184 lo boy,,,, brake job,,, how hard is it?

[jerseyhawg / glenn]

Gentleman, I dont even have a lo boy yet and here I am asking how to do rear brakes.
The reason,,, I found one the needs brakes. As in my introduction to the cub forums most folks saw I am into wheel horse.
well, I saw a lo boy and said thats it. I want one. I would prefer a 184,,, I am finding out how hard they are to come by.
My thinking is the 184, being the last model made of this series has Improvements and a few more hp. Back to rear brakes, most of the lo boys I have seen, 184, 185, 154,,,, all need brakes. I just want to see what I am getting into. And how are parts to come by? HARD TO FIND, or , not. Thanks for any replies to me.

Glenn,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[outdoors4evr]

Parts are not hard to find for the numbered loboys.
Dealers still stock parts.
HamiltonBobs has new and used parts.
Ebay has some parts as well.

As for a brake job on a 184??? Half-Day job.
Wedge front end & jack up rear of tractor.
Remove tire
Remove fender & seat sheet metal
Remove pan cover (and drain oil) from reduction gear
Remove brake rods
Remove reduction gear assembly
Now you can see the brakes.

[jerseyhawg / glenn]

Ok, theres a start. Soon as I get one I will look for all service / owners manuals.
The reason to ask was, most of the used ones I looked at. ALL need brakes. I thought it must be a hard job.
guess I was wrong, just appears to be owners to lazy or dont know how to do brakes. Thanks.........
Is there a place to see a exploded view of the brakes on the tractor?

Glenn

[Eugene]

Obtain the service and parts manuals for the Numbered Cub Lo-Boys. They have photos and exploded view of the parts.

Lot of times the brakes just need adjusting.

Brake job. Not hard, just time consuming and a PITA. Split the tractor. Remove the final drives. You will have sheet metal, hydraulic lines and linkage to remove. You will need jack stands, cribbing and a shop crane/cherry picker.

If this is your first Numbered Cub Lo-Boy split and brake job, and you are working by yourself, a lot more time than outdoors4evr's estimate.

[Eugene]

I own a standard Cub and a 154. If you are looking for a lawn mower, then the numbered Cubs are great. However, implements for numbered Cubs are not available or impossible to find.

If you are looking for a utility tractor, consider a standard Cub. Lots of different implements were manufactured and sold for them.

[jerseyhawg / glenn]

Gene, thanks. This will be for mower duty only. I like those standard cubs to.

Its funny but so far all I mostly see for sale are the 154 cubs,, most 184 cubs are pretty beat up, and I have yet to see a 185.

[Eugene]

I picked up a 154 with mower deck from a neighbor for $500-, thinking I would use 154 as a parts tractor for my standard Cub. Tractor ran, creeper was stuck on low side. Repair cost on the creeper was around $6-. While I had the tractor split, I checked the brake bands, still in serviceable condition.

Seller asked me after I got the 154 back up and running what it took. I told him the cost of the parts, filter, fluids - - then told him that if I had been a commercial shop, it would have cost about $1200-, virtually all for labor.

Consider the 154, specially if it comes with a creeper. Parts are not expensive. The creeper will let you slug through very tall or tough grass.

[jerseyhawg / glenn]

The cheapest one I saw was 1700 bucks, real junk. I dont mind work,, but wow. Also Re all the number series, isnt the 184 supposed to be the top dog? I thought anyway, electric pto, clutch re location to a better spot. Better starter,, generator?
Sorry for all these questions, trying to learn before I buy one. Not after.

thanks again.

[Eugene]

Isn't the 184 supposed to be the top dog?

Yes the features mentioned are correct. Consider that the items not changed on the other numbered Cubs held up for 50 or so years.

[BigBill]

Does it need brakes or an adjustment?

I wish these cubs all had disc brakes that could be changed from the top.

[BigBill]

Gene, thanks. This will be for mower duty only. I like those standard cubs to.

Its funny but so far all I mostly see for sale are the 154 cubs,, most 184 cubs are pretty beat up, and I have yet to see a 185.

I went looking for my very first cub tractor when none were to be found but the few I did find the prices were out of sight. I did find a running int154 with a rebuilt engine and a 3260 mower/3pt hitch. For $800 I couldn't get it on the trailer fast enough. My most expensive 154 so far is a late 60's with a creeper I p aid $1,700 but it's been running for around 8 years now I just put a clutch in it. The pressure plate springs died from old age.

[outdoors4evr]

I love my 184. Has a 3-point hitch & a 60" mower deck.
Has a creeper gear (used quite often) and a tiller.
Has wheel spacers, chains, and a 3-point blade to push snow with too.
(sold the snowthrower, it didn't do that well)
Other than that, it does everything I ask.

[BigBill]

My first 154 came from the wife after the PO passed away. It has a rebuilt engine thats two years old,
3pt hitch, 3260 mower deck, snow plow brackets with the plow missing.
I paid $800. She runs awesome engine wise. I put in a new electrical wires because of frayed wires. The selector valve needs new square o rings and a amp gauge next. It's a mowing machine and so comfortable.

[jerseyhawg / glenn]

Fellas, thanks for all the great advice on those brakes. The problem is I lost the sale to another.
Oh well, the search will go on. At least if and when I find another nice one, doung the brakes wont scare me.
Sorry on being a bit tardy answering but life threw a few curve balls at me this past month.

Glenn

[mblair]

Ran across this thread and am interested in improving brakes on my 185. I will ask the simple question: how do i know if brakes are worn out or i just need to adjust?