Most lawn tractors with a hydrostatic drive have a control rod that you pull on at the rear of the tractor in order to make pushing the tractor easy. The GR2100 does not have one & it can be very tough to move when it won't or you don't have it running. The manual says not to tow it, but obviously you need to move it somehow without it running. Anyone with a solution?
Moving a GR2100.
- Thread starter popeye49
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David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
My G2160 is in the same boat, no gear selector and no manual Hydro relief valve. I can at least lift up the rear and tow it backwards as it is only rear wheel drive. The dealer did not have an answer for this either. Suppose I could use the forks on the big tractor but this is not much help for you.
David Kb7uns
David Kb7uns
leonz
Super Member
Another option would be a pair of the BXpanded carts built for the backhoe attachments?
If the If the mowers pump/transmission is direct drive from the engine bell housing its not going to move.
If its set up with a chain drive for the wheels one of the master links can be
broken and the chains removed to tow it.
An even better option now that I think of it is a pair of wrecker wheel dollies from
Towing | Recovery | Repo | Safety | Service Truck Equipment and Supplies - AW Direct
They have all sorts of things for wreckers and tow straps too.
If the If the mowers pump/transmission is direct drive from the engine bell housing its not going to move.
If its set up with a chain drive for the wheels one of the master links can be
broken and the chains removed to tow it.
An even better option now that I think of it is a pair of wrecker wheel dollies from
Towing | Recovery | Repo | Safety | Service Truck Equipment and Supplies - AW Direct
They have all sorts of things for wreckers and tow straps too.
locknut
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2006
- Messages
- 576
- Tractor
- Kubota
IIRC someone posted somewhere awhile back that there is a hex shaped valve on the tranny that can be loosened up to free wheel the tractor.Was not a clear explanation of exactly where it is.
leonz
Super Member
If the unit is a sullivan tranaxle it will have the bypass valve but it can only be moved at 2 MPH when bypassed and it will have no brakes-whoopsie.
I appreciate the help, but where is this valve?
leonz
Super Member
If you go the sullivan site the diagrams are available there, be sure to have it firmly blocked or chained to keep it from moving while you are under it.
its a case of being able to reach it if the mower does not have a flip up body to fully expose the motor and transmission.
It sounds like you might be thinking of a different animal. The GR2100 is a diesel lawn tractor with a 54" belly mower. I'm not sure if you're might be referring to a compact tractor or a zero turn, but what you're saying doesn't seem to jive with what I have.
OrangeRidge
Gold Member
Is this GR2100 WSM page of use to you ?
OrangeRidge
Gold Member
I guess it will be a plastic button , 1/3 - 1/2 across. Get a small mirror
and look around the casing. May well be accessable without removing
any form of shielding , otherwise that would be rather inpractical.
Just looked at my neighbour's ( they're away and I've keys )
and the button is countersunk underneath the casing at the
rear so it can be pressed whilst the mower is shoved along.
Sorry I didn't see this post ages ago , but I read the BX stuff ............
and look around the casing. May well be accessable without removing
any form of shielding , otherwise that would be rather inpractical.
Just looked at my neighbour's ( they're away and I've keys )
and the button is countersunk underneath the casing at the
rear so it can be pressed whilst the mower is shoved along.
Sorry I didn't see this post ages ago , but I read the BX stuff ............
Last edited:
I did find it, countersunk as you said, at the left rear of the machine near the bottom of the tranny. However, it is more like a pin about 3/16" - 1/4" in diameter on mine. And at this location, one could probably push in a small wedge of wood or something to keep it depressed while pushing. I don't know why it's not covered in the owner's manual. It only says not to tow the machine as it will damage the transmission. Prior to the button, I could just manage to roll it forward, but not in reverse. And I don't think I could move it very far. It took a lot of "push". Thanks again.
KubotaMowerMan
New member
Re: Moving a GR2100 - how to find the bypass button
I have had a Kubota GR2100 for several years and I do like it, but it has some design weaknesses. First I've had a front wheel break off on the cutting bed. The shaft holding the wheel snapped. When I went to buy a replacement I discovered the newer shafts are much thicker. Evidently Kubota discovered the wheel shafts are not strong enough and the later 2100-series mowers use the larger shaft and, no, the new shaft cannot be retrofitted to the GR2100! The latest problem is that sometimes the GR2100 will not start. The starter relay will click, but the starter will not engage. Sounds as if the battery is near-dead. It isn't. After a while, turning the key will engage the starter. This brings me to the main reason for my post. Kubota states in the manual that the GR2100 SHOULD NOT BE TOWED. They don't emphasize this enough. I believe that if you try to tow/drag the mower you will damage the transmission.......unless you disengage it. The User Manual does not mention this or how to do it. My research has uncovered the "secret" which it to depress the bypass button. Others have posted on this forum that they have trouble finding this bypass. I've attached a photo taken from the lower rear of the mower with the bypass button circled. This has got to be the dumbest design I've ever seen! To move the mover with the engine off, one has to depress the button. Questions is how can you press the button and move the mover at the same time? I've jury-rigged two short 3/8-inch dowels that I've whittled down to force the button up and, hopefully hold it in place. (I haven't actually tried to move the mower this way yet.)
