Ford 1520 Hydrostatic not returning to neutral

[Don H]

I have a 1988 Ford 1520 hydrostatic transmission that does not want to return to neutral completely. Can anyone tell me how to fix or adjust?

 

[Rustywreck]

Are you talking about the forward/backward peddle? If so, you can try greasing it. There is a grease fitting for it.
My tractor did the same thing a bit, greasing it worked for me.

 

[Don H]

Yep, the foreward/backward pedal. I've greased it so that's not the problem. Even when I try to press it to make it go to center/neutral it won't, it wants to continue to creep backwards. Even the parking brake won't hold it.

There is a spring and plastic cylinder contraption under the floor board that's hooked to the pedal. Maybe that needs replacing?

 

[Don H]

So I got into repairing this yesterday and here's what I found.

On the lower left side, behind the sheet metal under the steering wheel is some linkage that goes into a spring loaded tube. This appears to be what centers the HTS pedal. The adjustment jam nut was loose so I figure it moved. With the tractor running, in gear, adjusting this would make the tractor go forewords or reverse. I adjusted this so the tractor wouldn't move without pushing the pedal. After several attempts I got it so it would not move on it's own without pressing the pedal in one direction or the other.

I also noticed that the pedal had no spring when released when pushing the pedal foreword. It did have some spring when releasing after going in reverse. This spring action is apparently provided by a gas filled piston known as a "Damper". I replaced this at a cost of $145!! The tractor now works as it should.

 

[Rustywreck]

Glad to hear you were able to solve the problem; sorry it had to cost you so much.

 

[Don H]

Thanks. I bought his tractor new in '88 and it has been really good for us. Other than typical maintanance I've only had one problem with it. Years ago the mower threw a rock which punctured the hydraulic filter. Oil leaked out unknown to me while I continued cutting. Eventually the tractor ran out of fluid and quit. The hydraulic pump was ruined. $1800 and two months later I had my tractor fixed.