My ride is a Cub Cadet Super LT 1550. Please, not opinions as answers. Genuinely looking for help/answers to my question. Thanks.
Cub Cadet Super LT 1550. Purchased approx 2002. May have been manufactured earlier. Hydro-Gear model: 618-04270A. Cross ref# 317-0610. SN: 6073H30682 (Best guess:some worn away). Really abused pulling trailers, boats and cars. Won't go up small incline. Very low power. Loud groaning. This is my second trans rebuild. 1st one was 25 yrs ago chev 1500 4x4 automatic. There was very obvious wear on those gears. Done right with a lot of time and a manual.
Can't find a manual for this one, but is a lot simpler inside. Very small trace of oil from right axle outer seal that held a little dust, not a significant leak. Full of oil. Dragged a magnet thru drained oil with no metal result. No metal build up on inside magnet but smudge of silver paste, and small smudge on bottom of case. I think that may be normal. Apart on table, everything out and disassembled, with no obvious wear. Gears all look the same, no sign of chips, even wear. The 10 bullets seem to fit closely into the 2 chambers. Filter apart with nothing, all clear. Examined every piece with no apparent wear. There is about 3-16" play moving axles left and right, toward and away from case before tear down. Question: since I have no experience, I'm wondering what I should be looking for. I'm hoping one of you guys are perhaps a dealer's mechanic, or the guy they send their trans-axles to, and knows just what to tell me.