Can anyone suggest a *decent and secure* method of holding the button up - it pushes up, not down - with a more secure method than the one I've devised? Surely, Kubota repair shops have devised a better method. Any and all suggestions greatly received!
I have had a Kubota GR2100 for several years and I do like it, but it has some design weaknesses. First I've had a front wheel break off on the cutting bed. The shaft holding the wheel snapped. When I went to buy a replacement I discovered the newer shafts are much thicker. Evidently Kubota discovered the wheel shafts are not strong enough and the later 2100-series mowers use the larger shaft and, no, the new shaft cannot be retrofitted to the GR2100! The latest problem is that sometimes the GR2100 will not start. The starter relay will click, but the starter will not engage. Sounds as if the battery is near-dead. It isn't. After a while, turning the key will engage the starter. This brings me to the main reason for my post. Kubota states in the manual that the GR2100 SHOULD NOT BE TOWED. They don't emphasize this enough. I believe that if you try to tow/drag the mower you will damage the transmission.......unless you disengage it. The User Manual does not mention this or how to do it. My research has uncovered the "secret" which it to depress the bypass button. Others have posted on this forum that they have trouble finding this bypass. I've attached a photo taken from the lower rear of the mower with the bypass button circled. This has got to be the dumbest design I've ever seen! To move the mover with the engine off, one has to depress the button. Questions is how can you press the button and move the mover at the same time? I've jury-rigged two short 3/8-inch dowels that I've whittled down to force the button up and, hopefully hold it in place. (I haven't actually tried to move the mower this way yet.)
Can anyone suggest a *decent and secure* method of holding the button up - it pushes up, not down - with a more secure method than the one I've devised? Surely, Kubota repair shops have devised a better method. Any and all suggestions greatly received!
locknut
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2006
- Messages
- 576
- Tractor
- Kubota
Re: Moving a GR2100 - how to find the bypass button
Only have one story to tell on towing a GR,a 2110. A friend of mine said his wife was mowing and it just stopped moving.So,we hopped in a car and went to look at it.Started right up but wouldn't go forward or back.Only thing we had to move it was a golfcart.Pulled it about a 1000 ft.The hardest part was no steering at all.Big puddle of oil on the garage floor but they decided to mow with it anyway.Ask him after they got it fixed what the problem was.Dealer fixed a leaky hose,filled it back up with fluid and didn't hurt a thing.So.maybe there was no damage due to no fluid left in it?
Only have one story to tell on towing a GR,a 2110. A friend of mine said his wife was mowing and it just stopped moving.So,we hopped in a car and went to look at it.Started right up but wouldn't go forward or back.Only thing we had to move it was a golfcart.Pulled it about a 1000 ft.The hardest part was no steering at all.Big puddle of oil on the garage floor but they decided to mow with it anyway.Ask him after they got it fixed what the problem was.Dealer fixed a leaky hose,filled it back up with fluid and didn't hurt a thing.So.maybe there was no damage due to no fluid left in it?
KubotaMowerMan
New member
Hey Locknut:
Thanks for your reply. I've attached a page from the shop manual that discusses the by-pass valve. From the wording in these paragraphs it implies, but doesn't say specifically, that without oil the connecting sections aren't connected which may validate your guess that the lack of oil prevented damage. I am still amazed that Kubota designs something like this and, more importantly, doesn't mention anything about this configuration in the User's Manual!
Thanks for your reply. I've attached a page from the shop manual that discusses the by-pass valve. From the wording in these paragraphs it implies, but doesn't say specifically, that without oil the connecting sections aren't connected which may validate your guess that the lack of oil prevented damage. I am still amazed that Kubota designs something like this and, more importantly, doesn't mention anything about this configuration in the User's Manual!
CaptainHaddock
New member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Messages
- 1
- Tractor
- Kubota GR2100
Looking from the back as in photo below the valve is the plated nut and plunger about half way across the photo and about a 3rd way up (in the rusted casing behind the pipe). Took me a long time to find!
ArmyAviatr
New member
Not sure if they are similar or not but on the old G1800 once you pressed the by pass button it stayed in untill you fired up the tractor and started using it.
ArmyAviatr
New member
IDK if this was posted in answer to my question re G2160 or the OP's question. As it is it's so small impossible to tell
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