722 hours and the K46 in my 2015 Cub Cadet is still running fine, even mowing on somewhat hilly terrain. (even used for plowing snow for 6 winters) It's oil replaced every 2 years with synthetic 5W-40 diesel oil. Also making sure the cooling fan isn't damaged and the fins clean.
My 2023 mower lasted 33 hours before the 3 of the springs in the pistons broke and tore up the pump block. I wonder if they make more money selling transmissions or the parts to keep this junk working. If they were at all concerned about reliability there would be a drain plug and access to the filter. Cub Cadet said the tractor is a throw away by another.
Being installed in every box store lawn mower doesn't make me think ( popular ) but I've worked on the k46 and it's simple and has its place . It's probably a cheaper option and it's earned it's spot in the world without doubt
What should have been done is installed the drain plugs in the first place not hard to do but should have been done and a better filter design so you don't have to take it apart change the filter again not hard to do but it is a hassle if they had done that it would have been much easier for the average person to take better care of it but they just want you to throw it away and buy another one
I agree, easier oil change would help. I understand that John Deere puts 10W30 oil in trans at factory and that's too light anyway. I have the John Deere L 101 and it seems to me the whole thing is designed to fail in short order, the Briggs and Stratton motor is a hideous design with a large splash block on the crank. I would think a gear to gear drive would last much longer but could make shifting from forward to reverse more difficult.
The k46 transaxle on my John Deere will not hold itself on a hill. To fix this I was curious with the adjusting bolt on the side of the transaxle is used for?
Right! Fluid checking does suck. But really dont need to check if you dont see leaking. For good measure, I added the drainplug kit and change oil annualy.
May be true but mine still works/sounds like it did new at 701 hrs. Untouched in 17 yrs. so spending 2 hrs. to R&R tranny which must be done to change filter isn't really any big deal. I believed the lie that oil couldn't be changed and wished I knew better. Good unit for what it's designed to do.
@@jefffrayer8238 So how did you change yours? what drill size, plug size and oil. I think this is my tranny in my 2010 john deere x320 I was going to drill a hole and tap it without taking it apart or dismounting it. But I have no problems with it mowing a small yard on a flat surface. 300 plus hours I think is almost like new. 🙂
@@mikespain8655Completely and totally wrong. You can service them just like you can do every single other transaction. You can change the oil fairly easy.
@@mikespain8655 Agree. Just checked the oil level in my K46 for the first time in 15 years. Was not going as fast or pulling as well; topped it up with 20W50 and it is back to normal.
K46 trans designed to last (designed to fail) after about 300 hours of use (you can get 600 hours here and there), then a rebuild kit is ~$500 May as well just get a new one, right? $750.... well, may as well just buy a new lawn mower if you'respending $700... its really a dumb thing to design things with such low service life. Oh... drain plugs are a "premium feature" 🤦♂️
It's not junk, but it certainly isn't the best quality, this thing will heat and degrade heavily with hill use, some seals are prone to crack after 800-1000 hours use, this can lead to oil leaking. Unfortunately I would suggest to anyone to remove this component after 5 years or 750 hours and service it, this will help it run for another 5 years or 750 hours. If not done this trans will fail between 1000 to 1500 hours
People really need to learn how to Maintain their appointment. I have one of these With probably over a 1000 hours on it And I Have Moved a F 150. It used to have a 21 horse single cylinder. Now it has A 810cc Vanguard Briggs and stradden. You can change the oil. You can take transexual out and tip it upside down. Or you can buy a cheap vacuum pump. That's $340. Give or take for a brand new pump And everything else you need. The people that say if they fail, you probably just needed to change the oil. Conventional oil. The one I have really likes 20 weight 50.
Exactly. Change the oil and if you push it harder than it's designed for change the oil more often. A few quarts of oil it's cheap compared to replacing a transmission. The same people that complain it's bad and don't last long are the same people that never do proper maintenance on their car and they use that every day.
these are JUNK the worst you can buy , the people commenting on this !! what are they thinking ? these break down more than any other trans,,,, one more time !!! JUNK !!!
722 hours and the K46 in my 2015 Cub Cadet is still running fine,
even mowing on somewhat hilly terrain. (even used for plowing snow for 6 winters)
It's oil replaced every 2 years with synthetic 5W-40 diesel oil.
Also making sure the cooling fan isn't damaged and the fins clean.
My 2023 mower lasted 33 hours before the 3 of the springs in the pistons broke and tore up the pump block. I wonder if they make more money selling transmissions or the parts to keep this junk working. If they were at all concerned about reliability there would be a drain plug and access to the filter. Cub Cadet said the tractor is a throw away by another.
