Page 3 - TRACTOR AND DECK PREPARATION; ATTACHING THE CHUTE DEFLECTOR; CONNECT THE BATTERY; WARNING; WING NUT; CONTENTS
3 TRACTOR AND DECK PREPARATION 1. ATTACHING THE CHUTE DEFLECTOR For shipping purposes, the mulching plug has been in-stalled in the mower deck. The mulching plug must beremoved to install the chute deflector assembly. WARNING Do not operate the mower deck, even with themulching plug installed, unles...
Page 4 - IMPORTANT; SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES; GENERAL OPERATION; Never carry passengers.; DANGER
4 WARNING • The engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals knownto the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. • This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near a...
Page 7 - WA R N I N G
7 PRODUCT GRAPHICS Keep product safety graphics (decals) clean. Replaceany safety graphic that is damaged, destroyed, miss- ing, painted over or can no longer be read. Replace-ment safety graphics are available through yourdealer. GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WARNING – LOCATED ON RIGHT SIDE OF RUNNIN...
Page 8 - Hood Model; Figure 1; Engine Label
8 TO THE OWNER This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new tractor. The information contained in this manual has beenprepared in detail to help you better understand the features, correct operation, adjustments, and maintenance ofyour tractor. The performance and dependability of this tr...
Page 9 - SECTION I. CONTROLS AND INDICATORS; Figure 3
9 SECTION I. CONTROLS AND INDICATORS Your Cub Cadet Tractor has been safety engineered.This section gives a brief description of the functionand location of the various controls and indicators. Thoroughly acquaint yourself with all the controls andindicators before attempting to start or operate the...
Page 10 - Figure 4; NOTE; The hydrostatic transmission will not hold the; H. CRUISE CONTROL LEVER; This symbol shows slow position.
10 A. LOW OIL INDICATOR This indicator will illuminate when the engine oil level islow. If this indicator illuminates, stop the tractor imme-diately and check the engine oil level. If the oil level iswithin the operating range, but the light remains on,contact your Cub Cadet dealer. CAUTION Operatin...
Page 12 - Engage the brake lock and raise the hood.
12 Q. SAFETY INTERLOCK SWITCHES This tractor is equipped with a safety interlock systemfor the protection of the operator. If the interlock sys-tem should ever malfunction, do not operate the trac-tor. Contact your authorized Cub Cadet Dealer. Thesafety interlock system prevents the engine fromcrank...
Page 13 - Figure 8; REAR WING NUT
13 Figure 8 UPPER FRONTWING NUT RETAINER WITHTAPERED GUIDE REAR WING NUT GRILLE REAR TABON PANEL SIDE PANEL GROOVE INDASH PANEL GRASP GRASP
Page 14 - DO NOT direct the mower discharge at people.; BEFORE OPERATING YOUR TRACTOR; Check the engine and transmission oil levels.; STARTING THE ENGINE
14 SECTION II. OPERATION WARNING Receive Instruction - Read the operator’smanual. Learn to operate this machineSAFELY. Don’t risk INJURY or DEATH. 1. Before starting the engine or beginning operation,be familiar with the controls. The operator must beseated, the PTO switch in the “OFF” position andt...
Page 15 - STOPPING THE ENGINE; TRACTOR BREAK-IN PROCEDURE; CAUTION; COLD WEATHER STARTING; Period
15 1. Operator must be sitting in the tractor seat. 2. Pull choke control knob to full choke position.Less choking may be necessary due to variationsin temperature, grade of fuel, etc. Little or nochoking will be needed when the engine is warm. 3. Move the throttle lever to the “FAST” position. 4. P...
Page 16 - DRIVING THE TRACTOR
16 5. Turn the ingnition key to the “START” position andhold until the engine starts; however, do not crankthe engine continuously for more than 5 secondsat a time. Once the engine starts, gradually adjustthe choke as needed to keep the engine running untilwarmed up, then push the choke control all ...
Page 17 - DRIVING ON SLOPES; STOPPING THE TRACTOR; Start and run the engine a few minutes to warm up.; DRAWBAR
17 DRIVING ON SLOPES Refer to the SLOPE GAUGE on page 55 to help deter-mine slopes where you may not operate safely. WARNING Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excessof 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feetevery 10 feet). The tractor could overturn andcause serious injury. WARNING Opera...
Page 18 - SECTION III. ADJUSTMENTS; ADJUSTING THE SEAT; ADJUSTING THE BRAKES; Loosen the hex jam nut from against the ferrule.
