[Joelk]

I have a 3165 Cub Cadet that has the shaft drive Hydrostatic Transmission.

It had a leak from the bottom of the rear axle housing and I removed the rear end cover to try to stop the leak. I put it back together with some silicone sealer and then drove it to my shed to park it. As I pulled it into the shed I noticed that the trans and power steering were acting up and I just got it pulled into the shed as it quit moving and lost power steering.

The rear was full of fluid and the only thing I could think of was that I must have sucked up a piece of silicone and it was blocking a passage somewhere in the system. I assumed I was going to need to tear the entire trans down.

I pulled the entire trans/rear out of it (took about 2.5 hours) and then pulled the rear axle cover off. No loose silicone, but I did find what was causing the problem. I apparently left a paper towel in the rear axle and it got sucked into the pump pickup. I felt like one of the Surgeons that left a sponge in a patient. The paper towel is intact so I don't think any if it went through the system, I think it was just starving the pump of oil.

I drove the tractor about 100 yards before it stopped moving and I probably left it running for another 30 to 60 seconds trying to figure out what was wrong.

DID I BURN ANYTHING UP IN THE PUMP/TRANS?

I don't want to tear the pump/trans apart if I don't need to, but by the same token, I don't want to spend 5 hours putting it back in and tearing it out again, if it is definately damaged.

Any way to test the pump without putting it back in the tractor?

 

[Mark / Ohio]

...Any way to test the pump without putting it back in the tractor?

Welcome to the forum Joelk! That's a good question. I'm sure the the hydro manufacture has some jig for testing off chassis. But unfortunately I for one don't have an answer for a quick way to pressure test it. Also from what I've read it is hard to tell by sight if the pump will work or not since it takes such a small particle or scratch on a part to cause problems.

On the plus side you won't need a signed consent form, anesthesiologist, and life support team to go back in for another look see.

 

[Brad]

Welcome to the forum, Joelk. I would doubt that you did any permanent damage, but I am not real knowledgeable either when it comes to hydraulics. My thought is along the lines of Marks. Probably going to have to put it on to see what the results are. Good Luck!

 

[Mark777]

Welcome, Joel!

I'm afraid I agree with the others about putting it back together for testing.

Pretty sure I don't need to suggest this, but just in case. I would, carefully, remove, inspect and replace everything during reassembly. Just so you are certain of what isn't wrong. Hydraulic pumps in general are very durable and have a fairly long user lifespan. Heat and dead-heading are the only two problems that will shorten their predicted operational life cycle. IMO, I don't think you operated the tractor long enough or under extreme load to physically damage the pump.

Good luck and let us know what you plan to do.

Mark

 

[Joelk]

Thanks for the replies.

I called the local CC Dealer and talked to Mechanic today. He said that no longer than I ran it, he thought it would probably be OK.

After work I started putting it back together and just finished getting it back together enough to start it up. No test drive (no fenders/seat or gas tank) but I started it long enough to confirm that I got power steering and forward/reverse so I think it is probably OK and I will finish reassembly tomorrow.

 

[Brad]

Good news! Glad it's all working out. I think that you'll be fine when it's finished. Let us know.

 

[Joelk]

Looks like I got Lucky (if wasting 6 hours working on it is considered lucky) and it is undamaged. I put it all the way back together this evening and took it for a short test drive. Seems to work just like before.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

Looks like I got Lucky (if wasting 6 hours working on it is considered lucky) and it is undamaged. ....

Heck, taking a transmission apart, fixing the leak, and putting to back together is a commendable accomplishment that many less mechanical minded people can only dream about.

You did good!

 

[Brad]

Congratulations! A job well done.

 

[Mark777]

Job well done!

Man, I wouldn't say you wasted 6 hours . Especially if you consider what it would cost at a commercial repair facility. And chances are pretty high they would have told you that the parts and labor for repairs exceeded the price of a new transmission.

Takes guts to tear into something you're not familiar with....and brains to put it all back together and make it work correctly.

I will be adding your name to my lengthy list of 'GO TO' guys for Cub transmission repairs. And thanks for sharing!

Mark

 

[Joelk]

I mowed with it for about 1/2 hour this evening and it seemed to work fine so I think it will be OK.

Just to clarify, I did not tear down and reassemble the trans.

I pulled the whole assembly out of the tractor and pulled the rear axle cover off, but I did not take the pump/trans apart when the concensus seemed to be that the pump probably was not hurt.