1st rider, husq LTH130

[ghost civic]

Finally found a cheap enough rider! Just $150.
I believe this is a '96-'98 model. It has some rust and needs some paint, but everything seems to be in working order.

The hydrostatic trans does whine tho. The guy I bought it from had not used it yet this year. I have looked up how to purge the system of air and will try that soon...but is there nothing else to do to the trans? I see that some you can change the oil, but not on the husqavarna?

There is a good amount of play in the steering. I can move the steering wheel 1/3 turn before the wheels turn. However, if I turn the wheels by hand even a little...the steering wheel will move. what part is most likely to cause this?

I have one commercial lawn that I will be using this rider on...so about 2 acres each week of use. I want to tune up the machine as best I can before I start using it. I got it pretty cheap, but want to make sure it lasts me a few years. Having not owned a rider before, other than looking at the belts, tires and engine oil level...im not sure what things I should be looking over. any tips would be helpful.

 

[Sysop]

Welcome to TBN!

Hydro whine can be a bad thing. Some can be serviced even being unserviceable. They're just more difficult. I've seen a few that just had really slow leaks and the fluid was low. Topping off with new fluid quieted them down.

Not sure what transaxle you have in there, but there is a thread on here documenting the rebuild of one of the small and more common hydro transaxles.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/164892-tufftorq-k46-repair-guide-pictures.html

My craftsman has a lot of play in the steering, but it's been that way since new and never caused a problem or got worse. The JD I have is essentially the same tractor and doesn't have nearly the play in the steering. I've found I actually like the slop in the steering as it doesn't transmit every bump up through the steering as badly as the tighter JD steering.

2 acres on a small hydro may not work out well long term if there is much slopes. They tend to last longest on flat ground in short bursts. Hills and running for a long time heats them up and shortens the life.

 

[ghost civic]

the 2 acres is flat. It might not even be a full 2 acres...and I generally split it up into 2 sections (2 different days)

Ill look into the steering play more...the play itself doesn't bother me, I just want to make sure something isn't loose and about to fall apart.

I tried to do the air purge according to the owners manual...but it doesn't like to stay in free-wheeling mode. I can pull the lever on the back out and it will be in free wheel mode, but as soon as I let go of that lever it goes back into drive mode. The cotter pin that is supposed to hold it in free wheel mode is actually too far up the lever (or rather, you have to pull the lever out further than it should have to in order to get it into free wheel mode)

Engine fires right up tho! Smells a tad rich...but I have yet to run it for more than a couple of minutes (raining all day today)

 

[Sysop]

On both my craftsman and john deere there is a 'cog' piece that fits into the steering wheel and over the shaft. They are designed different and is where the play is on the craftsman.

Pop a pair of vise-grips on the free-wheel lever to hold it in free-wheel mode for the purge. It is likely just bent somehow that makes it quirky. As long as it functions for your needs is all that matters.

Good luck!

 

[ghost civic]

I used vise grips to hold the lever...that did the trick! I did the purge as per manual and sure enough, the trans is now quieter!

Now im having trouble finding a replacement air filter. tried ebay and google searches but came up empty. I don't know if maybe I can wash the inner (main) filter?

I also plan to change the spark plug as soon as I can find one.