[jer]

Hello all,
Today I picked up a friends John Deere STX38 because it wouldnt run right. After taking it apart cleaning the carb and ordering a new hose for it I needed to move it out of my way in the garage. When I tried pushing it, it wouldnt hardly move. Almost like it was in gear. It was in neutral, the parking break wasnt set. So I tried again, a little harder. Nothing. Double checked everything again, tried pulling it backward... NOTHING. I could drive it just fine, but when its not running, it wont hardly move. Am I doing something wrong? I know some lawn tractors have a lever you move to get it to free wheel. Please help.
Thanks,
JER

 

[scottydl]

Is that a hydrostat model? I read here recently that the rear wheels move opposite directions in "freewheel" mode unless engine is on and the tranny is engaged... then they spin together as expected. I'm sure someone else can chime in with the mechanics behind that, if it is the root of your problem.

 

[WNYTractorTinkerer]

If you can push the mower by hand with the engine off the Hydro pump release is engaged. It's usually in the rear of the tractor or by the transmission somewhere. (I haven't had the pleasure to work on one of there) If it doesn't move the hydro is engaged.. There is also the possibility that the brake is stuck.. Just a few thoughts..

 

[jer]

Well that's just it. I can't find any lever or switch to shut it off. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say yes it is hydrostatic. I don't know for sure mostly cause I don't know what hydrostat is. I'm not much of a tractor/ lawn mower guy as much as I am just a small engines guy. So forgive me for not knowing. I can say that to put it in drive you just push the shift lever forward. To go in reverse, just pull back. I have thought about the brake situation and I had no luck actually finding the brake. Is it inside the transmission? I ask because like when your driving the tractor and you push the pedal to stop, it also pushes the shift lever back to neutral. Which is also really hard to do. You really have to push the brake pedal hard to get it to stop. It almost feels like the pedal is stuck. I wanted to get under there and start looking better but have not had the chance. I was just trying to figure out how to move it with the engine off. Oh! Also I wanted to let you know that it will move in backward with the engine off but not forward. That's what I need is to be able to push this around the garage for now as the parts I ordered for the engine are not in yet.

 

[SonnyT]

hydro help I hope...

To roll it freely,stand behind it look under the left side of the transmission and you will see a black lever.turn it towards the front of the machine until you feel it lock in place.

The lever isn't very big either. It's on the left side (as if sitting on seat) and it may have a hole in the lever. It releases the pressure from the hydrostatic transmission so make sure you re-engage it before you try to drive it.

 

[jer]

hydro help I hope...

This worked perfectly! Thaks for all the help guys!