Problem with my LT1024

dcarltonGA · Sep 28, 2006

I have owned my LT1024 since May of 2004. I have a little over 4 acres with 2.5 of it grass. Fortunatly I don't have to cut all of that as we also have goats to maintain some of it. In the past 3 summers I have put about 110 hours on it.

Earlier this summer I noticed it seemed to be moving slower than I remembered and seemed to have trouble going up the slightest incline. Reverse seemed fine.
I went with it this summer and it never got worse, but sometimes seemed to get better the longer I used it (the hotter it got), but then towards the end of the cut, if I had a larger hill to climb, it would slowly do it. You could also hear the whine from the transmission as it did this.

A couple of days ago I decided it was time to cut again. It's cooler here in the south so this evening was perfect. Made one pass around the big front yard and it was slow as molasses on a cold day. I was wondering if I would get it cut. I pushed forward and it had the same problem climbing a small incline but as I would make turns, it seemed to figure out I wasn't taking no for an answer. By the end of the cut, it was moving forward similar to early in the summer, but still not like it was when it was new.

Is this a tranmission problem, a belt problem or something else?

TractorLarry · Sep 28, 2006

I assume the hydro fluid level has been checked? It tends to expand as it warms so that may be why it works better hot.

-Larry

dcarltonGA said:
I have owned my LT1024 since May of 2004. I have a little over 4 acres with 2.5 of it grass. Fortunatly I don't have to cut all of that as we also have goats to maintain some of it. In the past 3 summers I have put about 110 hours on it.

Earlier this summer I noticed it seemed to be moving slower than I remembered and seemed to have trouble going up the slightest incline. Reverse seemed fine.
I went with it this summer and it never got worse, but sometimes seemed to get better the longer I used it (the hotter it got), but then towards the end of the cut, if I had a larger hill to climb, it would slowly do it. You could also hear the whine from the transmission as it did this.

A couple of days ago I decided it was time to cut again. It's cooler here in the south so this evening was perfect. Made one pass around the big front yard and it was slow as molasses on a cold day. I was wondering if I would get it cut. I pushed forward and it had the same problem climbing a small incline but as I would make turns, it seemed to figure out I wasn't taking no for an answer. By the end of the cut, it was moving forward similar to early in the summer, but still not like it was when it was new.

Is this a tranmission problem, a belt problem or something else?

dcarltonGA · Sep 28, 2006

According to the manual, the hydrostatic transmission is sealed at the factory and is maintenance free. The fluid level cannot be checked nor can the oil be changed. Always keep the area around the transmission cooling fan free of grass and debris at all times.

The fan seems to be turning fast, but of course I can't measure how fast, it seems clean there and I don't see any signs of leakage as if maybe some of the oil had leaked out of the factory sealed unit.

TractorLarry · Sep 28, 2006

Wow. I didn't know they sealed them like that.

-Larry

dcarltonGA said:
According to the manual, the hydrostatic transmission is sealed at the factory and is maintenance free. The fluid level cannot be checked nor can the oil be changed. Always keep the area around the transmission cooling fan free of grass and debris at all times.

The fan seems to be turning fast, but of course I can't measure how fast, it seems clean there and I don't see any signs of leakage as if maybe some of the oil had leaked out of the factory sealed unit.

keltonkrew · Sep 28, 2006

only on the 1000 series....2000 series and up have the servicable transaxle with the external hydraulic filter....

dcarltonGA · Sep 28, 2006

So any ideas? Besides the shop? I fix most things myself but didn't want to start throwing parts at it in an attempt to figure it out.

TractorLarry · Sep 28, 2006

I'm not an expert on these things, but it sure sounds like the hydro isn't pulling properly. If it's sealed, I don't know there is anything you _can_ do.

Is it still under warranty by chance?

Maybe Ken or one of the other guys has an idea.

-Larry

dcarltonGA said:
So any ideas? Besides the shop? I fix most things myself but didn't want to start throwing parts at it in an attempt to figure it out.

dcarltonGA · Sep 28, 2006

I wish it were under warranty. It went out of warranty in March of this year.

Mike5252 · Sep 28, 2006

There have been some posts concerning other CC's where the forward/reverse hydro pedals get out of adjustment. In other words, you could be pushing down all the way on the forward pedal, but the transmission thinks you're just pushing half way down.

Any chance there could be a similar problem here?