Owners of Howard CD6 Despeeder/Speed Reduction Unit

I am starting a list of members that own the very rare Howard CD6 "Despeeder" Speed Reduction Unit. AKA: Under Drive, or Creep Gear. This unit mounts between the left final drive and the transmission on Cub and Loboy tractors and basically cuts the speed by 1/2 in order to make the Cub better at tilling and mowing.

There seems to be issues with the aluminum shifter handles breaking, lack of decals, leaking oil seal plates ( or missing plates), and other parts issues.
I happen to have made a simple ( more like crude ) drawing of the brackets and mounts needed if yours are missing.
Please chime in here if you own one of these CD6 units. I have already contacted about 10 owners and we all face the same issues. Perhaps we can be of help to each other here. Thanks for being part of the community.

I have one. Do not have any issues with it at the moment

I own one and looking for another.

here is mine

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Last edited by uncle henry on Mon Nov 04, 2013 10:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I have 3 CD6 units. Two of them are in my modified LoBoy and the third is in a crate with all the pieces needed to put in on my 49, so I can run my Rotovator.

cubcrop1.JPG

Here is a rear view of my Lo Boy mower. It has 2 of the despeeders installed.

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I have one of the Despeeders that required a good bit of work by Rick. He made a new seal plate, and a complete handle assembly Never knew they had a decal though, one more thing I need.

I also have one(not installed yet) that's complete with all the brkts, only thing I need to do is inspect/repair the seal plate and seal . It also has a brand new CNC handle that was made by Phil a couple years ago when he was making them.
Rick

here is mine

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I also have one(not installed yet) that's complete with all the brkts,.......

After you change implements a few times you will discover that the drawbar mounting brackets you made for mine are a better idea than the originals.

If anyone has a spare PTO guard for the Howard Rotavator I'm interested in buying it.
Mine came with only half of the PTO guard

Uncle Henry: Looks like your handle on your CD6 Despeeder is completely different than any others I have seen. Thanks for the great pic. My handle is more like the one that Arthur Dent posted, which of course snapped off and broke. Yours looks to be a little more robust. I wonder if you have a later handle version.

Here is one of two that I own. It has since been to the paint booth. You can see what the handle looks like...


Also notice the original Howard Orange paint color.
Edit: It is hard to see, but you can also see the faint outline of where the decal should go on the top left.

I have a Howard CD6 Despeeder on my lo-boy . Good to see the pictures and the posts. I am learning a lot more about it here. Thanks!

I have one unit on a cub and another unit sitting in a box needing a new handle. I also plan on making a new seal for one. The one on the tractor came with it and the other I just bought. No pictures.

CD6 oil plate seal replacement:

Jason, and Rick P: I know that Gator809 ( Hank ) used a Ford distributor seal when he remade his plate by reading his past posts. Jason, let me know what the manufacturer and part number of the seal that you will be using is. Thanks.

Rick P: Do you remember what seal you used on yours and John's? Thanks.

I think most of the factory seals are leaking after 60 years.

The CD6 owners list keeps growing guys. If you own a Howard CD6, post a reply here please. Maybe we all can find a seal, decals, and new handle.