Glenn, you were absolutely right. I received your e-mail about midnight last night and had to check it out. I went to my barn about 12:30AM, started the tractor and flipped the lever and away we went. I was ecstatic. I have been lost without my tractor. I am thrilled it was something so simple but when I read your post it made sense. I have found myself using this tractor about everyday. Right now I am fencing my 20 acres, have three pastures that need bushhogged and am putting up hay. I lost two days of fencing when the tractor went down, or so I thought.
If anyone wanted to get in the business of speciallizing in Iseki repairs, I think they would be overwhelmed with business. When the right front axle broke on this tractor last year the only reasonable supplier of parts I could locate was Derrick at Rainbow in Honolulu. I found other dealers but Derrick was half the price of the others. Still, it took almost three months to get the correct parts and get the tractor repaired.
When I bought the tractor I asked specifically about parts availibility and was told I could get parts at any tractor supply. BS I was also told I would be provided with a repair manual in english and decals in english.
Due in part to the lack of english decals on this tractor, when I begun using it I just set the controls at a setting that seemed to work for all my needs. I have not sense used the speed controls so didn't even think of checking them. Apparently as you said, when I shifted in the seat to watch my auger my butt moved the lever into the nuetral position. This was a very good lesson.
I love this tractor and it has done everything I have asked of it. I have been very impressed with it. However, I was about convinced to go to my local John Deere dealer and buy a much more expensive tractor just for dependability and relaibility. With this message board and the kind folks such as Glenn, I hope to use this tractor for many years. It is small but mighty. In clearing my woods I had to get in many tight spots I could not get into with a larger tractor. There appear to be many Iseki owners so maybe parts and service will become more readily available.
Again, many thanks to this message board and the kind advice of Glenn.