[mitchntx]

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

I'm out doing my normal Friday morning deal and notice that there is a lot of noise coming from the rear end/trans area ... a LOT of noise.

I figured it was not good, but needed to try and nurse it along.

I've been hearing this gnarled thrash coming from way down deep and it's been getting louder and louder as the weeks go by.

I really don't feel like spending more money on this thing.

As I cruised along, the whole thing started jerking as I made turns, like spider gears were broken.

The sharper the turn, the more it seemed to free-wheel and then catch, jerking the thing forward.

And holy cow ... reverse was non-existent, but the noise was certainly there.

Shifting to ANY gear was next to impossible.

After about a third the way through, it got to the point where forward movement was in jerks and lurches.

I knew it was done!

My God .. the noise it was making.

















So, I said screw it ... I'm not spending any more money on this heap.

(IMG:http://www.lawmotorsports.net/OldCraftsman.jpg)

It has seen over twenty years of service, between me and my parents.



So I bought a new one ... sort of ...

(IMG:http://www.lawmotorsports.net/newtroy.jpg)

22hp Briggs
46" cut
hydrstatic trans

It was a customer return marked down to $1149 from $1599 after replacing the ignition switch. I offered them $800 and was loading it up 10 minutes later.

Nice!

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

[00 SS]

Watch those hydrostats, mine is on it's third one in 5 years. So far, this last one seems good. Luckily, they were replaced under warranty, that's one nice thing about the JD's, the warranty is pretty good and so is their service. Mine also has a 22HP Briggs but I have the 48" deck.

[CrashTestDummy]

Watch those hydrostats, mine is on it's third one in 5 years. So far, this last one seems good. Luckily, they were replaced under warranty, that's one nice thing about the JD's, the warranty is pretty good and so is their service. Mine also has a 22HP Briggs but I have the 48" deck.

And check to see where your Hydrostat drain and fill plugs are. We have to pretty much disassemble our JD(Sears) to fill it. Drain is easy, of course. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Ours has put up with >10 years of abuse from my wife (primary user). It's taken a beating, but keeps on running. We've had to replace the deck (busted and curled the leading edge under and broke a mount off, 'cause hitting a tree root at full speed is 'easier' than going over it at low speed) and a front axle (wore through the tie-rod end joints) and it sux to have to go to JD for most of the replacement parts. While they aren't too far away, they have 'summer' and 'winter' hours. Winter hours has them closed on weekends.

This post has been edited by CrashTestDummy: Jul 27 2010, 01:40 PM

[mitchntx]

And check to see where your Hydrostat drain and fill plugs are. We have to pretty much disassemble our JD(Sears) to fill it. Drain is easy, of course. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

hmmmm .... there is no mention of a service interval for the hydrostat unit for my Troy Bilt.

Good info here.. My poor old Cub Cadet 1215 (Circa '89) is really on its last legs, but the bad part is having to go from 3rd to 2nd (of 5) gear in order to mow uphill.. the poor 12hp motor doesn't have the ass to swing a 44" deck AND go uphill.

But because my yard slopes both downhill and to the side, I really need something with a locking differential, and that takes me straight to sub-compact tractor territory.. cha-ching!

The Craftman unit above has a 12HP Briggs I/C motor and anything more than flat ground or toe deep grass would bog it down as well. Sharp blades helped, but they would dull quickly.