18 SECTION III. ADJUSTMENTS This section contains adjustment information for theModel LT 2180 tractor. Adjustment information for the42-inch deck is located in Section V – Mower Deckbeginning on page 33. ADJUSTING THE SEAT WARNING Do not adjust the seat when the tractor ismoving. Adjusting the seat ...
Page 19 - WHEEL ALIGNMENT; Figure 12. Viewed from beneath the tractor.; FRONT WHEEL ADJUSTMENT; Place the tractor on a firm and level surface.; PIVOT BAR ADJUSTMENT; Check and adjust the pivot axle as follows:; PERPENDICULAR
19 WHEEL ALIGNMENT The front wheels should toe-in approximately 1/8 to1/4 inch, as measured across dimensions A and Bshown in Figure 12. Figure 12. Viewed from beneath the tractor. FRONT WHEEL ADJUSTMENT WARNING Place the tractor on a firm and level surface. To adjust the toe-in, proceed as follows:...
Page 21 - Adjusting the Control Rod; ADJUSTING LIFT ASSIST SPRING TENSION; LIFT ASSIST; CONTROL
21 Adjusting the Control Rod After completing the previous steps (1 thru 4) forchecking neutral setting, adjust the control rod ( SeeFigure 15) as follows: NOTE The brake pedal lock MUST be engaged toproperly adjust the control rod. 1. Loosen, but do not remove, the hex tap screwsthat fasten the fro...
Page 22 - CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENTS
22 CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENTS WARNING When making adjustments to the carburetorwhile the engine is running, disengage the PTOclutch and engage the brake pedal lock. Keepclear of all moving parts and be careful of all hotsurfaces. Carbon monoxide fumes can be fatal!Do not make any adjustments to the carb...
Page 23 - Control Adjustments
23 Control Adjustments To adjust the choke control, remove the air cleaner.Move the choke control to the full choke position. Thecarburetor choke should be completely closed (SeeFigure 18). If not, loosen the casing clamp screw. Move the casing, wire and engine choke lever in thedirection shown unti...
Page 24 - SECTION IV. MAINTENANCE; ENGINE OIL; ADDING OIL; OIL VISCOSTY CHART; Synthetic; DIPSTICK
24 SECTION IV. MAINTENANCE ENGINE OIL The engine oil must be drained and replaced with newoil after the firsr 5 to 8 hours of engine operation andthen after every 50 hours of operation. To aid starting, the selection of crankcase lubricatingoils should be based on the lowest anticipatedtemperatures ...
Page 25 - DRAINING OIL AND REPLACING OIL FILTER
25 2. Clean the area around the oil filler cap to preventdebris from entering the crankcase. See Figure 21. Figure 21 3. Unscrew the oil filler cap from the right valve coverand SLOWLY pour in oil (See Figure 21). Fill thecrankcase until the oil level reaches the “FULL”mark on the dipstick (Refer to...
Page 26 - Apply a light coating of clean oil on the gasket of; FILLING THE CRANKCASE; Check the oil filter and drain valve for leaks.; CHECKING TRANSMISSION OIL LEVEL; OPERATING
26 5. To open the drain valve, push it slightly inward andturn it counterclockwise until it stops, then pull itoutward. Allow the old oil to completely drain fromthe engine crankcase into the container below. 6. Remove the filter by turning it counterclockwiseusing an automotive type filter wrench t...
Page 27 - ADDING TRANSMISSION OIL; HYDROSTATIC DRIVE OIL FILTER; TRANSMISSION
27 ADDING TRANSMISSION OIL CAUTION Never overfill the transmission case. Damageor leakage may result if the oil level in thetransmission case is below the “ADD” mark orover the “FULL” mark of the dipstick.For bestresults, fill to the “FULL” mark on the dipstick asopposed to adding a given quantity o...
Page 28 - AIR CLEANER; Servicing the Precleaner
28 4. Apply a light coating of clean transmission oil to thegasket of the new filter. Install the filter by turningit clockwise, by hand, until the gasket contacts thefilter base on the transmission housing; thentighten the filter an additional 1/2 turn. 5. Clean the area around the transmission oil...
Page 29 - CLEANING ENGINE; SPARK PLUG; CLEAN
29 CLEANING ENGINE This tractor has an air-cooled engine. Air must be ableto circulate freely around the engine through theflywheel screen, through the cooling shrouds and overthe fins of the cylinder head and cylinder block (SeeFigure 27). Keep these areas free of accumulated dirtand debris to keep...
