for the welcome. I'll adjust my profile, but I'm in NE Ohio. Hopefully there are some other Cub owners around. Especially ones who want to get rid of a snowthrower that fits this thing. And maybe give me a hydraulic system off a 782 as a "welcome to the club" gift...

Thanks again,
Ralph

[Merk]

Does the tires filled with calcium have tubes in them? I wouldn't worry too much about tires filled with calcium in them if they do have tubes in them. I have set of ags tires filled with calcium that was filled since 1972. L haven't had any problems.

A farm tire store should be able to remove the calcium if you want it out. The tubes will need to be replace after the calcium is removed.

by
I'll adjust my profile, but I'm in NE Ohio. Hopefully there are some other Cub owners around. Especially ones who want to get rid of a snowthrower that fits this thing. And maybe give me a hydraulic system off a 782 as a "welcome to the club" gift...

I'm from Northwest Ohio.

[JayBrd]

I myself will be picking up a 682 in 2 weeks....

[cubby]

welcome SPUMCO nice to have you! it was desighned by ih thats what maters not the owner of the co.at the time .. so how do you like the red .
thats what matters in the end anyway.

Plugs and wires, I'd start there.

Scott

[cubby]

also make shore there are no droken wires from the s/g to battery or you will have the same prob in future