1450 Trans fluid change question

[swensond]

Hello all,

First post here so please be gentle. I’m working on my father’s 1450 that I grew up with mowing 1+ acres weekly. It had sat for probably 6-7 years collecting dust before I moved into a house with property worthy of its use. Ive done a fair bit of work to it so far but noticed a few weeks ago that it seems to be leaking trans fluid (I can see fresh fluid stains on the concrete floor of my barn every time I move it, and I know it isn’t oil). I gather that there is a main gasket on the rear that I would need to replace in order to drain old fluid and do a change.

Can anyone tell me where the easiest place to source a replacement gasket and filter would be? I already have IH hytran fluid coming my way. Also if you know of other likely leak points besides the main gasket, I would certainly appreciate any advice.

Thank you!

[GMSteve455]

Welcome to the forum. There are many gaskets on the transaxle but a common leak point is between the hydro motor and the differential. You may want to take the fender off and wash the area well, run it and then see if you can see where the fluid is leaking from. There are several places to get the gasket and filter and they sponsor this site. CC Specialties is one place to get it, your cub cadet dealer is another.

The original gasket is cork but people have been known to replace them with neoprene rubber gaskets which tend to seal a little better. I'm not sure where they can be purchased. CC Specialties has the cork gasket listed on that site under hydro parts.

Good luck.

[Billy-O]

The other most common "leaky points" are the relief valves on top of the hydro pump. These can be rebuilt.

[R Bedell]

Welcome2:First, welcome to OCC...........

The most common leak area is the Gasket between the Hydro Transmission and the Rear End.

[ol'George]

As stated, remove the fender pan and have a look see if you can see a obvious
place it is leaking, some are quite evident others are not and some "sneaky"
If it had never been serviced as in removing the fenders and cleaned,
it is prolly one big glob of dirt/debris.
You could get lucky and it is only the relief valves which screw out from the topside.
No sense removing the rear end to separate the hydro from it to fix something not broken, so to speak.

The fluid need not be drained if after one removes the rear end,the hydro is kept upright,--in other words sitting the rear end, on it's rear cover plate.
the hydro can be unbolted and lifted off, exposing the gasket.
All that said:

If the filter and rear cover have never been removed and the inside flushed/cleaned it is long past time to do so.
But first step is to find the leak, then go about fixing it.
You don't want to drain/ replace the fluid just to find out you need to catch it and refill afterwards.

The filter can be replaced with the tractor sitting normally, only loosing the pint or so in the filter.
A normal oil drain pan is handy or small basin, or a 1, or 2 1/2 gal.
oil/antifreeze container with the side cut out, does well and costs nothing.

Now if you are draining the rear end, taking the cover off will dump about 7 quarts out, right now,
so you need a larger pan, and leave the 2 bottom bolts only backed off a turn or so, and one can control the release to get it in the catch pan not on the floor.
Then pry off the cover after the rest of the bolts are removed.
Do notice the bottom bolts are a different length, too long of a bolt installed there and tightened up, can, and will do damage in the blind holes.
just to give you an idea what you going to be doing.

Now this is a "Pringles job"
What is that? like pringles you just can't quit at one.
You will be looking at the condition of the cooling fan, then maybe notice the driveshaft, and or couplers on both ends are worn and need attention or the trunion plate is worn and needs addressed/repaired.

Then you notice in front, the engine mounts are worn allowing the engine to
wobble too much or it is pounding on the frame or leaking a little oil.

Remember, it was quietly doing it's job over 40 years, and it was "dads"
Some of these things can wait for another time

Stay calm, nothing you will run into has not been addressed here before.
Welcome aboard.
We always like to hear a story of a childhood experience on Dad's garden tractor.