Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized service dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 368023 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-9723. CUB CADET P.O. BOX 368023 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9723 [www.cubcadet.com] PRINTED IN U.S.A.
FEDERAL AND CALIFORNIA EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS UTILITY AND LAWN AND GARDEN ENGINES The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and Kohler Co. are pleased to explain the Federal and California Emission Control Systems Warranty on your utility/lawn/garden equipment engine (herein engine). For California, engines produced in 1995 and later must be designed, built and equipped to meet the state’s stringent anti-smog standards.
TO OPERATE YOUR UNIT. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL— Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the DANGER part of the operator can result in injury.
(e.g. pasture) or piles of dry leaves. Debris may build up on the mower deck or contact the engine exhaust presenting a potential fire hazard. 22. Use only accessories approved for this machine by Cub Cadet. Read, understand and follow all instructions provided with accessory.
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5. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate the machine. Children 14 years and over should only operate the machine under close parental supervision and proper instruction. 6. Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child or other hazard.
PRODUCT GRAPHICS Keep product safety graphics (decals) clean. Replace any safety graphic that is damaged, destroyed, miss- STARTING INSTRUCTIONS BE FAMILIAR WITH CONTROLS BEFORE STARTING ENGINE AND OPERATING. SET CHOKE, MOVE THROTTLE TO MID POSITION AND DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL. TURN KEY TO THE START POSITION. AFTER ENGINE STARTS OPEN CHOKE.
Cub Cadet tractor Model 2176 is equipped with a 42- inch mower deck and shipped with a mulching kit. The information in this manual has been prepared in detail to help you better understand the correct operation and maintenance of this equipment. Before you operate the tractor, study this manual carefully.
SECTION I. CONTROLS AND INDICATORS Your Cub Cadet Tractor has been safety engineered. This section gives a brief description of the function and location of the various controls and indicators. A. Low Oil Indicator B. Hour Meter C. Power Take-Off (PTO) Control Switch D.
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If this indicator illuminates, stop the tractor imme- diately and check the engine oil level. If the oil level is within the operating range, but the light remains on, contact your Cub Cadet dealer. CAUTION Operating the tractor with low oil level or pres- sure could result in severe engine damage.
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BRAKE PEDAL The brake pedal is located at the front of the right run- ning board above the forward control pedal. Press down to stop the tractor and disengage the cruise con- trol. The brake pedal must be fully depressed to acti- vate the safety interlock switch when starting the tractor.
If the interlock sys- tem should ever malfunction, do not operate the trac- tor. Contact your authorized Cub Cadet Dealer. The safety interlock system prevents the engine from cranking or starting unless the brake pedal is fully de- pressed, and the PTO switch is in the “OFF”...
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REAR WING NUT SIDE PANEL GROOVE IN DASH PANEL GRASP REAR TAB ON PANEL GRASP Figure 8 UPPER FRONT WING NUT RETAINER WITH TAPERED GUIDE GRILLE...
WARNING RECEIVE INSTRUCTION operator’s manual. Learn to operate this machine SAFELY. Don’t risk INJURY or DEATH. 1. Before starting the engine or beginning operation, be familiar with the controls. The operator must be seated, the PTO switch in the “OFF” position and the brake pedal fully depressed.
• The safety interlock system will automatical- ly shut off the engine if the operator leaves the seat before engaging the brake pedal lock. • The safety interlock system will automatical- ly disengage the PTO if the reverse control pedal is pressed down with the PTO in the “RUN”...
5. Turn the ingnition key to the “START” position and hold until the engine starts; however, do not crank the engine continuously for more than 10 seconds at a time. Once the engine starts, gradually adjust the choke as needed to keep the engine running until warmed up, then push the choke control all the way NOTE If the engine fails to start after several attempts,...
DRIVING ON SLOPES Refer to the SLOPE GAUGE on page 57 to help determine slopes where you may not operate safely. WARNING Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet).
This section contains adjustment information for the Model 2176 tractor. Adjustment information for the 42- inch deck is located in Section V – Mower Deck beginning on page 33. ADJUSTING THE SEAT WARNING Do not adjust the seat when the tractor is moving.
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WHEEL ALIGNMENT The front wheels should toe-in approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch, as measured across dimensions A and B shown in Figure 12. PERPENDICULAR TO FRAME 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: 1.
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2. Pivot the ends of the axle up and down to check for binding. If the axle is binding, loosen the lock nuts (See Figure 14) until binding is eliminated. PIVOT AXLE ADJUSTMENT BOLTS LOCK FRAME AXLE CHANNEL SECTION A-A Figure 14 3.
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1. Front Control Rod 2. Rear Control Rod 3. Hex Tap Screw 4. Pivot Sleeve 5. Neutral Arm 6. Control Arm 7. Hex Cap Screw 8. Centering Spacer 9. Neutral Bracket 10. Hairpin Cotter (Not Shown) Adjusting the Control Rod After completing the previous steps (1 thru 4) for checking neutral setting, adjust the control rod ( See Figure 15) as follows:...
CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENTS WARNING When making adjustments to the carburetor while the engine is running, disengage the PTO clutch and engage the brake pedal lock. Keep clear of all moving parts and be careful of all hot surfaces. WARNING Carbon monoxide fumes can be fatal! Do not make any adjustments to the carburetor in a confined area such as a storage building.
The oil filter should be changed at every oil change interval. The filters can be obtained through your Cub Cadet dealer under part number KH-12-050-08. Refer to the MAINTENANCE CHART and the LUBRICATION TABLE for information regarding the frequency of required oil changes and the quantity and type of oil needed.
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While the engine oil is warm, proceed as follows: NOTE A 12 inch length of flexible tubing is supplied in the owner’s manual package and should be used to drain the engine oil. 1. Place the tractor on a level surface and engage the brake pedal lock.
Refer to the MAINTENANCE CHART for information regarding transmission oil filter replacement. The filter can be obtained through your Cub Cadet dealer under the part number 923-3014. Refer to the LUBRICATION TABLE for information regarding the oil capacity and the proper type of oil to pour into the transmission case.
2. Clean the area around the transmission drain plug to prevent debris from entering the transmission case. Remove the drain plug and allow the transmission oil to drain into a clean container having a capacity of more than 6 quarts. Reinstall the drain plug (Refer to Figure 21).
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Air Cleaner Cover Wing Nut Element Cover Rubber Grommet Figure 23. Air Cleaner Assembly 2. Remove the foam precleaner by sliding it up off the paper element (See Figure 23). 3. Wash the precleaner in warm water with detergent. Rinse the precleaner thoroughly until all traces of the detergent are eliminated.
SPARK PLUG WARNING To avoid possible injury, be sure the engine is off and has cooled before making any adjustments or repairs. NOTE Remove all dirt from around the spark plug before removing. To remove the spark plugs, always use a spark plug wrench.
FUSES Always use the same capacity fuse for replacement. Refer to SPECIFICATIONS. If the electrical system does not function, check the fuses. To replace a fuse, pull the old fuse from the fuse holder and install the new fuse. GENERAL BATTERY INFORMATION WARNING a.
BATTERY REMOVAL OR INSTALLATION WARNING Battery posts, terminals accessories contain lead and lead compounds. Wash Hands after handling. When removing the battery, disconnect the battery cables in the following order to avoid arcing and the resulting sparks: Battery Removal: 1. Disconnect the Negative cable. 2.
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TIRES Keep the pneumatic tires properly inflated. Over- inflation will cause operator discomfort. Under-inflation will cause short tire life. Improperly inflated tires will also affect the leveling of the mower deck and quality of cut. Inflate the front and rear tires as shown in the following table: Tire SizePounds per Square Inch Front Tires...
This section contains adjustment, removal, installation, and maintenance information for the 42-inch mower deck. Instructions for installation and removal of the optional mulching plug are located at the end of this section. A. DECK LEVELING ADJUSTMENTS In order to achieve even cutting, the mower deck must be properly leveled.
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Finger guard 2. Blade 3. Hard Level Surface 4. Measure This Distance Figure 29 7. Lower the deck onto the hard, level surface. 8. Side-to-side leveling is obtained utilizing the adjustment ferrule and right hand hanger bracket (Refer to Figure 30). UPPER RIGHT HAND JAM NUT...
3. Initially adjust the front lift rod to allow 5/8 inch of thread to protrude beyond both lock nuts of the front lift rod/bracket assembly (Refer to Figure 32). FRONT LIFT ROD Figure 32 4. Refer to Figure 33. Measure and record the distance from the front cutting edge to the ground (measurement A), and from the rear cutting edge to the ground (measurement B), for each of the...
NOTE Gauge wheels are intended to prevent scalping of the lawn, and are not meant to be used to set the cutting height. Do not run the deck on the guage wheels. To adjust the height of the gauge wheels, place the tractor on a firm and level surface.
B. REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF DECK ASSEMBLY REMOVAL OF DECK WARNING Before removing the mower deck, place the PTO switch in the “OFF” position, engage the brake pedal lock, turn the ignition key to the “OFF” position and remove the key from the switch.
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WARNING The exhaust system is HOT. To avoid personal injury, allow the engine and exhaust system to cool before proceeding with the following PTO belt removal instructions. 4. Open the tractor hood and remove the forward end of the PTO belt from the PTO clutch pulley (Refer to Figure 38).
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LATCH RECEIVER (BOTH SIDES) QUICK ATTACH SHOULDER BOLT (BOTH SIDES) Figure 43 CAUTION To avoid possible equipment damage, make sure that the tractor implement lift handle is raised to its highest setting before sliding the deck out from under the tractor. 10.
