Those are common issues with the 5488. I dont know if it is even possible for the updates to be put in at a farm shop, so pretty much all of them should be documented with the serial number.

 They are an open center hydraulic system and somewhat problematic in certain applications.

 The 2 speed is likely just a simple solenoid or whatever they call them, issue.

 The range shifter seems to be a tractor to tractor issue, and I believe somewhat cause by cab mounts. Mine would go into reverse fine, but not medium. I had to hold the lever in medium for about 20 minutes from the first start up in morning. Then it was fine.

 The fuse panel under the steering column is very problematic and should be replaced with something more robust.

 The battery location is a joke to the tenth power. I finally built a tray and bolted it to the frame on the side of the engine and installed 2 group 31s with new large cables. Talk about spin the engine over, wow.

 I dont know what year they went to the square tube front axle, but if either one you are looking at have the old round tube axle that looks about the size if the axle in the cub, plan on it breaking, and breaking a lot. Even just sitting in the barn, if a bird lands on the exhaust pipe, those small front axles will snap. I bought an axle from Abilene machine from under a magnum (or so they called it) and adapted it to the 5488 bolster. That took care of that issue.

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