Cub Cadet LTX 1050 is a 22hp, two stroke air cooled gasoline engine powered lawn tractor. The tractor uses hydrostatic transmission system with infinite forward and reverse gear system. The lawn tractor is provided mainly with three attachments of widths 50 inch mower deck, 46 inch blade and 42 inch snow blower. Like any other lawn tractors, Cub Cadet LTX 1050 requires proper care and religious maintenance attention to avoid transmission problems. The purpose of the transmission is to allow transfer of power from the engine to the drive wheels. Transmission also allows decoupling of engine from wheel to facilitate efficient braking without causing excessive damage to the braking system.
Table of Contents
Cavitation or Aeration
Cavitation occurs when the air bubbles form and collapse within the hydraulic transmission fluid. The bubbles when compressed they burst creating shock waves that with time damages the pump components. The root causes of cavitation and aeration are mainly leakages along the hydraulic fluid lines that allows the pump to draw air from the surrounding and loose hydraulic fluid pipes. Cavitation is also caused by clogged fluid filters which causes pressure drop within hydraulic fluid lines thereby causing bubble formation or cavitation to compensate for that. Leaks around pump shafts are also known to be responsible for aeration as they allow air suction from external atmosphere. To solve cavitation or aeration which affects Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission causing problems, a number of issues need to be addressed.
Check and ensure that all hydraulic pipe connections are tight, pump seals are also functional not to allow air from outside. Also it is recommended to follow supplier recommendation on hydraulic fluid filters servicing. Filters require periodic cleaning and or replacement to prevent clogging which causes problems with the transmission system of Cub Cadet LTX 1050.
Worn Out Drive Belt
The purpose of the belt is to transfer engine power to the hydraulic pump which drives the hydraulic motors via a pulley system. The belt like any other drive components suffers from wear and tear with time and ultimately fails. The belt may be broken or increases in slack. Broken or excessively slackened belts do not transfer power efficiently and hence these issues need to be resolved. To address the problems, v-belts need to be inspected regularly as per recommendation or determined frequency for wear and tear, alignment and tension. Misaligned belts should be properly aligned to avoid excess wear, torn belts should be replaced with good and correct size belts. It is also important to check the pulley conditions for and alignment when diagnosing belt misalignment as this may also be the root cause. Tension for the belt also should be checked and appropriately adjusted to avoid Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission problems.
Hard Gear Shifting
Gears changing is important for reversing, parking and forward movement and should be easy for operation efficiency. Cub Cadet LTX 1050 utilizes infinite forward and reverse gears which are also prone to wear and tear affecting transmission system.
Worn Out Gears
During operation mechanical gears experiences wear causing changing from forward to reverse or neutral hard. This is due to some misalignment induced by worn out gear parts including sleeves and gear teeth. Worn out gears also results in excess transmission noise generation. Gears should be periodically inspected and lubricated to minimize wear and avoid Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission related problems. Lack of adequate gear lubrication also results in excessive operating temperature which is not recommended for transmission system. Worn out gears should be replaced.
Gear Shift Linkage
These are elements that complements the gear system to enable position selection and they have to be in good working condition to avoid hard gear shifting in Cub Cadet LTX 1050. Shift linkages need to be inspected and worn out elements replaced.
Damaged Bearings.
All rotating shafts require bearings that acts as friction elements and reduce wear on the shafts. If bearings get damaged, rotational elements including shafts and couplings also gets worn out and as a result they fail. This causes transmission failure in Cub Cadet LTX 1050 lawn tractor. A lot of heat is generated which also weakens other components and noise is also generated.
Low Transmission Fluid Pressure
Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission require adequate transmission fluid pressure and friction to make internal parts work efficiently without any problems. The pressure is generated from transmission fluid.
Insufficient Transmission Fluid
The level of transmission fluid must always be checked and kept within the required levels to avoid transmission pressure loss due to low fluid levels. It is always recommended to check the fluid level and top up to required level using correct fluid to avoid low pressure problem in Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission.
Clogged Transmission Oil Filter
Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission system has a hydraulic transmission fluid filter that serves to remove debris and other solid contaminants to pass to the pump causing blockages and component damages. With time the filter gets clogged with dirt and debris and creates a fluid flow restriction along the fluid lines. Resultantly, the transmission fails due to low pressure. Filters should be periodically inspected as per supplier recommendation and all necessary preventive maintenance activities done to avoid clogging. Additionally, faulty relief valve should be replaced as they also cause pressure loss in Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission.
Transmission Fluid Leakages
As mentioned above, Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission requires hydraulic transmission fluid in correct amount to properly function without any problems. Leakages leads to overheating and ultimately failure of the transmission system components.
Damaged Seals or Gaskets
Seals and gaskets helps to prevent fluid leakages by providing tight seals against external environment. Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission failure arise from worn out seals or gaskets. Fluid loss is experienced leading to overheating and increased friction leading to increased wear and tear. Seals and gaskets should be periodically inspected for wear and tear and replacement done for all worn out seals. All service requirements for periodic maintenance must be adhered to. Cases of blockages in transmission fluid return pipe is also known to cause fluid leakages resulting in Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission failure. Another area to look at is the overfilling or under filling of hydraulic fluid. These should be avoided as they affect performance of Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission system leading to transmission problems.
With proper asset care and preventive maintenance system in place, the above mentioned Cub Cadet LTX 1050 transmission problems can be minimized.