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3. Make sure the slot in both rear deck brackets aligns with the implement lift links on each side of the tractor (Refer to Figure 46). SLOT IN REAR DECK BRACKETS (BOTH SIDES) IMPLEMENT LIFT LINKS (BOTH SIDES) Figure 46 4.
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REAR DECK BRACKET SLOTS DECK DECK SUPPORT PIN DISENGAGED Figure 50 7. Carefully guide the tractor implement lift links (left and right) into the rear deck bracket slots (left and right) as the tractor implement lift handle is lowered to its lowest setting (Refer to Figure 51). 8.
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Figure 53 11. Twist the PTO belt 1/4 turn to engage the narrow sides of the belt into the grooves of the two tractor front-lower pulleys (Refer to Figure 54). TRACTOR FRONT PTO BELT LOWER PULLEYS Figure 54 12. From the front of the tractor, push the PTO belt through the front lift rod, then to the center of the deck.
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WARNING When servicing the mower deck, be careful not to cut yourself on the sharpened blades. Clean the underside of the mower deck at the end of the mowing season or when buildup of cut material on the underside is noticed. Also remove the belt covers and remove any accumulated grass clippings.
SPINDLE DRIVE BELT REPLACEMENT In order to replace the spindle drive belt, refer to Figures 58 and 59 and proceed as follows: 1. Remove the hardware that secures the spindle belt covers to the deck. 2. Remove the spindle belt covers to expose the belt. 3.
SECTION VI. OFF-SEASON STORAGE If the machine is to be inoperative for a period longer than days, following recommended: WARNING Never store the tractor with fuel in the tank indoors or in poorly ventilated enclosures, where fuel fumes may reach an open flame, spark or pilot light as on a furnace, water heater, clothes dryer, etc.
MOWING WARNING To avoid possible injury, do not allow anyone in the area opposite the discharge chute while mowing. Although area supposedly cleared of foreign objects, small objects may be picked up and discharged by the mower. WARNING Never direct the discharge of material toward bystanders or allow anyone near the machine while in operation.
These items and other allied equipment can be purchased from, and installed by, your authorized Cub Cadet dealer. The tractor is used for so many different types of work, and because it is called on to operate under so many different conditions, a variety or equipment is available to adapt it to the requirements of the user.
Operation to Before be performed each use Clean grille, engine air inlet screen, dash intake screen and side panel screens Check engine oil level Fill fuel tank Change engine oil After first & oil filter 5 hours Check transmission oil level Replace transmission oil filter Clean &...
Possible Cause No gasoline in fuel tank or carburetor ... Fuel line or carburetor clogged... Fuel filter plugged... Water in gasoline... Choked improperly. Flooded engine ... Defective ignition or loose wiring... Defective battery ... Spark plug dirty or improper gap ... ENGINE OPERATES IRREGULARLY OR KNOCKS Engine incorrectly timed ...
Possible Cause Air cleaner clogged ... Engine overload ... Engine overheated... Fuel tank air vent clogged ... Air leakage between carburetor and engine ... Incorrect timing or faulty ignition ... Brake dragging... Insufficient cooling air — dirt or debris clogging the: air intake screen •...
Approx. Cub Cadet Drive System Fluid Plus 6 qts NOTE: Cub Cadet Drive System Fluid Plus is specially formulated for this application. If any other oil is used Cub Cadet will not be responsible for substandard performance. Failures due to use of improper fluid are not covered by warranty.
The service life and reliability of any machine depends upon the care it is given. Proper lubrication is a very important part of that care. This lubrication schedule reflects the minimal requirements to maintain the equipment. More frequent inspections and maintenance is preferable. NOTE: We do not recommend the use of a pressure washer or garden hose to clean your unit.
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—Before Each Use 1. Engine filler cap and dipstick 2. Transmission oil level and fill port —After Every 10 Hours of Operation 3. Steering knuckles (2) (both sides) 4. Transmission oil filter 5. Front axle pivot bolt 6. Foot and lift control pivot points 7.
SLOPE GAUGE (Keep this sheet in a safe place for future reference.)
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MANUFACTURER’S ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY The limited warranty set forth below is given by CUB CADET CORPORATION (“CUB CADET”) with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its possessions and territories. CUB CADET warrants this product against defects in material...
August 1, 1997 for residential users, commencing on the date of original purchase or lease and CUB CADET will, at its option, repair or replace, free of charge, any PTO clutch or mounting hardware found to be defective in material or workmanship provided this product has been operated and maintained as set forth above.
MAINTENANCE PARTS CHART MODEL 2176 ENGINE OIL Engine Oil Requirements approx. . . 4 pints Cub Cadet engine oil Ambient temperature viscosity (Grade SG or SH) Above +32°F Below +32°F Air Filter Requirements AIR FILTER Clean air filter per instructions in your Operator’s Manual .
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