Lawn Tractor Tranny Issues

[CapriRestorer]

Hi guys, I recently bought an MTD Yard Machines riding mower. The mower apparently sat for a while before I bought it. When I tried to move it, the rear wheels started slipping in the opposite direction in which I was pulling it. The mower was in first gear (since it is an old 7 speed) and the transmission lever was set in neutral (but the wheels still acted up like the tranny was engaged). Sometimes the wheels would start to roll in the right direction, but only for a short time. I used to have a Craftsman lawn tractor with the same problem. The tranny worked fine when the engine ran, but it would always lock up when I tried to move it. I have no knowlege of transmission issues, so I have no idea what the problem is. Does anyone know the cure to this issue??

Thanks for reading,
Capri

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Lawn Tractor Tranny Issues

Mowers with a hydrostatic transmission will do what you describe. Usually there is a method for disengaging the transmission for pushing it while the engine is off. Mine have a lever near the rear wheels you have to position for manual pushing.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Lawn Tractor Tranny Issues

What MBS said - there should be a free wheeling lever somewhere on your machine.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Lawn Tractor Tranny Issues

Hi guys, I recently bought an MTD Yard Machines riding mower. The mower apparently sat for a while before I bought it. When I tried to move it, the rear wheels started slipping in the opposite direction in which I was pulling it. The mower was in first gear (since it is an old 7 speed) and the transmission lever was set in neutral (but the wheels still acted up like the tranny was engaged). Sometimes the wheels would start to roll in the right direction, but only for a short time. I used to have a Craftsman lawn tractor with the same problem. The tranny worked fine when the engine ran, but it would always lock up when I tried to move it. I have no knowlege of transmission issues, so I have no idea what the problem is. Does anyone know the cure to this issue??

Thanks for reading,
Capri

A 7 speed manual transmission would not have a hydrostatic drive... it has a manual gearbox like any other. The gear selector may be slightly off in position (happens often it the shift gate moves) and just picking the wrong gear.

Does it drive? Why were you pulling it? If it has to be dragged around, lift it by its rear wheels so you dont destroy the diff.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Lawn Tractor Tranny Issues

Mine has a seperate tiny lever that just hooks back and I can freewheel it.

 

[CapriRestorer]

Re: Lawn Tractor Tranny Issues

Well, the mower does not have a Hydrostatic Transmission, and it does not have a transmission freeing rod (I have seen those on some of the mowers that I have fixed). The mower currently does not run. I bought it as a project from a guy who claimed to have let it sit for an incredibly long time. He put a good battery on it and the motor wouldn't even turn (we had to play with the starter, and eventually it woke up and started to turn the mower:redface. It apparently drained the batteries really fast. He gave me three batteries that were less than a year old and all three were ruined. The guy went and bought him a new Toro after he got fed up with this one. Anyway, the transmission seemed to lock up on him as well. He claimed that it would work when he drove it, but not when he pushed it. I did notice that the speed shifter seemed to move really easily. I think Knot Waiting has a point about the gear selector being slighty off position. I bet that's exactly what is wrong with it.

Thanks for the replies,
Capri

 

[CapriRestorer]

Re: Lawn Tractor Tranny Issues

A 7 speed manual transmission would not have a hydrostatic drive... it has a manual gearbox like any other. The gear selector may be slightly off in position (happens often it the shift gate moves) and just picking the wrong gear.

Does it drive? Why were you pulling it? If it has to be dragged around, lift it by its rear wheels so you dont destroy the diff.

Hi Knot Waiting, this sounds like the problem I am having with the mower. Do you know how to fix a gear selector??

Thanks again for the reply,
Capri

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Lawn Tractor Tranny Issues

Hi Knot Waiting, this sounds like the problem I am having with the mower. Do you know how to fix a gear selector??

Thanks again for the reply,
Capri

In most cases the gear selector can be adjusted by bending the lever to better fit the shift gate. Sometimes however, the entire shift gate moves. This will happen more often when the gate is a seperate bolt on unit (not one cut into the fender). In that case bending the individual ears of the gate will work or re-positioning the entire gate.

That is the most simple and common repair, if you cant seem to get it tuned in using those methods you may have another problem.. I noticed you mentioned the lever moves very easy, this may be a sign of poorly adjusted or heavily worn linkage/clutchpacks.