Hydrogear transaxle issue

guzzijohn · Oct 14, 2018

Yesterday I mowed the 2nd time with my LT100 w B&S 21 swap engine. All is well except this time it wouldn't go forward gradually but suddenly grab w lever farther down. Reverse is fine. When doing swap I checked trans oil and it was up and clean. At that time I didn't know the proper level so need to check again. My thinking is that low level would effect it in both directions. UPDATE-went tom check and yes I never got the bloody torx plug out b4 just took off tank and put probe into that hole. Will cut a groove in plug for flat blade and impact.

guzzijohn · Oct 14, 2018

ok, plug is out. Oil is up tp bottom of threads-approximately 1/2". I've seen one site says that is good another says 1"+(have to look up again to see exact number). I'll add a drain plug now and refill. Oil is slightly cloudy but certainly wouldn't change it if it were in an engine. I'm thinking it is a valving issue or internal leak in forward oil circuit.

HillStreet · Oct 14, 2018

guzzijohn said:
ok, plug is out. Oil is up tp bottom of threads-approximately 1/2". I've seen one site says that is good another says 1"+(have to look up again to see exact number). I'll add a drain plug now and refill. Oil is slightly cloudy but certainly wouldn't change it if it were in an engine. I'm thinking it is a valving issue or internal leak in forward oil circuit.

I have a Kubota Z125S with hydro gear transmissions. For what its worth I went to the dealer to purchase base fluids and filters to do my transmission oil change. The service manager and the operators manual say that bleeding the air out of the transmission is critical. I will probably do mine next week after the last cut.

guzzijohn · Oct 15, 2018

It just got weirder. Today I added new shift lever tension spring and PTO cable. The PTO pivot was sticking so greased that. Started and it wouldn't stay running w brake off. Fiddled w safety switches and finally stayed running. Warm up timer or funky switch?? Anyway now it drives fine-creeps both ways even at low throttle. I can't believe those parts did it but don't know. I've dealt w many "MACHINE GREMLINS" over the years. At least won't be tearing it apart. We'll see what it does next Spring.

Kyle_in_Tex · Oct 15, 2018

guzzijohn said:
It just got weirder. Today I added new shift lever tension spring and PTO cable. The PTO pivot was sticking so greased that. Started and it wouldn't stay running w brake off. Fiddled w safety switches and finally stayed running. Warm up timer or funky switch?? Anyway now it drives fine-creeps both ways even at low throttle. I can't believe those parts did it but don't know. I've dealt w many "MACHINE GREMLINS" over the years. At least won't be tearing it apart. We'll see what it does next Spring.

Make sure the belt pulley isn't stripped or slipping on the tranny shaft.

Hope you're not trying to push snow with this unit.

guzzijohn · Oct 16, 2018

No pushing, got 2 snowblowers for that.

HillStreet · Nov 11, 2018

Hey Guzzi, just wondering how it all worked out. No troubles? I haven’t done3 my project yet, will prolly wait for spring now.

guzzijohn · Dec 26, 2018

Sorry took so long to notice message. Tractor is fine had operator error ie pushing brake pedal when not needed. Might also have been sticky safety switches-I fiddled w them and somehow all is well. Now I'm deep into restoring 8/26 craftsman tracker-swapped one of my OBs for it. Can't live W/O projects.