Oil & Fuel Should I Flush the Fuel System and Drain the Oil

cubby1450 · May 10, 2009

I put 10W-30 oil in my cub cadet 1450 hydrostatic mower instead of SAE-30. Will this cause the mower to stop completely and not turn over or make a sound? If so, should I flush the fuel system and drain the oil? If that's the case, what would be the best way to go about this?

As far as electrical goes, these parts have been replaced within the last few months:
battery, ignition fuse, pto fuse, pto switch, ignition switch, fuel line, fuel filter.

These parts I replaced after adding the wrong oil and it wouldn't crank at all:
spark plug, spark plug wire, ground wire from starter, bolts and washers to the battery terminals.

I tapped on the selonoid with a rubber mallet to see if it might have been stuck but still nothing. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Cubby1450

savageactor7 · May 11, 2009

I don't think the oil is the problem.

Pretty sure on that tractor there's a safety start switch that depressed when you push the brake in all the way.

Not the easiest to get to, deck has to removed, stick your head under the tractor look to toward the end of the brake pedal travel and you'll see a slender tube like depressions switch.

Good luck...that's a good machine imo and worth keeping.

moe1942 · May 11, 2009

I assume you put it in the engine. If so no problem. I have a 1250 that calls for 10W30 or 30W.

diesel_nut · May 11, 2009

1)Oil should be fine(if put in engine and not transmission).
2)Are you SURE the battery is OK?
Try jumping it from another tractor or car.

Bob_Bainbridge · May 11, 2009

cubby1450 said:
I put 10W-30 oil in my cub cadet 1450 hydrostatic mower instead of SAE-30. Will this cause the mower to stop completely and not turn over or make a sound? If so, should I flush the fuel system and drain the oil? If that's the case, what would be the best way to go about this?

As far as electrical goes, these parts have been replaced within the last few months:
battery, ignition fuse, pto fuse, pto switch, ignition switch, fuel line, fuel filter.

These parts I replaced after adding the wrong oil and it wouldn't crank at all:
spark plug, spark plug wire, ground wire from starter, bolts and washers to the battery terminals.

I tapped on the selonoid with a rubber mallet to see if it might have been stuck but still nothing. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Cubby1450

As was mentioned, there should be no problem using 10W30 oil. It sounds like you have an electrical problem. The 1450 requires a switch to be closed by depressing the brake pedal and also requires the PTO switch to be in hte off position or it won't crank. Sometimes the brake switches get a little flaky. Mine wouldn't start if I pushed too hard on the pedal and sometimes had to release it just a slight amount. The heavy battery cable goes to the starter motor. There should also be a small terminal with a wire on it. The big terminal should have 12 volts all the time and the small terminal will have 12 volts when all the conditions that I mentioned are met. You can short the big terminal to the small one temporarily to see if it cranks. If it does that will eliminate the battery and the starter as being the problem. That would leave the ignition switch, brake switch, PTO switch or wiring.

Bob B.

cubby1450 · May 12, 2009

Thanks, I'll look for the safety switch. Glad to hear that the oil shouldn't be the problem.

cubby1450

cubby1450 · May 13, 2009

savageactor7 said:
I don't think the oil is the problem.

Pretty sure on that tractor there's a safety start switch that depressed when you push the brake in all the way.

Not the easiest to get to, deck has to removed, stick your head under the tractor look to toward the end of the brake pedal travel and you'll see a slender tube like depressions switch.

Good luck...that's a good machine imo and worth keeping.

You were right. It was the depression lever on the brake. After I took the deck out, I found the lever in two pieces. There was what appears to be a pin through the bar that holds the lever. The lever broke right where the pin goes through. Hopefully this part is still available. If not, I've got a buddy that does welding.

Thanks again,
cubby1450