Page 30 - FUEL FILTER; Do not replace the fuel filter when engine is hot.; HEADLIGHTS; FUSES; TERMINAL
30 FUEL FILTER WARNING Do not replace the fuel filter when engine is hot. The engine is equipped with an inline fuel filter.Visually inspect the filter periodically for a build-up ofresidue inside the filter body, and for a dirty elementwhich can be indicated by discoloration. Replace thefuel filter...
Page 33 - SECTION V. MOWER DECK; A. DECK LEVELING ADJUSTMENTS
33 SECTION V. MOWER DECK This section contains adjustment, removal, installation,and maintenance information for the 42-inch mowerdeck. Instructions for installation and removal of theoptional mulching plug are located at the end of thissection. A. DECK LEVELING ADJUSTMENTS In order to achieve even ...
Page 34 - FRONT TO BACK LEVELING ADJUSTMENT; Raise the deck to its highest position.; Finger guard
34 Figure 34 7. Lower the deck onto the hard, level surface. 8. Side-to-side leveling is obtained utilizing theadjustment ferrule and right hand hanger bracket(See Figure 35). Figure 35 9. Loosen the upper jam nut on the hanger bracketand turn away from the adjustment ferrule. Turnthe lower lock nut...
Page 35 - Lower the deck onto the hard, level surface.; GAUGE WHEEL ADJUSTMENT
35 3. Initially adjust the front lift rod to allow 5/8 inch ofthread to protrude beyond both lock nuts of thefront lift rod/bracket assembly (Refer to Figure 37). Figure 37 4. Refer to Figure 38. Measure and record thedistance from the front cutting edge to the ground(measurement A), and from the re...
Page 36 - If the wheels contact the surface adjust as follows:
36 NOTE Gauge wheels are intended to prevent scalpingof the lawn, and are not meant to be used to setthe cutting height. Do not run the deck on theguage wheels. To adjust the height of the gauge wheels, place thetractor on a firm and level surface. Refer to Figure 39,and proceed as follows: 1. Place...
Page 37 - REMOVAL OF DECK
37 B. REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF DECK ASSEMBLY REMOVAL OF DECK WARNING Before removing the mower deck, place thePTO switch in the “OFF” position, engage thebrake pedal lock, turn the ignition key to the“OFF” position and remove the key from theswitch. Disconnect the spark plug wire foradditional sa...
Page 39 - With the tractor implement lift handle raised to its; INSTALLATION OF DECK
39 Figure 48 CAUTION To avoid possible equipment damage, makesure that the tractor implement lift handle israised to its highest setting before sliding thedeck out from under the tractor. 10. With the tractor implement lift handle raised to its highest setting, slide the deck to the right and outfro...
Page 41 - Open the tractor hood and install the forward end
41 Figure 55 7. Carefully guide the tractor inplement lift links (leftand right) into the rear deck bracket slots (left andright) as the tractor implement lift handle islowered to its lowest setting (Refer to Figure 56). 8. Pull both deck support pins outward and rotaterearward to disengage the oute...
Page 42 - CLEANING AND BLADE CARE
42 Figure 58 11. Pass the PTO belt downward, inside the tractor frame, until the belt is below the two tractor frontlower pulleys. Twist the two sides of the PTO belt1/4 turn inward to engage the narrow sides of thebelt into the grooves of the two tractor front-lowerpulleys (See Figure 59). Figure 5...
Page 43 - The cutting blades must be kept sharp at all times.; LUBRICATION; Radius
43 WARNING When servicing the mower deck, be careful notto cut yourself on the sharpened blades. Clean the underside of the mower deck at the end ofthe mowing season or when buildup of cut material onthe underside is noticed. Also remove the belt coversand remove any accumulated grass clippings. If ...
Page 44 - SPINDLE DRIVE BELT REPLACEMENT; Remove the spindle belt covers to expose the belt.; D. INSTALLATION OF MULCHING PLUG
44 SPINDLE DRIVE BELT REPLACEMENT In order to replace the spindle drive belt, refer toFigure 63 and Figure 64 and proceed as follows: 1. Remove the hardware that secures the spindlebelt covers to the deck. 2. Remove the spindle belt covers to expose the belt. 3. Disengage the idler arm lever from it...
Page 45 - If using a fuel stabilizer:; Clean the engine and the entire tractor thoroughly.