Being installed in every box store lawn mower doesn't make me think ( popular ) but I've worked on the k46 and it's simple and has its place . It's probably a cheaper option and it's earned it's spot in the world without doubt
What should have been done is installed the drain plugs in the first place not hard to do but should have been done and a better filter design so you don't have to take it apart change the filter again not hard to do but it is a hassle if they had done that it would have been much easier for the average person to take better care of it but they just want you to throw it away and buy another one
I agree, easier oil change would help. I understand that John Deere puts 10W30 oil in trans at factory and that's too light anyway. I have the John Deere L 101 and it seems to me the whole thing is designed to fail in short order, the Briggs and Stratton motor is a hideous design with a large splash block on the crank. I would think a gear to gear drive would last much longer but could make shifting from forward to reverse more difficult.
The k46 transaxle on my John Deere will not hold itself on a hill. To fix this I was curious with the adjusting bolt on the side of the transaxle is used for?
Explains the system well. Just not easy to check the fluid level while installed
I work on them quite a bit, and I totally agree! Its the easiest having it out, or if you have a rear battery mower
Right!
Fluid checking does suck. But really dont need to check if you dont see leaking.
For good measure, I added the drainplug kit and change oil annualy.
May be true but mine still works/sounds like it did new at 701 hrs. Untouched in 17 yrs. so spending 2 hrs. to R&R tranny which must be done to change filter isn't really any big deal. I believed the lie that oil couldn't be changed and wished I knew better. Good unit for what it's designed to do.
@@benjurqunov info on the drain plug kit and oil please.
@@jefffrayer8238 So how did you change yours? what drill size, plug size and oil. I think this is my tranny in my 2010 john deere x320 I was going to drill a hole and tap it without taking it apart or dismounting it. But I have no problems with it mowing a small yard on a flat surface. 300 plus hours I think is almost like new. 🙂
Wish l had one of these when l played with my "tinker-toy set.
Sounds like Tuvac
Works great in my Craftsman mower!
200 hours on. My John Deere x300 and it’s toast. I agree junk.
What’s the ideal periodicity to change the oil? Thanks.
These units are considered " non serviceable", so never, or rarely get oil changed.
@@mikespain8655Completely and totally wrong. You can service them just like you can do every single other transaction. You can change the oil fairly easy.
@@mikespain8655 Agree. Just checked the oil level in my K46 for the first time in 15 years. Was not going as fast or pulling as well; topped it up with 20W50 and it is back to normal.
K46 trans designed to last (designed to fail) after about 300 hours of use (you can get 600 hours here and there), then a rebuild kit is ~$500
May as well just get a new one, right? $750.... well, may as well just buy a new lawn mower if you'respending $700... its really a dumb thing to design things with such low service life. Oh... drain plugs are a "premium feature" 🤦♂️
How can you release such a gearbox without a drain plug for changing the oil?
A deliberate act to shorten the lifespan and force you to buy a new one.
While it's not as easy as a drain plug, you can change the oil by removing the transaxle from the tractor and draining it out of the fill port.
The technology looks great but fails a lot.
Exactly
@@donaldstrishock3923 fails alot? Tell me where you got your BS information from make it legitimate I'll know if you're spewing BS
They fail when they aren’t used as intended, like using a mower to do jobs which are meant for sub compact tractors.
They work fine within a what a lawn tractor is intended for.
I have 800 hours on 3/4 acre hillside, 3/4 acre level ground
Just wish we could change the oil in it !
Junk
PRECISELY
It's not junk, but it certainly isn't the best quality, this thing will heat and degrade heavily with hill use, some seals are prone to crack after 800-1000 hours use, this can lead to oil leaking. Unfortunately I would suggest to anyone to remove this component after 5 years or 750 hours and service it, this will help it run for another 5 years or 750 hours. If not done this trans will fail between 1000 to 1500 hours
People really need to learn how to Maintain their appointment. I have one of these With probably over a 1000 hours on it And I Have Moved a F 150. It used to have a 21 horse single cylinder. Now it has A 810cc Vanguard Briggs and stradden. You can change the oil. You can take transexual out and tip it upside down. Or you can buy a cheap vacuum pump. That's $340. Give or take for a brand new pump And everything else you need. The people that say if they fail, you probably just needed to change the oil. Conventional oil. The one I have really likes 20 weight 50.
Exactly. Change the oil and if you push it harder than it's designed for change the oil more often. A few quarts of oil it's cheap compared to replacing a transmission. The same people that complain it's bad and don't last long are the same people that never do proper maintenance on their car and they use that every day.
Won't last long
these are JUNK the worst you can buy , the people commenting on this !! what are they thinking ? these break down more than any other trans,,,, one more time !!! JUNK !!!
So….what are you trying to say ..that this is JUNK…..😊