1862 with Failed Hydraulic System

[ColoradoGuy]

Hi, everyone –

I have an early (1990) model 1862. Recently, the hydraulic system failed completely. The hydro trans does not respond to the speed control lever. The lever moves freely between forward and reverse, but the Cub does not move. The power steering is not functional; the wheels turn, but mighty hard. The implement lift cannot be raised.

The failure was sudden, not gradual. There was no unusual noise or vibration. There is no sign of fluid leakage under the tractor, and the fluid dipstick level reads ‘full.’

I believe the common denominator is the hydraulic system.

Some other background information:
The tractor was recently in the shop of a Cub Cadet dealer because it wouldn’t start. Their diagnosis was engine wear resulting in extremely low compression. Their solution: an engine transplant. The Magnum-18 was replaced with a Briggs 23 HP Vanguard model 386447.

While the tractor was there, they also repaired a hydro fluid leak coming from the area behind the dash-panel implement lift lever. They replaced one of the metal hydraulic fluid lines that run from the lift valve to the hydraulic cylinder.

After the Cub was returned to me, I mounted my model 451 snow blower and noticed that the belt tension was tighter than I remember from previous seasons. Upon engaging the snow blower augers, there was a loud ‘screeching’ noise. I immediately shut the tractor down, then ordered and installed a new belt that is 2” longer than the original one. It appeared that the new engine was mounted so that its front PTO pulley was now about an inch further from the snow blower’s pulley than before. The longer belt seemed to solve the problem; the noise is gone and the belt tension seems about normal.

Just before the hydraulic failure, I took the Cub out of the garage and had been blowing 4-5 inches of snow for about 10 minutes. Everything worked fine. That’s when the failure occurred.

One other thing – from the time the tractor was returned by the dealer until the hydraulic failure, I drove it exactly 1.5 hours over a period of five weeks. I experienced no major problems.

The tractor is now sitting out in the driveway. Since I can’t move it and we can get more snow until about mid-May, that’s where it’ll stay for a while.

So, here are my questions:
1. Have any of you experienced this kind of failure with your Cubs?
2. If so, what was the culprit and is the repair a big deal for a non-mechanic?
3. If not, can you offer any information, advice, or guesses?

Thanks in advance for any help, and for staying awake through this!

Jon