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High low range

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 12:42 pm
by Dsc1
Got another question, is it a big production to add a high -low range to my 184. After using my Lo-Boy at times it would be nice to have a lo -1. Is there any info on installing or exploded views? I ran across a 185 last week that has an IH snowblower(hugh) high-low range and a 3pt. For 3500.00. I thought about grabbing it for the parts I need and selling the rest? Thanks. Guys. Dan

Re: High low range

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:19 pm
by SONNY
184 trans. would be same as 185, and mine is a unit that is an integral part of the trans. gear set.---Its a basic mini-torque in theory and uses the planetary drive idea with the 2-range selector in it.---There are other types of speed reducers that take up the pto and back feed thru that way and are not true units! ---with them, you have no use of the pto for the mower!

You could swap the trans. out and put your current one in the other tractor and re-sell it as straight tractor never having a 2-speed in it!---that would be lots simpler and should work out good!---I wouldnt have have a lo-boy if it didnt have the hi-lo in it!---thats how proud I am of mine!---wish my regular cubs had the planetary 2-speed in them!

Am currently working on making the old 49 cub a full blown hydro drive and have almost got everything I need do the job, so maybe by spring it will be in operation! thanks; sonny

Re: High low range

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:46 pm
by Dsc1
Thanks Sonny,I had a feeling I might have to change the trans.I think it would be worth it to. Thanks for the comeback. Dan

Re: High low range

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:11 am
by gitractorman
It's not a bad project, and you don't have to remove the transmission and replace them. The creeper drive gear box is abolted to the front of the transmission. You'll have to pull the drive shaft and switch them between tractors. Also, there's a plate on the front of your 184 transmission that you'll need to swap over to the 185 to take place where the creeper drive was. If you drop the mower deck from both tractors, you should be able to do the job without removing any major components. The nice thing is everything is right under the tunnel cover, so between working from the top down, and laying underneath working from the bottom up, you actually have pretty good access to everything. If you go on www.cubcadet.com, under parts and service, you can put in model 184 and/or 185, and pull up full parts diagrams for both machines. Unfortunately, they do not show the units assembled, but it's not that tricky.

Re: High low range

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:34 pm
by outdoors4evr
I don't think the 184 and 185 have the same driveshaft, but the one on the 184 can be shortened to fit with some additional machining work. The end has to be turned down and a 1/2 moon key-way must be cut along with a groove for the snap ring.
Might be easier to order a new (short) driveshaft from HamiltonBobsCubs and keep your old one in case you ever want to move back.

Re: High low range

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:51 pm
by Dsc1
That seems better yet.All I need is a pocket full of cash by early spring and going to make the 4 1/2 hr drive to Bobs,there are a few other things I'm looking for to make this 184 a keeper.Well it's a keeper now but you no what I mean. Thanks again guys. Dan

Re: High low range

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:59 am
by BigBill
I have two int154's one with the creeper tranny as its called(Hi/low) and one with out it that are presently running. The creeper tranny is awesome to have. The creeper in low with the tranny in 3rd gear is a tad slower than without the creeper and the tranny in 1st gear. But the power and torque is much better. I plow snow in low range just to take it easy on the tractor. I also picked up another creeper setup to use on my loader project.

Re: High low range

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:33 pm
by Dsc1
Wow BigBill,that is quite a diffrance.I thought it would be more of a splitter but it would still be great. Thanks. Dan

Re: High low range

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:32 pm
by gitractorman
Dan,
The creeper drive is a true underdrive, i.e. it actually changes the gear ratio at the drive shaft input. Therefore, you keep the standard 3 speeds and reverse that you already have, in High range on the creeper drive. When the creeper drive is in Low range, you have 3 lower gears than your standard 1st gear, and reverse is significantly slower than the standard reverse. Unfortunately, that's one of the downfalls of the creeper drive, the low gears are great for going forward, but it would be nice to have reverse as a standard speed. I've found this true when using a snow blower and trying to turn around in the street or back straight up to take another pass with the blower. I actually would shift back into High range then shift into reverse and back up all the way to the garage for my next pass. Then drop back into low gear range and 2nd to go forward with the blower.

Everyone will agree that the creeper drive is a MUST for a snow blower or tiller. Otherwise, most anything else that you do, standard 1st gear is plenty slow enough, and gives more than enough power to push, pull anything that you "should" be doing with the tractor.

Good luck,
Bill

Re: High low range

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:12 pm
by Dsc1
Thanks Bill,I could see how backing up a lot would stink in a low reverse but my drive is about 275ft. Long so shouldn't be real bad and my acre of food plot will be mostly done going forward,be it with a plow or tiller. Dan

Re: High low range

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:56 am
by BigBill
Right now I use a cub cadet 100 with the creeper tranny and tiller for my garden. It was a $250 total investment plus the new tires which cost me more than the tractor and tiller but depending on how big your food plot is of course.

Re: High low range

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:53 pm
by Dsc1
Bill,I get what your saying but after 25 yrs of using a wheel horse I'm stepping up in tractor size.After using this 184 for the last 2 months I should have done it 10 years ago. Dan

Re: High low range

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 4:22 pm
by BigBill
I really like the size of the larger 154/184/185 tractors. These can be work horses too.