45 SECTION VI. OFF-SEASON STORAGE If the machine is to be inoperative for a period longerthan 30 days, the following procedures arerecommended: WARNING Never store the tractor with fuel in the tankindoors or in poorly ventilated enclosures,where fuel fumes may reach an open flame,spark or pilot ligh...
Page 46 - MOWING; The following practices will help eliminate streaking:; MOWING WITH MULCHING OPTION
46 SECTION VII. MOWING MOWING WARNING To avoid possible injury, do not allow anyone inthe area opposite the discharge chute whilemowing. Although the area has beensupposedly cleared of foreign objects, smallobjects may be picked up and discharged bythe mower. WARNING Never direct the discharge of ma...
Page 47 - OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES
47 OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES When you purchased your tractor, you probably had itcompletely equipped for your particular needs at thetime. However, later you may wish to obtain optionalequipment or accessories. These items and otherallied equipment can be purchased from, and installedby, yo...
Page 49 - TROUBLE SHOOTING; Possible Cause
49 TROUBLE SHOOTING Possible Cause Possible Remedy HARD TO START No gasoline in fuel tank or carburetor ..................... Fill the tank with gasoline. Check the fuel line, carburetor and fuel filter. Fuel line or carburetor clogged................................ Clean the fuel line and carburet...
Page 50 - Air; Adjust the brake. Refer to “ADJUSTMENTS.”
50 TROUBLE SHOOTING Possible Cause Possible Remedy LACK OF POWER Air cleaner clogged ................................................. Service the air cleaner element. Refer to “MAINTE-NANCE.” Engine overload ...................................................... Reduce the load. Engine overheated.....
Page 51 - LUBRICATION TABLE
51 LUBRICATION TABLE Point of Lubrication Check at Hours Change at Hours Capacity Anticipated Air Temperature Above +40°F 0° to 40°F -20°F t0 100°+ Engine crankcase Checkbefore each use 50 Approx. 3 pints Cub Cadet Engine Oil SAE 30 Cub Cadet Engine OilSAE5W30 or 10W30 Synthetic Engine Oil SAE 5W30 ...
Page 52 - LUBRICATION GUIDE
52 LUBRICATION GUIDE The service life and reliability of any machine depends upon the care it is given. Proper lubrication is a veryimportant part of that care. This lubrication schedule reflects the minimal requirements to maintain theequipment. More frequent inspections and maintenance is preferab...
Page 53 - —Before Each Use; —After Every 10 Hours of Operation
53 LUBRICATION GUIDE —Before Each Use NOTE Lubrication information for optional equipment may be found in the manual which is included with thespecific piece of optional equipment. 1. Engine filler cap and dipstick Check the oil (with the engine stopped) and add sufficient new oil to bring it tothe ...
Page 55 - SLOPE GAUGE; IN
55 SLOPE GAUGE (Keep this sheet in a safe place for future reference.) 15° SIGHT AN D H O LD THIS LEVEL WITH A V E RTICAL TREE A P O WE R POLE A CORNER OF A BUILD ING OR A FENCE POST F O L D O N D O T T E D L IN E, R E P R E SE N T IN G A 1 5 ° SL OP E USE THI S PAG E AS A GUIDE TO DETERM INE SL OPE...
Page 57 - SPECIFICATIONS; Specifications are subject to change without notice.; CAPACITIES; quarts; HYDROSTATIC DRIVE; ENGINE; Battery; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; 5 amp regulated; TIRE SIZES
57 SPECIFICATIONS Specifications are subject to change without notice. LT 2180 CAPACITIES Fuel Tank ..............................................................................Crankcase (approximately) ...................................................Transmission Case (approximately) ..............
Page 59 - Year Limited Warranty - PTO Clutch; How State Law Relates to this Warranty:
59 CUB CADET CORPORATION MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY (RESIDENTIAL USE) The limited warranty set forth below is given by CUB CADETCORPORATION (“CUB CADET”) with respect to newmerchandise purchased and used in the United States, itspossessions and territories. CUB CADET warrants this product again...
Page 60 - Cartridge; MAINTENANCE PARTS CHART
MODEL LT 2180 SERIES 2000 18 HP VANGUARD Engine Oil Requirements approx. . . 3 pints Part No. Cub Cadet engine oilAmbient temperature viscosity (Grade SG,SH,SJ or Higher)Above +40°F SAE 30 0° to +40°F SAE 5W30 or 10W30 -20° to 100°+F Synthetic SAE 5W30 or 10W30 737-3029 737-3030A (10W30) Air Filter ...
