2001 PT425 Kohler CH25 Oil Leak - Pull The Engine

[MossRoad]

Hooked up the battery booster and bled the hydraulics with the spark plugs out. No more air bubbles. Plugs back in. Gallon of gas in the tank. Shot of carb cleaner down the carb and she fired right up.

Wheels started turning backwards slowly. Shut it down, adjusted hydroback mount a bit, fired it up and wheels turned forward.

Adjusted again right in the middle, no more wheel spin.

But there's a gasoline leak at my fuel shutoff valve. So I'll pick another one up tomorrow and swap it out, get it off the blocks and drive it around to get it up to temps and look for leaks. Probably not until Sunday. Got some family fun planned for Saturday and Friday nights we go out. But so far, so good.

 

[Modrob]

Hooked up the battery booster and bled the hydraulics with the spark plugs out. No more air bubbles. Plugs back in. Gallon of gas in the tank. Shot of carb cleaner down the carb and she fired right up.

Wheels started turning backwards slowly. Shut it down, adjusted hydroback mount a bit, fired it up and wheels turned forward.

Adjusted again right in the middle, no more wheel spin.

But there's a gasoline leak at my fuel shutoff valve. So I'll pick another one up tomorrow and swap it out, get it off the blocks and drive it around to get it up to temps and look for leaks. Probably not until Sunday. Got some family fun planned for Saturday and Friday nights we go out. But so far, so good.

Can you elaborate a little bit for me, about adjusting that “hydro back”?
Thanks.

 

[MossRoad]

Can you elaborate a little bit for me, about adjusting that “hydro back”?
Thanks.

I'll try.

The treadle pedals connect to a cable.
The cable goes to the engine compartment.
At the end of that cable is a tubular device called the hydroback.
The cable connects to a puck inside the hydroback.
Springs inside the tube keep the puck centered.
On the other side of the puck is a threaded rod with a heim joint with a swiveling pin.
That pin connects to the lever on top of the tram pump that controls direction.

The tube of the hydroback has a mount on it with two holes.
There's another mount on the pump/engine bracket that has slotted holes.

You mount the hydrback bracket to the slotted bracket and put the swivel pin in the pump lever.

Here's the fun part.

That lever has to be in neutral when your feet are off the pedal. If it is not, the machine can move as soon as the engine fires up.
It can also creep if the brakes aren't set.
Neither one of those is good.

So, you jack the machine up on blocks with all four tires off of the ground and then start it up.

If the wheels turn forward or backwards, you loosen the hydroback mounting bolts and slide them in the slots back or forward until you achieve neutral (no wheels turning). Then tighten the mounting bolts up.

And that's about it. See photo attached. Does that make sense?

 

[Modrob]

I'll try.

The treadle pedals connect to a cable.
The cable goes to the engine compartment.
At the end of that cable is a tubular device called the hydroback.
The cable connects to a puck inside the hydroback.
Springs inside the tube keep the puck centered.
On the other side of the puck is a threaded rod with a heim joint with a swiveling pin.
That pin connects to the lever on top of the tram pump that controls direction.

The tube of the hydroback has a mount on it with two holes.
There's another mount on the pump/engine bracket that has slotted holes.

You mount the hydrback bracket to the slotted bracket and put the swivel pin in the pump lever.

Here's the fun part.

That lever has to be in neutral when your feet are off the pedal. If it is not, the machine can move as soon as the engine fires up.
It can also creep if the brakes aren't set.
Neither one of those is good.

So, you jack the machine up on blocks with all four tires off of the ground and then start it up.

If the wheels turn forward or backwards, you loosen the hydroback mounting bolts and slide them in the slots back or forward until you achieve neutral (no wheels turning). Then tighten the mounting bolts up.

And that's about it. See photo attached. Does that make sense?

View attachment 1767190

Yes sir, helped greatly! Great detail. Even my feeble mind can understand it now. Very much appreciate the effort.

 

[MossRoad]

The mighty PT425 rides again!!

Yee haa!!



Mowed the front yard and chewed up some much neglected areas in the back that haven’t been mowed since spring. No leaks detected yet.

 

[ponytug]

Congratulations! That must feel great.

All the best, Peter

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah. The wife is happy, too. She's been helping me mow with the walk behind all summer since my legs are shot. It takes us a couple hours. I came in after 20 minutes mowing with the tractor and she asked what was wrong. I said nothing, it's done! She was very happy.

 

[MossRoad]

Also, I did it all in the dark. Sunset is so early now with DST. My LED lights are really nice! Got get the rear one hooked up.

 

[ponytug]

Also, I did it all in the dark. Sunset is so early now with DST. My LED lights are really nice! Got get the rear one hooked up.

I'm impressed!

Since LEDs use so much less power, I converted the one rear light into two, using short height wide lamps, with the beams set to point/flare well to the left and right. I love the LEDs as they illuminate so much better than stock. I also cut the mesh out to not obstruct the beams.

All the best,

Peter