520h Lever Suddenly Won't Move Forward?

[Rich16 32]

Help! I've loved my 520h '91 since I got it a few years ago off eBay with no issues.

 

Today I was mowing and after the motion lever was in neutral, it suddenly won't move forward at all. It'll still drop down and go in reverse but from the neutral position it's completely stuck trying to go forward.

 

Never had a single issue with it - I've tried wiggling and jiggling and no go.

 

Any ideas? Many thanks.

[Chaz54 59]

Try looking at this post:

 

 

[Rich16 32]

Thanks so much! Great help and a place to start looking for issues.

 

I've never had a single issue with my 520h and its always run/shifted smooth as silk - it was really odd to go from reverse and suddenly lock up like it did after about an hour of mowing today.

 

Does taking off the seat pan help give full access to the linkage or maybe the plate just in front of the seat and behind the dash?

[lynnmor 7,354]

1 minute ago, Rich16 said:

Does taking off the seat pan help give full access to the linkage or maybe the plate just in front of the seat and behind the dash?

 

Take the two plates off in front of the seat, both the vertical and horizontal ones.   You may find something worked loose and you can oil all of the joints.  If you never had these off, expect to do a lot of cleaning.

[Rich16 32]

This morning's project - thanks guys!

[Rich16 32]

Problem solved - and a most unlikely cause.

 

I took both plates off (bottom of dash and the one between the dash and seat - lots of dust and debris as Lynnmor noted - but I couldn't find the culprit.

 

As I re-looked at the transmission forward-reverse bracket under the seat something didn't belong there sitting on the plate.

 

One of the round thick black 1.5" diameter nylon/plastic spacers under the front-left of the seat (where it attaches to the spring) unscrewed and the washer/spacer fell right onto the middle of the plate and jammed the plate from rotating when trying to put in forward. Picked it up off the plate and back to normal.

 

But it's a lot cleaner under the hood also! It's great when the problems are this simple.

 

Really appreciate the help!

[Rich16 32]

With those plates off I can see the steering gear is really sloppy and why the overall steering is pretty sloppy. Is this worth trying to tighten up?

 

All my gauges work except for the RPM upper right - I have a replacement but still haven't been able to get the steering wheel pin out (after a year of lubing and re-trying) to attempt lifting and not breaking the plastic front fascia off enough to get the gauge out. A really bad design for WH.

 

I know I asked this a long time ago but I'm re-motivated in replacing it - with the steering wheel off with the fascia lift enough to get the gauge out without breaking the fascia? The deck lift lever and forward/reverse are also in the way but look like they'll allow 1/2" of upward movement of the fascia without taking them off - if that won't work I guess the gauge doesn't matter that much anyway.

[lynnmor 7,354]

There is a 3/4 " nut in front of the steering gear. remove the cotter pin and turn the nut in to remove slop, then replace the pin.  Some get worn so much that adding a washer behind the nut will allow more adjustment and still allow the cotter pin to engage the nut.

 

I have replaced gauges by warming the plastic with a hair dryer and they flexed enough without breakage.  Also the hot sun will help with this.

 

Apply penetrating oil regularly to the steering wheel pin anyway, the day might come that it needs to come out.

Edited May 17, 2020 by lynnmor

[Rich16 32]

Thanks so much lynnmor!

 

Lubricating all the linkages on the forward/reverse lever with the plates off was a great tip - it always seemed to work fine but now it's like butter

 

 

[tom2p 2,394]

had the opposite problem :

 

the steering wheel roll pin backed out on one 416-H we have 

 

cutting grass one evening in the dark and lost steering ... initially thought the problem was more significant - but then discovered the roll pin had backed out enough to allow the steering wheel to turn freely

 

since then had to tap the roll pin  back in a few times  ... might run a zip tie through it so it stays in place 

 btw - this is the only 'mechanical issue' we've had with this 416-H 

 

( other than a branch ripping front part of wiring harness after it was grabbed by the PTO belt  ...not a true mechanical issue ...  this also happened in the dark )

 

Edited May 17, 2020 by tom2p

[tom2p 2,394]

1 hour ago, Rich16 said:

With those plates off I can see the steering gear is really sloppy and why the overall steering is pretty sloppy. Is this worth trying to tighten up?

 

All my gauges work except for the RPM upper right - I have a replacement but still haven't been able to get the steering wheel pin out (after a year of lubing and re-trying) to attempt lifting and not breaking the plastic front fascia off enough to get the gauge out. A really bad design for WH.

 

I know I asked this a long time ago but I'm re-motivated in replacing it - with the steering wheel off with the fascia lift enough to get the gauge out without breaking the fascia? The deck lift lever and forward/reverse are also in the way but look like they'll allow 1/2" of upward movement of the fascia without taking them off - if that won't work I guess the gauge doesn't matter that much anyway.

can you drill out the roll pin ?

 

not sure if this is an good option

 

I'm not a fan of roll pin in this application 

 

decades ago when I was a kid and could not remove the steering wheel on our 704 - had to cut a slot in the hood so I could remove it (with steering wheel in place)

can just barely see the slot when picture is expanded 

 

Edited May 17, 2020 by tom2p