The CC682 is a prime example of "they don't make 'em like this anymore". That alone makes it worth the money to see if it is repairable. However, if I recall correctly the 682 used Kohler's KT17 Series I engine, which isn't a particularly well designed engine. Many failed due to low oil and if yours is this engine, it may have suffered the same fate.

Now, the newer Kohlers are good engines, but they certainly aren't head and shoulders above other offerings, especially those from Kawasaki and Honda.

You might look into having a replacement engine installed into your 682. This should make it run "like new" and you would have much more tractor than what you could buy new for the same money.

To some extent, I don't disagree with johnsinva but since you already have thirty-years use out of this unit, it might be time to wave goodbye to it. Yes, it is one of the real good Cub's but everything on it has thirty-years of wear and tear. If the repair work could be carried out by you, your husband or a family member, then that would be different. Your outlay to put a new engine in would be substantially less thus making it much more practical.

Other things are going to need repair and replacement, such as deck bearings, front wheel bearings, tie rod and drag link ends etc.

I would expect that it would cost at least two grand to have the motor replaced in your tractor and that much money would go a long way toward buying a new GT equal to what you now have.

Kohler Command Pro, Kawasaki, Honda and Vanguard engines are all top rated motors. Kohler Courage and Brigg's Intek are not built to last as long as the first group but that does not make them a bad engine. They are made to fit a certain price point and often give very good service.

Twins are the norm these days but there isn't anything wrong with having a single either, providing it is of the same calibre as the twin, if you are making comparisons. As an example, Kohler Command engines can be had with either one or two cylinders but I am not aware of a Vanguard single. Therefore, it isn't fair to compare a Briggs single to a Kohler Command single because those engines are built to different standards.

While it might be a good idea to have your CC looked at, the person assessing it should not limit his investigation to just the motor. He should be checking over the entire tractor with a view to seeing what needs to be replaced NOW and also in the imminent future. Having that information will help you decide your course of action.

Johnsinva, you are absolutely right that it is a Kohler KT17. We are very faithful about oil changes and checking the oil level before mowing. I am just not sure how long the oil was leaking when I was mowing. It is now reading about 1/4 full but it did leak out quite a bit on the garage floor.

Castoff, thanks for the heads up on things for us to make sure we know before making a decision on repairs. The information you gave on motors was very helpful and I am wondering just how much weight the "kind" of engine a mower has carries in making a decison on which tractor to buy. In other words, is that the first thing to look at?

Thanks for these informative responses. I apreciate the help. Zoey

Don't assume that a new cubbie will be as good as that 30 year old model.

Read some of the CC reviews on www.compacttractorreview.com. My own cubbie was not bad, with one failing. I'll suggest that the higher end cubs (those with shaft drives) are still probably worth the money, but the low end models seem to have serious problems. IMHO, CC has damaged their brand with the low end models in many big box stores. The result? A bad perception of all CC models when resale comes up.

Unfortunately, we had to sell our cubbie after only 4 years of moderate use. It brought almost exactly the same amount of money as did a considerably smaller, lighter JD 160 that was 15 years old and quite beat up.

So, if you do want a cubbie, find a used one with a shaft drive in good shape. You will probably get a great deal on it.

John

Here is a link that might be useful: CC reviews