Cub 1863 - shut down??

[RickO]

I just purchased a used Cub Cadet 1863 Garden Tractor. It only had 233 hours and looked and sounded mechanically sound. I checked the oil, oil looked OK, and started it up to see how it mowed. After mowing for about 10 minutes it shutdown. After it shutdown I couldn't even get it to do anything. There was a light on that said low oil. I check the oil and it looked fine on the stick. The dip stick was very hot so I think the engine was not getting cooled. I wonder if it could be the oil pump. I hauled it the house and went ahead and changed the oil as I had planned and still no lights - nothing. Weird?

It has the 18hp Kohler Command Horizontal shaft OHV engine. It has an Oil Sentry switch on it.

Is there something I have to reset with the low pressure sentry?

Why would I have no lights at all and why would the motor have been so hot?

I have never owned a Cub but it was mowing great before it cut out. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[OhioGuy]

Hey Rick,
So none of the indicators light up when you turn on the ignition? Sounds like a blown fuse. My 1862 had a single automotive type fuse by the battery box.

I think these air cooled engines generally run hot, I've had experience with the dipstick being to hot to handle after the tractors run awhile.

Maybe the oil sentry on that model disables the ignition if it doesn't see pressure.

Hang in there, someone here with have an answer for you.

Curt

 

[RickO]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hey Rick,
So none of the indicators light up when you turn on the ignition? Sounds like a blown fuse. My 1862 had a single automotive type fuse by the battery box.

I think these air cooled engines generally run hot, I've had experience with the dipstick being to hot to handle after the tractors run awhile.

Maybe the oil sentry on that model disables the ignition if it doesn't see pressure.

Hang in there, someone here with have an answer for you.

Curt )</font>

It does act like a blown fuse. Everything is dead. No lights at all. Not even a click.

I was just surpised the engine heated up as quick as it did. I had only been mowing about 10 minutes. Maybe the oil was old enough that it had lost some of its viscosity or something.

I should have just warmed it up and then changed the oil instead of trying to mow a little. I will check fuses tonight. Thanks.

 

[mark1]

Hi Rick, I have a 1863 too.It runs HOT and has since I got it. you cannot pull the oil stick out with bare hands.my only oil light is low pressure that lights below 5 psi of oil pressure.That comes on if I idle it after hard mowing and everything is HOT.but I idle it at high idle for 2 min and then it's ok.I would guess you blew a fuse There is a fuse on the left side by the battery but I don't know if there are any more.Hummmm Guess I could go look in that manual. : /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[RickO]

Good to know that. That is strange that it runs that hot. I still haven't had a chance to check the fuse. What oil should I run in it. I don't have a manual but I put straight 40 weight in for the summer.

 

[RickO]

The verdict... it was a loose connection in the ignition switch. After an hour or so of jiggling wires and trying the key I deduced that it was a loose connection. I put some electrical contact grease on it and worked it around a bit. I need to get some contact cleaner and give it a good cleaning because it is still kind of dirty. I mowed again and it did cut out a couple times but I wiggled the wires on the switch and it started right up.

I need to disable the blade shutdown when in reverse. What a pain! It does run hot but I'll take your word that it is inherent with the 1863 and not worry. Thanks for your help folks.