Transaxle toast?

[BiXLL]

I have a X300R. Today when I went to climb the hill in my yard it went up about 3 feet and stopped. I initially thought ok, time for a new drive belt. I would move on level ground but seemed a bit jerky. Got it into garage. Did some on line research and found you have to remove the body to change the tranny belt. That also involves removing the plate and arms in rear that are part of the bagging system as well as fwd and reverse pedals on this rear bagger. Got everything tore apart and upon inspecting the belt found it to be in really good shape. No scaring, no cracks or dry rot.

With the body off I did discover a reservoir tank for the transaxle that I never knew was there, and the cap was gone, no fluid in the tank and the top of the tank was covered in a 1/4 inch of grime. That tells me a lot of grime went in where the cap was supposed to be. I decided to fill the tank with hydro oil, put body and pedals back on and see if it acted any better.

I did not put the steel plate that goes across the back for the grass catcher and this allowed me to view the belts. I pulled it out of the garage and went down the driveway with it not going near as fast as it should have. Got it back in garage and it quit moving all together. I had wife get on it to push fwd and reverse pedals while I watched the belts. Idling everything looked good, belts turning no noises. She steped on fwd pedal and it went about a foot and all belts stopped. She let off the pedal and all belts started turning again. Same thing in reverse.

Opinions?

 

[oldnslo]

If the belts stop the transaxle will not work so sounds like one problem is belts are loose and slipping.

Transaxle could also be getting weak but wouldn’t know for sure until the belt issue is resolved.

 

[Robin Veerman]

Have the transaxle serviced, flush and filled, and let us know how it goes afterwards…

 

[tomplum]

So Deere's R mowers, they are a bugger to replace the traction belt. I know that things don't sound good, but what it acts like is that the pulley on the top of the transaxle has spun its splines. Depends what you were noticing stopped when the belt supposedly stopped. What I would do is take the tension off the belt. At least with the cover of the rear, you can get at the little idler and inspect them all as well as the driven pulley on the transaxle. I have never seen a X series with a damaged drive pulley (under the engine), but I would check that.

 

[BIXLL1]

All pullys are in good shape. I am thinking more and more that the belt is stretched. It is such a bear to change. Taking the body and grass catcher stuff off is nothing. There are some brackets and heavy duty springs in hard places that need removed. Really didn't want to go that deep to find the transaxle is bad

 

[beenthere]

Were you BiXLL at 4:26 pm and now are BIXLL1 ??

If a genuine JD belt, then doubt it is stretched. May be wrong size if a wannabe JD belt. Do you have the service tech manual for your JD X300R ??

 

[BIXLL1]

Were you BiXLL at 4:26 pm and now are BIXLL1 ??

If a genuine JD belt, then doubt it is stretched. May be wrong size if a wannabe JD belt. Do you have the service tech manual for your JD X300R ??

No I don't have the tech manual but looked on line to learn what I could. Also found 1 video of how to change it.

The reason I now think it's the belt stretched Is I took the tension spring and pulled it about 4" back and hooked it on frame. Tractor then moved, not very fast, but moved.

 

[BIXLL1]

It appears I have one name on computer and another on phone

 

[BiXLL]

I fixed it

 

[tomplum]

In a perfect world, the idlers would be replaced and check the trans pulley spline as well.

 

[LittleBill21]

I fixed it

it would be more useful, if you actually told people how you fixed it

 

[BiXLL]

it would be more useful, if you actually told people how you fixed it

My 2 names is what I fixed

 

[BiXLL]

My plan at present is to dive in an Chang the belt. I have it all ready. Just need to pick up a much beefier spring hook tool to tear the rest apart

 

[Robin Veerman]

Well don’t ignore the trans itself. No idea how long that the filler cap was off allowing dirt/dust/debris to contaminate the oil…

 

[bigtiller]

My 2 names is what I fixed

How?

 

[BiXLL]

Well don’t ignore the trans itself. No idea how long that the filler cap was off allowing dirt/dust/debris to contaminate the oil…

I know, fingers crossed

 

[BiXLL]

How?

Logged out on phone and logged back in

 

[BiXLL]

Waiting on belt to arrive but after reading a article on the K46 tranny I am pretty sure it is toast. I have a little over an acre and 1/4 of my mowing is a hill side I have to go up and down to cut. Too steep to go across. The article stated that hills kill a K46.
So, if the tranny is toast putting another stock tranny in I will have same problem. What do I do here? I have a 2015 x300r that I really like. Bad tyranny. Do I walk away from it, is there a better tyranny That will fit in it? If not, what tractor do I look for that can handle a steep slope regularly?

 

[Robin Veerman]

If you’re reading about this transmission you will see that there are rebuild kits available, even drain plug options. I’d say fix it and then use it for the rest of the season. Use the time to research and find a mower, new or used, that is more suitable…

 

[tomplum]

Personally I'd put the belt in and see what you've got for now. I don't know if there is another rider anymore in the same category as what you've got. Kubota used to make a rider with the hopper on the back. Only ever saw one. There are many, many more of these K46s that get abused and work just fine than what fail. Shop for another transaxle for when it does fail if you want to keep this going forever.