New guy needs help with D-18 transmission and transaxle

[d one 1]

I have a D-18 automatic that i was mowing with when it just stopped moving.I was reading on here and checked the fluid level and the bypass valve and also checked the keyway in the rear axles. I did notice that when i had the wheels jacked up they turned when the motor was running and the shifter was engaged however when i grabbed the wheels they stopped. The hydraulic lift still works so my question is does the transmission supply fluid for the lift or does it operate separately and if the lift works does it mean i have a transaxle problem. Any help will be appreciated. thanks!

[canam1991 2]

you may have stripped out the coupler to the engine and pump

[coldone 35]

Yes the hydro pump supplies the hydralics of the lifts.

Did the hydro seem to be giving trouble before? Has it been acting strange? Did it seem weak before?

Quick easy checks would be the accel valves located in the hydro motor. The buffer assembly could also have a piece of debris stuck in it. Its the rectangular piece under the left side fender with two hoses connected to it.

Thats if it has the sundstrand hydro.

[pfrederi 17,885]

The weak lift would indicate the charge pump is not doing its job. Could be worn but more likely it is starved for fluid. Wear would not cause such an immediate onset problem. Could be crap in the system has plugged up the strainer in the transaxle that is the source for the charge pump to draw fluid.

You checked the fluid...when was the last time it was changed (and the filter). are you using Dexron or motor oil??

[Hodge71 664]

Does it move in reverse? I would start by changing your fluid and put a genuine Wheel Horse hydro filter on it and refill. Try it after that and get back to us. Dont panic yet, there a large base of knowledge on here and we can help.

[wheeledhorseman 574]

:WRS: d one, and to the world of the dysfunctional 'D' .

Does it move in reverse?

This is almost the first question I would have asked as well.

Your observation re the wheels turning when jacked up but easy to stop by hand is the same issue I have but in reverse. My D won't go backwards.

It may seem a strange question but it will help us narrow down what might be wrong and what to check.

Andy

[1maidenfan 202]

:text-welcomeconfetti: :WRS:

[1maidenfan 202]

Could this possibly be the pinion bolts sheered?

Trying to recall if there were key ways inside the trans when I had mine apart.

Friend had the same thing happen to him only it was on an 8 speed and ended up being one of the hub keys, sheered it in half and ate up the hub. Obviously that is not the case here though.

Just a thought that it might be mechanical instead of hydraulic. :twocents-02cents:

[d one 1]

coldone thanks for the reply, now that you mention it last week when i was mowing it made a strange sound like it jumped out of gear,it stopped for a second or two but continued on. It never seemed weak before and the lift works fine. I did take the battery box out and checked the coupler and it seems to be alright also if the coupler was bad the lift wouldn't work right? I also found a tag on the transmission that says sundstrand on it. also a little leary about opening up the transmission without a service manuel. Is there a place where i can get one?

[1maidenfan 202]

Didnt by chance have a major leak did you?

I have manuals in front of me right now looking for solutions.

There are some internal snap rings that hold gears on to shafts, pinion gear and axle.

Will keep looking

[1maidenfan 202]

coldone thanks for the reply, now that you mention it last week when i was mowing it made a strange sound like it jumped out of gear,it stopped for a second or two but continued on. It never seemed weak before and the lift works fine. I did take the battery box out and checked the coupler and it seems to be alright also if the coupler was bad the lift wouldn't work right? I also found a tag on the transmission that says sundstrand on it. also a little leary about opening up the transmission without a service manuel. Is there a place where i can get one?

After reading this comment, I would say some thing in the trans gave way. :twocents-02cents:

[d one 1]

pfrederi, I couldn't tell you when the fluid was changed last I bought the tractor at a sale and havent ridden it much bought it for the grandson and i to ride, but decideded to put the mower deck on and use it. I have the owners manual and parts manual but they are not to detailed on changing fluids. Iv'e been putting 10-w-30 in it which is what the manual calledfor.

[1maidenfan 202]

look in the FILES section at the top of the page just below the big REDSQUARE sign. In there you will find the sundstrand manual under TRANSMISSIONS.

[d one 1]

1maidenfan thanks for the info but if the transmission went would the lift still work since the are tied together or do you mean the transaxle? also the wheels did turn in reverse when i had it jacked up. the way it acts its almost as if a gear is stripped. also when i checked the dipstick their was like a white foam on it, it can't be water because i keep it in a garage

[1maidenfan 202]

1maidenfan thanks for the info but if the transmission went would the lift still work since the are tied together or do you mean the transaxle? also the wheels did turn in reverse when i had it jacked up. the way it acts its almost as if a gear is stripped. also when i checked the dipstick their was like a white foam on it, it can't be water because i keep it in a garage

When I refer to the trans, I am refering to the transaxle. Apologize for the confusion.

The foam could be from air mixing with fluid. Could be caused by shafts and or gears spinning to fast inside the transaxle, from some thing broke and not transfering power to the axles. Sounds like the hydro motor is working but something in the transaxle is not.

[coldone 35]

coldone thanks for the reply, now that you mention it last week when i was mowing it made a strange sound like it jumped out of gear,it stopped for a second or two but continued on. It never seemed weak before and the lift works fine. I did take the battery box out and checked the coupler and it seems to be alright also if the coupler was bad the lift wouldn't work right? I also found a tag on the transmission that says sundstrand on it. also a little leary about opening up the transmission without a service manuel. Is there a place where i can get one?

The hardest part of dismantling the rear end is getting it off the tractor. 8 bolts hold it on and 4 bolts for the hydro manifold at the motor. The rear end is actually very simple and not too complicated. I purchased a basket case D200 that had the differential broke. It was my first endevor on a rearend.

It definately sounds like you have a problem in yours. If you decide to go into it, we will be here to help.

If you have not found the manual yet here is a link.

It really isnt as hard as the manual makes it out.

[pfrederi 17,885]

pfrederi, I couldn't tell you when the fluid was changed last I bought the tractor at a sale and havent ridden it much bought it for the grandson and i to ride, but decideded to put the mower deck on and use it. I have the owners manual and parts manual but they are not to detailed on changing fluids. Iv'e been putting 10-w-30 in it which is what the manual calledfor.

Sorry I miss read your initial post I thought your lift was weak. If it works OK then it sounds like it is a mechanical issue. When you drain the rear end check for bits of metal...

[1maidenfan 202]

Any one hear from "D one" lately on his tractor problems?

[wheeledhorseman 574]

No, it's all gone quiet. :confusion-shrug:

[JamesBe1 82]

I just noticed this thread. I wish it there were an easier way to find threads like this.

Anyhow, I hope we hear back from d one. I would certainly love to know what the cause of the problem is. Hopefully it is something simple and easy to fix.

[1maidenfan 202]

I just noticed this thread. I wish it there were an easier way to find threads like this.

Anyhow, I hope we hear back from d one. I would certainly love to know what the cause of the problem is. Hopefully it is something simple and easy to fix.

Yep, Me too ! :wwp:

[d one 1]

Hey everbody i'm back, haven't had a chance to look into the wheelhorse yet I was busy getting hay made for the real horses! Anyway i found out that i can move the wheel horse without turning the bypass screw and i think i read somewhere that their is a screw that can come loose on this model for no aperant reason, I'll see if i can find it. i will keep you guys informed if i find anything