Strange Hydro-Lock?

splotkin · Aug 22, 2011

Well, I wish I could describe better what happened. I was using the MMM on my BX 1850 in High range about 2800 RPM two wheel drive. All of a sudden it felt like some-one pushed the pedal up against my foot. I tried to push down and it felt like someone was under the tractor pushing back at me. I came to a stop OK and then pressed down on the pedal again. It only went down about 1/2 way. I then went to low range and it was OK and 4 wheel drive was OK. I then got off to look under it to see if there was a stick or something and found a skid mark behind the tractor about 10 feet long.

Because I had pulled forward about 10 more feet and was turning slightly, I was unable to tell which wheel had locked up. After shaking my head I finished cutting the lawn. Gremlins? Any suggestions?

Thanks

ovrszd · Aug 23, 2011

:confused2: Have no clue. Definitely gremlins of some type.

oldnslo · Aug 23, 2011

You say you shifted into low range and the problem went away and then I presume back into high range to finish mowing. Is there a chance you bumped the high - low range lever and possibly locked the tranny in two gears. Locking the tranny gears mechanically would make the trendle harder to push since you are building much higher pressure in the HST. Not sure if this would prevent you from pushing the trendle all the way forward or reverse though.

A test might be to hook a chaing to tree or some other solid object and then try to drive in high range. Does the trandle feel like a similar response?

I know on my 1850 when using the FEL in high range and pushing into a pile of dirt the trendle is harder to press down than simply mowing the lawn.

Roy

splotkin · Aug 23, 2011

Actually that pedal feeling you talk about is exactly what I felt. Except instead of ramming into a pile of dirt in high range, one of the wheels locked up!!! That is it.

But which wheel and why? If the brake engaged wouldn't it lock up both rear wheels? I have chains on. Maybe the loose end caught part of the mower.

Hopefully it will not happen again. From your info it is probably the wheel locking up that made the pedal feel strange. Not, the hydro causing the problem.

Thanks,

oldnslo · Aug 23, 2011

splotkin said:
But which wheel and why? If the brake engaged wouldn't it lock up both rear wheels? I have chains on. Maybe the loose end caught part of the mower.

Thanks,

Good thought on the chains also. Did one of them happen to catch on some thing solid? It sure would put the brakes on that wheel quick and cause the HST to bog also.

Yes, I believe the brakes on the 1850 will have a tendancy to lock both wheels.

Roy