Cub Cadet Original transmission question

T.R.K. · Oct 15, 2022

I have a gear drive transmission from a later IH Cub Cadet. I also have an extra set of Original Axles. And an Original front frame.

Can I swap the later gear reduction for an Orignal gear reduction? I mean, are the gear ratios the same, regardless of which reduction
housing is on the front of the transmission?

(I'm toying with the idea of building another Original from leftover parts. And I see there are at least two Orignal gear reductions on
Ebay, but they only have the smaller, input gear in them. So I was wondering if I could use one of them with the larger gear already in my
later gear drive transmission. )

DR. EVIL · Oct 16, 2022

I should probably check my CC parts book but I don't think the reduction gears or the axles swap from an original to a later gear drive. The original brake was on one for the rear axles, the later gear drives had a disk brake on the lower transmission shaft that went back to the differential. The Original's had some reduction via the belt drive between the engine and the driveshaft, so I think the reduction gears were different because the speeds between an Original and a 70/100 and newer gear drive were almost identical.
The Original's were an odd-ball, Dad bought one in 1963, and traded it for a 70 in 1965 which has been an unbelievably great tractor, it's sitting out in my shop, I restored it about 10 years ago. I was amazed how good some of the parts were, steering was tight, clutch was almost like new.

T.R.K. · Oct 19, 2022

Thanks for replying.

Since the 'Original' gets some ratio or speed reduction from the drive belt down to the clutch, I can see why you don't think the reduction gears interchange, since all the other gear drives are direct connected from the engine to the clutch.

I found a reduction assembly with the large gear included on Ebay, so now I guess I get to see if I can make it work on a later Cub transmission case/ input shaft.

Hopefully it will work and not be an expesive 'learning experience'.

T.R.K. · Oct 23, 2022

Well, the Original gear reduction arrived. So Saturday I opened up my later transmission and started comparing the components.

The later reduction uses a much larger output gear. (We suspected that.) The 'Original' output gear fits right on the splines.

The big problem is that the transmission input shaft is at least 5/8 longer than can be accomodated by the 'Original' housing. And the support bearing on that end of the shaft is in an adapter that is bolted to the transission case rather than being pressed in the case, like I would think the 'Original' bearing was. It is also a larger bearing, so the bearing itself cannot be transferred to the case.

It looks like if I make this work, I will need to come up with the correct bearing for an 'Original' and to figure some way to shorten the shaft and cut the splines so the gear can sit closer to the front of the transmission case.

T.R.K. · Oct 23, 2022

I just wanted to add:

There are no axle seals in the later transmission case. But the bores are machined so it is a question of measuring for new seals.

The left side of the later transmission case is not machines for the 'Original' brake disk mount pin. But it should be easy to add another hole in the required spot.

DR. EVIL · Oct 23, 2022

I've replaced oil seals in several Cub Cadets, all later models, not originals. I even swapped axle carriers from a hydro, to a gear drive, all Hydros have needle roller bearings at the outer ends, the gear drives have plain bushings, my #72 had a Lot Of wear on those bushings, jack up the rearend and you could feel the axle play in those bushings, the axle carriers are a direct swap.

Cub Cadet Original transmission question

T.R.K.

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DR. EVIL

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T.R.K.

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T.R.K.

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T.R.K.

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DR. EVIL

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