RED, I need you (lawn mower question)....

[lspencer534]

My 6-year-old Poulan Pro 42" 19.5 HP rider mower has a Hydrostatic transmission. Today it started acting up: When I made a turn, speed would drop drastically even if I "shifted" to a faster gear. Eventually it would catch up, and I'd reduce the gear. At one point, when I tried to enter the garden area where's there's a PTP 2 X 4 laid on its side at the gate to drive over (animal barrier) the mower didn't want to cross it until I increased the revs considerably.

In other words I'm losing transmission power. The belt must be on since it does move. Any ideas? Do you think the cost of repair may not be economically feasible?

[Jeff '79]

Check to see if the bolts that hold the axle to the frame are loose or if there are cracks in the metal at those areas

[09CTSV]

Check your oil level in the transmission. I had a similar problem and it was low on oil.

[MrPeabody]

Help him Red, before the bleeding starts.

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by MrPeabody

Help him Red, before the bleeding starts.

Uhhh...the bleeding started about 2:00 p.m. today. I was trying to go under a plum tree limb with the mower. but it was lower than I calculated. Almost severed a vein in my left hand; got holes a quarter of an inch on either side of it.

[MrPeabody]

Dayum. Be careful, Spence.

[Kerrmudgeon]

You betta hire a Messican befo you end up in hospital kimosabe.

[Grey Ghost]

I thought a hydrostatic trans. meant no belts and the speed is controlled by the gas pedal - no gear shifting? That is the way it is with my old Cub. It has a drive shaft, rear end, similar to a car. The deck has one belt for the electric PTO.

[markids77]

In Larry's case the hydro is driven by a belt and tensioner pulley arrangement. Larry... can you drop the deck ad see if the idler pulleys and/or the tensioner spring are FUBAR? If the belt is not all cracked and frayed, and the pulleys/spring look good your hydro is on the way out and unless you love it enough to upgrade to a new tranny it is toast.

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

I thought a hydrostatic trans. meant no belts and the speed is controlled by the gas pedal - no gear shifting? That is the way it is with my old Cub. It has a drive shaft, rear end, similar to a car. The deck has one belt for the electric PTO.

On my MTD; there was a driveshaft from the hydro trans to the rear diff.

[Grey Ghost]

I also have a belt drive Craftsman with various gears. The drive belt needs changed ever so often - they stretch, get old, etc...might be cheap enough to replace to avoid new mower cost.

[Jeff '79]

[86RAG]

Originally Posted by Jeff '79

Red must be on a B Day bender.

[CertInsaneC5]

Originally Posted by 86RAG

Red must be on a B Day bender.

I don't think Red does benders. Unless you mean beatin' it off benders.

[RED-85-Z51]

Being a Poulan/Electrolux product, it will have a hydro, vs a vari-drive MTD type product that uses 2 belts and a variable pitch pulley to vary trans input speed.

These low end hydros, like all hydros take power from the engine, either by shaft, or belt, (belt in this case), to turn that power into hydraulic pressure, which is in turn turned into torque, and motion.

If it cools down, and begins to work as normal, or gets progrssively worse as it heats up, its very likely you have a failing hydro trans...Likely a Tuff Torq K46, or cheap hydrogear equivilent.

If this is the case, couple options. There is no drain, but there is usually a vent...you can remove the trans, remove the vent, and dump the oil out...and put in new oil, usually Synthetic 20W50...and this will usually buy a season or 2...sometimes more, sometimes less. OR..replace the mower...

But yes, inspect the belt, its just unlikely the problem, unless its flopping loose or clearly badly worn, dont just replace it..hoping...