Will Kohler K482 fit in frame of 982/1872-2072?

[mikeinspangle]

I just got a CC 982 with a bad motor. I have a good running Kohler K482 that I would like to use in this wide frame body (982 and 1872/2071). Has anyone here done that or seen someone else do that successfully. Also curious about whether you had to fabricate a custom coupling hub (motor to drive shaft going back to Sunstrand) or found a coupling hub currently available from cub parts sources. Thanks for your input.

[dag1450]

Welcome Mike! Looks like u r in uncharted territories with your engine swap. I did a quick search and only saw it is an 18 hp. Im not familiar with the 482, maybe u could give us some history ...what was it in prior and maybe some pic of the flywheel side of the motor could shed some light on things. Does this engine have a pto on the other end.... that can also b a big deal if u plan to mow with the tractor. Your 982 is a sweet tractor and highly sought after in the cub world so just make sure u dont do anything in hast that could devalue the tractor. Good luck Dave

[mikeinspangle]

I went ahead and got the K482 up on the tractor with an engine hoist to see how tight it was going to be and found that actually it could fit ok if it wasn't for the sheet metal cooling shroud. The 982 has a very wide space to put an engine, but the K482's sheet metal is just to wide. Don't want to chance not having the cooling that the shroud gives. The K482 and its larger hp siblings are all cast iron with a pretty large oil capacity (1 gallon), big bearings, etc.- all kinds of good qualities for longevity. The one I have has been rebuilt and runs very smoothly.

Since the K482 doesn't fit, it looks like I will set it aside and look at a Vanguard, which seems to be popular as re-power engine for Cubs. My 982 is in pretty good shape and I was hoping to keep it fairly original (except for the engine). It is my understanding that I won't need to make any frame modifications for using a Vanguard--is that true? Do the 18 hp, 20 hp, and 23 hp all fit the same (they appear the same in the pictures) in the 982 frame?

[Tom Scott]

Mike - Welcome aboard here!

I don't know the specifics of the Vanguard swap, but I would lean towards a Kohler Command. The later Supers came with Kohler Commands, so you could just get the motor plate and other specific items to fit it from a parted that SGT originally had one.

The Kohler Command is a good engine. The only negative I have heard is that if oil changes weren't kept up on they tend to eat a rod bearing. Something to keep in mind if you find a used one that is running, good to know the engine's history if available. I wouldn't be too worried about it, lots of used tractors bought with Commands that run good.

Either would make a good tractor when you are done, but the Command would probably be the easier bolt and go (and they sound good too!).

Keep us posted. Start a thread here of the swap so we can follow along. And pics, we like pics.

[JMotuzick]

I just did a mag18 swap from a early cyclops into a 982 I have. That same tractor came with a 46" deck they both are in the 982 and mowing nicely! Great engine direct bolt in swap I just added a relay found in the cyclops to turn the coil/points ignition to the newer solid state. I'm not sure I want to keep this one yet but I think I want to try out my 451 blower on it first....

[Tom Scott]

As Joes says, a Magnum 18 or 20 swap would be great too, I just figured it is getting harder to find them in good shape. If you can find one the Magnum is a great engine and that is an easy bolt in with stock parts.

Hey Joe, forgive me if I have beat this drum at you before, but you will need the large (6") pto on that Magnum to drive the 451 at the proper speed. The older small (4.6") pto won't drive that 451 fast enough to work well at all. If you have the smaller pto found on everything up until the middle of the Cyclops run you will need a 450 blower.

Likewise the 46" deck was sold with both the early tractors and the later Cyclops. The center double pulley was changed to correct the speed for the larger pto. Set up for the small pto the 46" deck is a model 336, set up for the large pto the 46" deck is a model 321. Easy to convert with a new double pulley.

Ok, done hijacking thread...

[JMotuzick]

Tom
The deck and the engine came from the same tractor so i'm good there……
The 451 does need the newer/larger 6" pto and i have one here on the shelf, i just need to swap it out, so i can test her out!

[Tom Scott]

Joe - Very good. If you really like both the blower and the deck and are going to keep the whole deal, you can then just get the new double pulley for the later version of the 46" deck (Model 321) (and the correct new belt for the larger pulleys). Then you would be all set. The large pto is a better set-up anyway; they went to that to have less belt slip as the tractor hp was continuing to go up. That would be easier than swapping the pto twice a year!