Help me troubleshoot

harryset · 11-08-2010, 03:44 PM

My craftsman lawn tractor.

It is an older Craftsman lawn tractor, 24hp Kohler engine, hydrostatic transmission.

It blew a drive belt around two years ago and I replaced it, everything seemed fine. I got it ready for winter snow duty, installed the snow blower and parked it in the garage. First heavy snow, I backed it out a few feet, dropped the blower and started forward. It went a couple of feet and refused to travel any farther. I ended up having to pull it back into the garage. I then tried different methods of purging the transmission, checked the relief valve etc. Still nothing.

In the spring, I started it, backed it out and drove all around the property on it. I even ran the snow blower up against a pine tree and was able to dig holes with the rear wheels. Last winter, same problem. I brought it out once, last winter, and blew a little snow, but it ended up once again unable to propel itself. I took it out yesterday and drove it all over the place, no problem.

I have a new drive belt ready to install, but somehow it just doesn't seem like that sort of problem.

Thunder9 · 11-09-2010, 06:39 AM

just a couple of ideas.
1. may have the wrong viscosity oil in the trans , and it is too thick in the cold weather to work.
2. Water in the trans oil that freezes in the cold and is blocking something somewhere.
3.water or just the cold making a belt tensioner pulley not fully engage and therefore letting the transmission slip.

Well that is 3 but you have to start some where .

harryset · 11-09-2010, 08:04 AM

Thanks for those ideas. This is a model #222-3010L Hydro Gear Transaxel. Sears says that this is a non-serviceable unit, although they sell a lot of replacement parts for it. I don't see anywhere to drain oil, or for that matter what type of oil to put in it if I did drain it.

Thunder9 · 11-09-2010, 09:02 AM

Sears Garden Tractor - Automatic Transaxle Maintenance Tips

[URL="http://www.ssbtractor.com/wwwboard/view_all.cgi?bd=lawn&msg=5150"]

assuming it is the right model, but it gives a link to hydro gears website

good luck

harryset · 11-09-2010, 10:02 AM

SPOT ON!
I am a pretty good mechanic, and I have no idea how I missed some of this really simple stuff. Maybe I let myself get distracted by Sears "non-serviceable" claim.

Thunder9 · 11-09-2010, 10:26 AM

we have all done that, I remember way back trying to change the front wheels on a 10 ton truck and taking two hours to figure out that one side had left hand threads. Well actually three had left hand thread and three normal, someone happened to have them spare previously I suppose. Damm cold that day too. That's also when I found out a 230 lb guy, (wish I was still that) hanging on the end of a 12 foot long extension bar can actually shear a one inch bolt clean through. :-)

harryset · 11-09-2010, 11:22 AM

Ok, I've found the drain, but the fill eludes me. You might not be able to answer this, but, When I look straight into the rear of my garden tractor, I can see the shift mechanism where it enters the body. Just below and to the left of that there is a plug that fits a 1/4" allen, so it is probably a 3/8" plug. Would that be the fill? I am, so far unable to locate a plug on what they are calling the left and right sides.

Thunder9 · 11-09-2010, 11:37 AM

could be one of the don't mess with it just give us $700.00 bucks transmissions. However what is the model # of the tractor as the manual are available on the net somewhere in pdf format. Also many years ago a recessed plug with an allen key used to act as both fill cap and oil level on many gearboxes.

I do NOT know if this is the case on this trans'; try and obtain the manual first and see what it says re service. However I would imagine if there is a drain there should be a fill? mmanual search first I think.

Thunder9 · 11-09-2010, 11:39 AM

another question, I am assuming the floor is dry underneath the machine, no obvious signs of leaks etc?

harryset · 11-09-2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder9

could be one of the don't mess with it just give us $700.00 bucks transmissions. However what is the model # of the tractor as the manual are available on the net somewhere in pdf format. Also many years ago a recessed plug with an allen key used to act as both fill cap and oil level on many gearboxes.

I do NOT know if this is the case on this trans'; try and obtain the manual first and see what it says re service. However I would imagine if there is a drain there should be a fill? mmanual search first I think.

According to Sears it is non-serviceable, which is laughable because it has a spin on filter. Remove/replace filter, oil comes out, have to replace oil, not specified in the manual. Since the pump all by itself is over $1,000.00, It's not a Viable replace-me option. More like a replace the whole frickin tractor option. I have the owners manual for this unit, and there is no service information listed for the transmission.

