L110 with no torque

TheCommissioner · Apr 9, 2014

I have a L110 with 357 hours. Not sure what year. Anyway, I did the pre-season service on the unit and discovered the rear wheels are not getting any torque. When the mower is jacked up and the rear wheels are off the ground, they will turn forward or in reverse with application of the pedals, but they can easily be stopped with hand pressure. Needless to say, when the wheels are on the ground, they don't move with pedal application. According to my wife who ran the mower when I was in Afghanistan last year, sometimes the thing was slow to get in gear.

Tension in the drive pulley is good. The motor works fine. Everything else seems normal.

Any ideas what this might be and what the remedy is? Unfortunately I am unemployed and cannot afford a new unit or JD repair shop if serious so I am committed to a DIY repair. Thanks for all the responses! TBN is the best!

RandyT · Apr 9, 2014

Make sure the hydro bypass lever is pushed in on the back of the mower. It may look like a rod or just a wire. If it is pushed in, then you may be looking at more serious problems.

TheCommissioner · Apr 9, 2014

RANDYT said:
Make sure the hydro bypass lever is pushed in on the back of the mower. It may look like a rod or just a wire. If it is pushed in, then you may be looking at more serious problems.

It's pushed in. I just pulled the unit off to get the serial number. But not sure what parts I should be ordering.

RandyT · Apr 9, 2014

First think to check is make sure the pulley is actually turning the input shaft when the tranny is under load. Move the forward/reverse lever on tranny while turning belt pulley, to make sure it isn't stripped. After that what you need to do will vary by which tranny you have, and who made it.

buckshot721 · Apr 9, 2014

Might want to do a search for "TuffTorq K46 / John Deere L110 Transmission Repair Guide with Pictures" a lot of reading to go through.

bruceatlam · Apr 9, 2014

Jack it back up and then press the forward/rev pedal such that the wheels rotate. Next, stop them by hand as you indicate you can do. Observe the drive belt from the engine to transmission with the wheels stopped ---- is it still moving when you have the wheels stopped? If it is still moving then something is very wrong with the transmission or the the transmission drive pulley is loose??? If the belt stops when you stop the wheels then you need to replace/tighten the belt. At 350 hours, that belt needs to be replaced if it hasn't already been replaced.

Is there sufficient oil in the transmission?? Can you even add oil to that transmission??

Gator6x4 · Apr 9, 2014

Sorry about your problem. Really hate to provide this link for your review. Good luck. TuffTorq K46 Repair Guide with Pictures - Page 70

TheCommissioner · Apr 9, 2014

bruceatlam said:
Jack it back up and then press the forward/rev pedal such that the wheels rotate. Next, stop them by hand as you indicate you can do. Observe the drive belt from the engine to transmission with the wheels stopped ---- is it still moving when you have the wheels stopped? If it is still moving then something is very wrong with the transmission or the the transmission drive pulley is loose??? If the belt stops when you stop the wheels then you need to replace/tighten the belt. At 350 hours, that belt needs to be replaced if it hasn't already been replaced.

Is there sufficient oil in the transmission?? Can you even add oil to that transmission??

There was oil in the case. I pulled the cap off the magnetic pickup and the oil was at the base of the magnet. The magnet had very, very fine particles on it. No chips.

There was plenty of tension on the belt and the pulley was turning. The axle gears turn okay.

bruceatlam · Apr 10, 2014

I'm not sure what the oil level should be??? Can't help you any more ---- sounds like there's definitely a problem in the transmission. Go back to post #7.