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.