However, Hydro-gear has stated that there is a drain plug and two useable fill plugs. The fill plugs are supposed to be above the axels. I have looked low where the axels protrude, but only find smoothe casing. I have an email in to Hydro-gear support to see if they can help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder9

another question, I am assuming the floor is dry underneath the machine, no obvious signs of leaks etc?

Yes the floor is dry underneath.

11-08-2010, 03:44 PM	#1
harryset Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bemidji, Minnesota Posts: 45	Help me troubleshoot My craftsman lawn tractor. It is an older Craftsman lawn tractor, 24hp Kohler engine, hydrostatic transmission. It blew a drive belt around two years ago and I replaced it, everything seemed fine. I got it ready for winter snow duty, installed the snow blower and parked it in the garage. First heavy snow, I backed it out a few feet, dropped the blower and started forward. It went a couple of feet and refused to travel any farther. I ended up having to pull it back into the garage. I then tried different methods of purging the transmission, checked the relief valve etc. Still nothing. In the spring, I started it, backed it out and drove all around the property on it. I even ran the snow blower up against a pine tree and was able to dig holes with the rear wheels. Last winter, same problem. I brought it out once, last winter, and blew a little snow, but it ended up once again unable to propel itself. I took it out yesterday and drove it all over the place, no problem. I have a new drive belt ready to install, but somehow it just doesn't seem like that sort of problem. __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on Tech Today Online, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.

11-09-2010, 09:02 AM	#4
Thunder9 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SW FL Posts: 40	this might be of help Sears Garden Tractor - Automatic Transaxle Maintenance Tips [URL="http://www.ssbtractor.com/wwwboard/view_all.cgi?bd=lawn&msg=5150"] assuming it is the right model, but it gives a link to hydro gears website good luck

11-09-2010, 10:26 AM	#6
Thunder9 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SW FL Posts: 40	oh we have all done that, I remember way back trying to change the front wheels on a 10 ton truck and taking two hours to figure out that one side had left hand threads. Well actually three had left hand thread and three normal, someone happened to have them spare previously I suppose. Damm cold that day too. That's also when I found out a 230 lb guy, (wish I was still that) hanging on the end of a 12 foot long extension bar can actually shear a one inch bolt clean through. :-)

11-09-2010, 11:37 AM	#8
Thunder9 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SW FL Posts: 40	it could be one of the don't mess with it just give us $700.00 bucks transmissions. However what is the model # of the tractor as the manual are available on the net somewhere in pdf format. Also many years ago a recessed plug with an allen key used to act as both fill cap and oil level on many gearboxes. I do NOT know if this is the case on this trans'; try and obtain the manual first and see what it says re service. However I would imagine if there is a drain there should be a fill? mmanual search first I think.

11-09-2010, 11:39 AM	#9
Thunder9 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SW FL Posts: 40	oh and another question, I am assuming the floor is dry underneath the machine, no obvious signs of leaks etc?

11-09-2010, 06:39 AM	#2
Thunder9 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SW FL Posts: 40	maybe just a couple of ideas. 1. may have the wrong viscosity oil in the trans , and it is too thick in the cold weather to work. 2. Water in the trans oil that freezes in the cold and is blocking something somewhere. 3.water or just the cold making a belt tensioner pulley not fully engage and therefore letting the transmission slip. Well that is 3 but you have to start some where .

11-09-2010, 08:04 AM	#3
harryset Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bemidji, Minnesota Posts: 45	Thanks for those ideas. This is a model #222-3010L Hydro Gear Transaxel. Sears says that this is a non-serviceable unit, although they sell a lot of replacement parts for it. I don't see anywhere to drain oil, or for that matter what type of oil to put in it if I did drain it.

11-09-2010, 10:02 AM	#5
harryset Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bemidji, Minnesota Posts: 45	SPOT ON! I am a pretty good mechanic, and I have no idea how I missed some of this really simple stuff. Maybe I let myself get distracted by Sears "non-serviceable" claim.

11-09-2010, 11:22 AM	#7
harryset Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bemidji, Minnesota Posts: 45	Ok, I've found the drain, but the fill eludes me. You might not be able to answer this, but, When I look straight into the rear of my garden tractor, I can see the shift mechanism where it enters the body. Just below and to the left of that there is a plug that fits a 1/4" allen, so it is probably a 3/8" plug. Would that be the fill? I am, so far unable to locate a plug on what they are calling the left and right sides.

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