Cub Cadet 1604

clint · #1 05-11-2011, 02:32 PM

I traded into Cub Cadet 1604, I have done some searching around on the net, and here as well coming up with very little info on what people think of these. I think I found a total of two threads, I hope that's a sign of this being a superb garden tractor/mower however I fear it's the opposite not being to much of a sought after Cub Cadet. I have a few questions, I hope someone has one on here and can help me out some. What is the general thoughts on this Cub Cadet model, I read on another thread about the transmission being a lower grade box store type transmission.

The steering was all out of wack when I got it, it would steer all the way to one side, and just barley to the other, I fixed this, however the linkage adjustment is now all out of threads meaning the threads are screwed all the way into the rod on both ends as far as they will go, having several Cub Cadets around I looked and all of them are set pretty much in the middle having about 2-3 inches of thread on both ends. Any ideas on this, I looked and can find nothing bent etc, however the steering does feel rough, and the steering box I'm sure needs to be rebuilt ( I did grease it while I was at it)

I looked up the manual on line from CC website, and it's horrible, not sure if anyone can point me to a better manual, the pictures are almost blacked out like a bad scanned copy.

It needs a carb rebuild ASAP I think just about every used mower I purchase needs a carb rebuild kit ! not sure how big of a job it is on this type of carb ?

I do like the engine, I like the Kohler's also don't get me wrong, but I grew up on B&S, and I really like the twin 16 HP engine. Overall it's in good shape, it needs some tinkering someone put a kill switch on it, and the key does not cut the engine off, the lights don't work, and the left front tire has play on the spindle, and the deck needs leveled... That's not to much to fix compared to what I have worked on before... and of course the fluids need changed rear, oil.. I have went over the grease fittings. And I need to find a belt guard for the mower deck, why people take these off/leave them off I will never know !!

I want to keep this for my lawn mower use, so I'm not looking for anything heavy duty, and this beats the snot out of the new box store mowers. One other thing I will need some weight on the rear.. I have a set of wheel weights, but was thinking of putting antifreeze in the tires.. what do you think is the best route here weights, or antifreeze in the tires ?

Any tips, help, insight will be appreciated

dieseldan123 · #2 05-12-2011, 12:15 AM

The 1604 is a far step beyond what you could buy now. You have the Peerless transmission which was given a bad reputation due to it also being used in box store grass benders. However i think (and someone will correct me on this im sure) that the trans in your tractor is a much better built trans than those of today, and almost as strong as the Cast Iron and Aluminum rear ends in other Cubs.

I think its pretty close to an IH/CCC 482/582 so check out the manuals in our tech section and see if you can make better sense of it

. That will also help out with your lighting and electrcial issues so you can remove the kill switch and use the key like its supposed to.

Also in the Tech section is the repair manual to the 1604 and will have a complete write up on how to rebuild the carb, and contact our sponsors at the top of the page for a carb kit or check the Cub Cadet parts site to find the part numbers for the rebuild kit to get it back in order. You can put a post in the wanted section here for the belt guard, just make sure to mention what kind of deck you have and someone im sure can point you in the right direction to one.

Hope this helps and sorry for being long winded!

clint · #3 05-13-2011, 04:39 PM

Thanks, I must have overlooked the manual in our tech section... I will check again, I had a Ford YT16 with the peerless transmission and I just purchased it from a man who had purchased it new, he bought a new peerless transmission (I forget the price I think nearly 1,000 bucks) from ford dealer and install, the engine then had a problem and he sold it with disgust, but I have always had a soft place in my heart for Ford lawn mowers, I started off or was raised on a LT 8 and put no telling the hours on it, had to put a board under the seat pan to be able to have enough weight to not shut it off with the seat safety switch !!

I went way out above, just remembering the transmission anyway I do agree this transmission looks way different than the Ford