Question on Cub 2135 (1996 500 hrs) Hydrostatic Transmission

[greynold99]

Hi all,
I had my 12 hp 2135 Cub out out two weeks ago trying to pull out some small Red Bud tree volunteers that had sprouted in my driveway's drainage ditch. I use them to re-plant the 30 year old Red Bud trees on a 20-30 degree inclined bank next to my driveway as drive circles up around house to prevent earth movement & slippage.

It had been a particularly wet a few days before and I thought I could get a slip-knot hitch on them and pull them out - roots and all since it had been so wet and the drainage ditch is mostly #2/#3 gravel.
Anyway, if you know Red Bud trees they have an exceptionally long primary tap-root and a lot of secondary feeder-roots; making them almost impossible to pull out without breaking the trunk stem. But, I thought this was the best time to try this given how muddy the ditch was.

That turned out to be the case and I was successful getting 3 pulled out with roots in-tact. I was not successful with several others; either the slip-knot would not catch, the trunk would break from the pulling-force or the tree being pulled was too big and wouldn't budge.

All the trees were something less than 1" diameter and on one that wouldn't budge - after I released the slip knot I noticed several spots of what I thought was transmission fluid spray on the asphalt driveway below the tractor; maybe 12-20 spots. And it only did it once more on a tree that I was able to pull-out but it was a hard-pull. Wasn't a continuous spray of droplets but just where I may have started to pull the tree.
You have to pull with a steady, increasing force and not just 'gun-it', otherwise you'll just break the tree at the slip-knot. As far as I can see, it didn't spray any more droplets on the asphalt on any of the other trees or attempts; and, it's not leaking Tranny fluid on the floor where I store it.

But I got to wondering if this means that I'm going to need to have the transmission worked on in the near future to replace the front shaft seal, minimally?
Also would this be a do-it-yourself job or would it best be done by a Cub repair shop?

I've replaced the Trans fluid & filter more than the Maintenance Schedule specs indicate but following the recommended 50 hours run-time between changes since I use the tractor for mowing in the Summer and snow plowing in the Winter.

Appreciate your feedback and advice,
greynold99

 

[mechanic mark]

772-4232 see if this shop manual helps you out.

 

[bertsmobile1]

On a mower that old you will get a $ 500 + repair quote from any Cub dealer.
They don't want old mower out there
They want to scare you into buying a new one.
It is not a difficult job. in fact pulling the drive shaft is the hardest bit.
However it is a long job, If you have never done one before, then budget for 2 weekends minimum.

If you have a digital camera ( not your phone ) set it up and use it every time you remove a part.
Thus you will have a photo record of where everything went so replacement will just be the reversal of dismantling.

Read the manual Mark has provided the link for, a couple of times.

 

[Lctracker]

Hi all,
I had my 12 hp 2135 Cub out out two weeks ago trying to pull out some small Red Bud tree volunteers that had sprouted in my driveway's drainage ditch. I use them to re-plant the 30 year old Red Bud trees on a 20-30 degree inclined bank next to my driveway as drive circles up around house to prevent earth movement & slippage.

It had been a particularly wet a few days before and I thought I could get a slip-knot hitch on them and pull them out - roots and all since it had been so wet and the drainage ditch is mostly #2/#3 gravel.
Anyway, if you know Red Bud trees they have an exceptionally long primary tap-root and a lot of secondary feeder-roots; making them almost impossible to pull out without breaking the trunk stem. But, I thought this was the best time to try this given how muddy the ditch was.

That turned out to be the case and I was successful getting 3 pulled out with roots in-tact. I was not successful with several others; either the slip-knot would not catch, the trunk would break from the pulling-force or the tree being pulled was too big and wouldn't budge.

All the trees were something less than 1" diameter and on one that wouldn't budge - after I released the slip knot I noticed several spots of what I thought was transmission fluid spray on the asphalt driveway below the tractor; maybe 12-20 spots. And it only did it once more on a tree that I was able to pull-out but it was a hard-pull. Wasn't a continuous spray of droplets but just where I may have started to pull the tree.
You have to pull with a steady, increasing force and not just 'gun-it', otherwise you'll just break the tree at the slip-knot. As far as I can see, it didn't spray any more droplets on the asphalt on any of the other trees or attempts; and, it's not leaking Tranny fluid on the floor where I store it.

But I got to wondering if this means that I'm going to need to have the transmission worked on in the near future to replace the front shaft seal, minimally?
Also would this be a do-it-yourself job or would it best be done by a Cub repair shop?

I've replaced the Trans fluid & filter more than the Maintenance Schedule specs indicate but following the recommended 50 hours run-time between changes since I use the tractor for mowing in the Summer and snow plowing in the Winter.

Appreciate your feedback and advice,
greynold99

Probably when you were pulling the hardest with you our mower, your hydrostatic was slipping. The condition is where there is high pressure fluid being forced into the housing of the transmission and the weak link was the shaft seal and it leaked when mower was pulling the hardest. If mower is pulling good and only leaking from seal, I would just replace seals, gasket, filter and fluid. Chances are that it has a HydroGear Hydrostatic. Get the model number off the transmission case tag and Google HydroGear and down load parts breakdown and service manual. You can buy parts directly from them and if you repair yourself is to remember to keep everything clean, clean and clean. Like a lab. It's not that hard to repair and you can save yourself a lot of money.