Cub Cadet 2100 Series Mowers Drive Shaft Barrel Installation

I used a craftsman 13/16” socket to hold the barrels in place in the collar. The socket is pushed out when the driveshaft is inserted into the barrels. I removed the deck, front side panels and rear body. I left the driveshaft in place during the process.

[@JohnByTheCreek]

Very clever idea!! Well done!

[@dannyrucker5748]

Thank you for the information. Mine just went out

[@JohnByTheCreek]

You're welcome! Read the comments. Over the years this video has been up, other guys have left repair tips of their own. Might help you get the job done!! Cheers!!

[@philliphall5198]

I’ve only done one and used wheel bearings grease and press😊

[@jefferyvickery4301]

I'm not taking my drive shaft out either. I'm going to grease up my barrels & put them on the drive shaft all at once. And I'm going to cheat & use a rubber band around them as another fellow has done. We learn from others, but we must give them the credit due to them. This one video showed a fellow taking the whole top off of his CubCadet. I'm sorry but I don't have that amount of patience.I thank this fellow for showing us his repair video!

[@RafaMorfLuos]

Super great video. Thank you very much!

[@JohnByTheCreek]

You're welcome! Glad you found it useful!

[@jeffreymiller374]

Think you great idea

[@cliffconnell5081]

So glad I watched this video. Saved me $150 dollars. My local cub cadet dealer could only see replacing the drive shaft. Well with the part number you provided I was able to do both ends for $30 dollars. I am so glad I checked on KZbin before I made the mistake of replacing the whole thing when it was not necessary. And your tip of applying grease made it so easy. Took me about 10 minutes to do both ends. Thank you for your tips. This was done on a 16 year old mower, and as long as it is not burning oil I will continue to keep it up and running.

[@JohnByTheCreek]

Glad it helped, Cliff. My Cub is about 25 years old now, and the deck is about shot....but she's still running! l'll keep patching until the bitter end!

[@Alex-je6od]

Just had my Cub Cadet drive die with an unholy noise. Pulled the top and every drive barrel was gone lol. Thanks for showing how it's supposed to look and the part numbers :-)

[@JohnByTheCreek]

When my ex-wife dies, I bet she'll make similar noises.....unholy. Glad the video helped you out! Cheers!!

[@philliphall5198]

Thanks 😊

[@whurd8871]

I wish I had seen this before ordering my $250 drive shaft!

[@JohnByTheCreek]

I know, Man! But I'm not surprised that a dealer wants to sell the most expensive solution when they can!!

[@danslawncare8594]

Good job but I just did my GTX 2100 and I replaced the hole shaft and in order to get the shaft back in the mower I had to pull the engine and take one end of the shaft apart put in in the tractor then put the barrel assembly together at the rear end. I was a real pain.

[@jamesrichardson771]

Prrretty' slick there young man 💥 🛠

[@HanzelFonferek]

Awesome video!

[@johnkennedy2612]

Thank you very much I'm working on the same thing I got to order me some of the barrels

[@JohnByTheCreek]

You bet, John. Glad it helped!

[@h20togo6]

Good info thanks

[@JohnByTheCreek]

You bet!!

[@mitchrenee]

Thank you!

[@calvinwray9093]

Just had to do my Cub Mower But i was able to install all 16 barrels with the driveshaift still in mower I just removed the Deck , then unbolted & slid the Engine all ways forward Removed the front Collar from Engine Flywheel then the Driveshaft slid forward & I was able to install the 8 barrels in the rear with the collar still bolted to the Diff from underneath the mower i had the whole mower up on some Jack Stands & with the Deck removed I had no problem getting to the rear collar to install the 8 barrels I used a hose clamp to Squeeze & hold them in place on the driveshaft end I did use little grease on the barrels then did same to front slid engine back & bolted front collar back on engine Bolted engine all back up installed deck & Battery then Engine side Panel covers (Only panels i had to remove ) & was Back to Mowing . almost forgot got the barrels at my local Mower shop for $16.50 a set 8

[@JohnByTheCreek]

Hey Calvin: Thanks for your comment! Maybe some guy who needs to do this job will read it and give it a try! There's more than one way to skin a cat!

[@HanzelFonferek]

Hears my link to my video on how to do it without removing the drive shaft!👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6fOgIOJjpaEpZY

[@billmalec]

Just got finished doing this on the engine side of a GT2554. Those cushions go in much easier than it looks with this method. Mine were still in good condition. I had removed the engine to replace the main seals and much to my surprise the shaft wouldn't go back in easily without replacing those this way. I used bearing grease to hold them in place. Only takes a tiny dab.

[@jimmytaylor1754]

Thanks good stuff

[@freezeinak]

Great video about the dreaded drive barrels. I used a rubber band stretched around all 8 barrels and then slipped the 4 bolt cover over all of them at one time. The rubber band will roll off the back as it goes on around the barrels.

[@JohnByTheCreek]

Dude: I like the rubber band idea! My brain never made it that far after I failed trying to use a tie wrap. Was it easier than what I did in this video??

[@freezeinak]

Yeah, with the lube on the barrels the cap fits right down on the drive barrels if it's aligned correctly. The rubber band method works especially well if you just want to replace the front barrels with the drive shaft still in a horizontal position. The cap can still just stay bolted to the engine. You will however have to loosen the 4 bolts that hold the motor to the frame which in of itself is no easy task. There are cooling fins on the Kohler engine right down by the engine block bolts which prevents you from getting a socket over the nuts cause there aint enough room due to the cooling fins. Maybe it's just easier to remove the metal cap that goes over the drive barrels instead of loosening the motor.

[@JohnByTheCreek]

freezeinak That's great info!! I'm going to put some text in the info box above to direct people to your comment and technique. You ought to shoot a video and post it if you ever have to do it again. I couldn't find any good videos when I posted mine. Thanks for sharing your information!! Hopefully, it will help the next guy trying to replace a set of these barrels for the first time!!

[@Don_2773]

I used bearing grease. held them in just fine till i got the collar on

[@siaripop7]

Johnny..... Great video! I was wondering about the rattling noise I had at the engine and no power. I figured it was a driveshaft problem but didn't realize they were using those barrels as a damper and the flex needed for alignment until I saw this video.

[@JohnByTheCreek]

Glad you got something from it, Marc. As you saw, the barrels are easy to install. The most time consuming part of the repair, is the tear-down so you can get to the drive shaft. Nothing unusual and no special tools needed. Just some patience.

[@rudedawg5087]

Great video thanks. I have a Cub Cadet series 2000 model 2166 that will be starting it's 15th year of service in 2018.

[@JohnByTheCreek]

Rude Dawg You bet!! Glad it helped! If you are planning on replacing the barrels, you might want to read the exchange between me and freezeinak in this comment section. He said he used a rubber band to hold the barrels in place, and it worked well.

[@iemcdougald]

you're a fine american

[@JohnByTheCreek]

+Guns McPewpew You obviously have never talked to my ex-wife!!! :)

[@laneweever2620]

What?! No dancing girls?! Ahhhh well.... hard on concentration anyway.