SLT 1550

[Tankman]

Was always a big fan of WheelHorse garden tractors, had a few.

Recently, purchased a used (like new) SLT 1550; 25 HP Kohler, 50" deck.

Cub is a hydro, all my previous (garden) tractors were gear driven. Plow (sleeve hitch (dirt), pull, blow snow, plow snow.

Any opinions on the 1550? I'm all ears!

 

[rcbe]

well, you now have a lawn tractor vs your previous garden tractors. Significant differences, including no ground engagement attachments (LT tranny too light-duty)...
but a good grass mowing machine.

 

[Tankman]

Lawn vs garden, bothers me some but, don't need to engage the earth any more. Oh, well.

I just couldn't turn the SLT 1550 $$$ down. It came via an estate sale. :thumbsup:

 

[rcbe]

may be preaching to the choir, but keep yer engine RPM full throttle as much as possible; keep the machine clean with compressed air or leafblower (particularly hidden tranny top surface). Heat is a major enemy of hydro trannies.

enjoy.

 

[Tankman]

Thanks for the tips rcbe. Only owned this hydro lawn tractor for a bit over a month.

Mowing almost two acres, noticed runs best full thottle and, I do blow the deck and deck clean after each mow. Weather has helped lately, very dry here in Eastern PA.

 

[rcbe]

Good show, Tankman. Yer mowing acreage should be a good match with that machine.

One other preachy thing - only use water of any kind sparingly to clean machine. Drowning it with a garden hose rinse (or worse - a power washer) will surely give you electrical probs down the line due to corrosion at connections/switches. Tractor is not designed to withstand such. Best to use the compressed air as you do and then just a wipedown with a wet washrag to clean off any stuck dirt, etc.

 

[Dr Dave]

OK light duty mower, does not like hills, hydro is weak, sealed for life (short life) if used on hills manual recomends changing fluid every 50 hrs. To change fluid, fill hole is under fuel tank, under seat , remove hydro or disasemble back half, to fill. Use 20W50 motor oil. Have had some starting isues, after setting overnight, engine kicks back against compression. Be sure to lube deck tensioner grease zert, will seize up, mine seized before 50 hr service. When changing drive belt, cut off the tabs on frame, around crank pulley. Install Kevlar belt, factory belt is not. Do not use cub cadet blades, they crack at end where the edge is rolled up. Mine is a 2007 will 135 hrs. The new hydro is a different part number $650 bucks. Other than the hydro, it is a good LT. Happy mowing!

 

[tracter]

Try Mobil 1 15w/50 the manufacturer recommends that as well and you will also get a longer time between Hydro oil changes

 

[Tankman]

Thanks 'bout the water, I've been power washing the SLT, then into the barn. Dry and heated 24/7.

Might synthetic gear lube work for the SLT's tranny? A racing friend used to get one race per rear, with synthetic (Mobil 80 w/ 90 gear lube) he gets three races per rear.

UPS uses synthetic gear lube in all their delivery trucks.

 

[tracter]

Way to heavy for a Hydro , the little pump would not cope

 

[rcbe]

"Thanks 'bout the water, I've been power washing the SLT, then into the barn. Dry and heated 24/7."

Power washer prolly the worst, IMHO. Moisture in elect connections surfaces will begin corroding before drying out. OTOH, heated barn will avoid rain, etc.

Also, the pressured spray from the power washer could have entered the tranny's internals. If/when you changer oil and old oil is milky, wus water and tranny oil viscosity reduced as result.... Tranny is not water-tight - has to breathe. (Same with engine)

 

[Dr Dave]

Does Mobil have a 20w50 synthetic?

 

[Tankman]

Does Mobil have a 20w50 synthetic?

Mobil does have synthetic motor oil in addition to their gear lubes.

"Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 is an advanced performance, full synthetic four-stroke motorcycle motor oil designed to provide unsurpassed levels of performance demanded by todays high performance motorcycles. This synthetic motor oil will help keep motorcycles running clean and protected even in extreme operating conditions such as racing."

Synthetic oil cost more but, UPS "knows" the benefits. The UPS fleet runs on synthetic oils. Saves downtime, wear 'n tare, good stuff.

 

[Dr Dave]

thanks Tankman, i will try it at next service.:thumbsup:

 

[Tankman]

My first tractor was a 1932 Farmall, rebuilt. Interesting, the '32 was the first year tractors had rubber tires.

First "home" tractor was a Craftsman, I'll never go back.

A friend gave me a Wheelhorse garden tractor in very poor condition.

With the help of Wheelhorse, Northern Hydraulics, and more, I rebuilt, painted, new decals, seat, bearings, the works. I was a prototype sheetmetal guy, most of the sheetmetal was replaced with 316 SS, painted. A magnet wouldn't stick.

From then on, Wheelhorse garden and gear, all the way.

Now, 1st shot with the SLT 1550 however, don't plow my garden plotz any longer. Just mow the lawn and, will put a snow blade, weights, chains on the LT. We'll see.

The SLT I purchased, like new, like almost pocket change. 'Bout a hundred hours on the 25 HP Kohler, runs 'n mows excellent.

 

[Tankman]

Does the MTD 46" snow plow available at TSC work on the Cub SLT 1550?

Can't seem to find any documentation stating "yes" or "no" :confused3: ?