New member PA Frank

PAFrank · May 7, 2024

I am a new member. I live in central PA and have a Cub Cadet 1320 that I bought new in 1990. I have had very few problems with this lawn tractor over the years. I replaced a mower deck last year and added a bagger to chop leaves in the fall. My transmission never has had much ability to go backward up any kind of incline but I mow around that limitation. My transmission went out two weeks ago and I joined this forum to learn how I might try to repair it myself. I would really like to keep this machine running because it has been so reliable for so many years. I'm not a mechanic but I learn fast.

1811Cub · May 8, 2024

Welcome from Elkland

Those transaxles are notorious for failure. No new parts are available. You will need to source a good used unit. Check our sponsors.

wh cc guy · May 8, 2024

Welcome Frank.

MadMonkMort · May 9, 2024

PAFrank said:
I am a new member. I live in central PA and have a Cub Cadet 1320 that I bought new in 1990. I have had very few problems with this lawn tractor over the years. I replaced a mower deck last year and added a bagger to chop leaves in the fall. My transmission never has had much ability to go backward up any kind of incline but I mow around that limitation. My transmission went out two weeks ago and I joined this forum to learn how I might try to repair it myself. I would really like to keep this machine running because it has been so reliable for so many years. I'm not a mechanic but I learn fast.

Welcome dude!
Good luck on repairing a busted tranny. Probably best like was said previously to find a decent used unit. Transmission repair is its own special kind of monster even for experienced mechanics, but simply bolting in a new (used) unit shouldn't be much more trouble than the time and busted knuckles it takes to get the job done, and with basic shop tools. Putting fresh gears in you gotta set gear tolerances pretty exactly with shims and such, checking gear lash and putting gear marking paste in there, assemble, rotate, disassemble to check and see if you got it right, and it's still a bit of witchcraft thrown in. That might be more axles than transmissions, but honestly, that's one job I've always been willing to pay the pros for, even as a fairly advanced shade tree mechanic myself.

PAFrank · May 20, 2024

Update on the 1320 transmission problem. I removed the battery and see that the transmission fan only has one blade left on it. I push mowed my yard last week because the tractor is down and found a small plasic thing. It was one of the fan blades that got ripped off when the belt jumped out of the pulley I think. The belt needs replaced and the fan will need replaced. I think I can get those parts still. I ordered a Service Manual and it is due next week. My plan is to remove the whole transmission assembly from the tractor so I can clean it. I do not see any signs of leaking fluid but I want to check the fluid level before I put the transmission back because I have seen posts that lowe fluid level contributes to poor performance in reverse. This tractor was poor in reverse the day I bought it. I have just learned how to operate with that limitation. One thing I learned is that when I remove the plastic deck plate and the ball from the dump valve, I can push the dump lever down and hook it under the metal frame. This adds a little extra travel to that lever and that travel makes pushing the tractor almost easy. Blocking the dump valve lever with some wood never got the valve to the right spot so I was pushing against the transmission. I know the belt is off of the pulley on the transmission and I know the plastic fan blades are broken. I am hoping that the guts of the transmission are still in good shape and the tractor will run again with a new belt and fan.

PAFrank · Oct 7, 2024

wh cc guy said:
Welcome Frank.

It has taken quite a while but the Cub Cadet 1320 is running again. I discovered that the transmission fan was broken and only had two blades left and the belt from the engine to the transmission assembly was off of the pulley and in bad shape. I replaced the fan and the belt and in the process discovered a fill location for the hydrostatic transmission assembly. Mine was showing below the bottom fill level mark so I bought some STENs #770-740 SAE 20W - 50 hydrostatic transmission fluid and filled it to a hair below to top fill level line. The tractor runs and mows and I even have more power in reverse up a hill than I have ever had since I bought this tractor new in 1990.
These were sold as sealed transmissions and yet there is a fluid filling reservior on mine and it has marks for low level and high level of transmission fluid. A post on another Cub Cadet forum suggested that low fluid level could lead to low power in reverse up an incline. In my case, I agree.

The yellow part is the cap on the fluid reservior. There are high and low fill level marks on the side of the base part. This is for the hydrostatic transmission # 717-3048-0081. I hope this helps someone with a similar problem.
Frank