roadkillinct 58 #1 Posted October 21, 2020 Hi everyone this is my first post hope it ends up in the correct place. The transaxle i have is not the original, the tractor is a 1986 its a 8 pinion 1 1/8 axel. I have 8 tractors and as things go the one i mow with was fine when i used it last week. When backing up it jerks like the belt is slipping in all forward gears it will move slowly then stops if I push it will move some. The hubs, axels,and belt are all good. I changed the belt same problem pulled the transaxle split it open no major damage. Installed it same problem the key,shaft and pulley on the output shaft all look good. When i put 1 front wheel against a stone wall and let the clutch out the engine does not bog down and the input shaft and pulley are spinning away. I'm 67 years have been doing mechanic work since i was a kid, people always ask me to work on their junk if I can't fix it throw it away. But this has got me baffled and help would be great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveoman1966 3,762 #2 Posted October 21, 2020 My guess... your differential has a broken bolt and it sometime jams into the rolling gears. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadkillinct 58 #3 Posted October 21, 2020 Hi. Dave When I opened the transaxle up I was expecting to see some broken pieces or shavings everything was clean no pieces. That's what is so baffling. I took the differential apart also once again no damage. Maybe my Xwife put the wammy on me 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveoman1966 3,762 #4 Posted October 21, 2020 Well, it is that time of year, ya know. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,344 #5 Posted October 21, 2020 The way I see it you got two options. One. Whip out the sewing kit and make you up a voodoo doll that looks like her sitting on a tractor and that should cure it. If that doesn't work, proceed to option two. Option two. The only thing you can really do at this point is to take it all apart completely and totally right down to the very last nut bolt washer keyway everything. Spread it all out on a table so you can see every single solitary piece. Put it back together particularly checking the keyways in every single gear and verifying the operation of the high low shift fork and other shifting mechanisms. Also be very sure to verify proper attachment of the internal differential pieces to each axle and then in turn, each axle to each hub independently of one another. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,096 #6 Posted October 21, 2020 If you have a damper at the drive belt idler pulley it may need adjusting if it is the air shock. It can prevent the belt from getting the tension it requires. Back it away from the idler. If it is a gas shock remove it as long as you have a return spring on the left side at the rear of the clutch pedal rod. I was wrong. 1988 was the first year for the damper. Garry 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,863 #7 Posted October 21, 2020 Did you take any pictures that we could look at? With all that you said, it has to be a woodruff key. There are 6 involved...engine pulley, input shaft pulley, one or both of the axles and hubs, and there is one (maybe 2) keys in the cluster gear shaft. The bottom pinion on that shaft may be welded. I forgot about the damper that Garry is talking about. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadkillinct 58 #8 Posted October 21, 2020 I like the idea of the voodoo doll, I have enough sewing machines,another crazy thing i got into, Antique Sewing machines don't take up as much space as the tractors good thing have about 50. Steve I'm thinking the same thing about the key must have missed it. I was looking at the parts break down looking for a key don't think i saw one. The wheels are off should get the transaxle out today. I got side tracked needed to mount new tires on my 1973 Power King every time i want to move it the front tires were flat. Thanks for all the help I'll let you know what I find. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,344 #9 Posted October 21, 2020 Hey just to let you know we all really like pictures too That Power King might not be a Horse but it's definitely a favorite of a lot of people around here so we wouldn't be angry if there was some orange mixed in with the red.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,344 #10 Posted October 21, 2020 If you have any questions or need help while you have that transmission popped open go ahead and post them..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,758 #11 Posted October 21, 2020 Interested to see where this leads. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,337 #12 Posted October 21, 2020 T😎 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadkillinct 58 #13 Posted October 21, 2020 Ding Ding Ding Steve is the winner which is appropriate as the tractor's name is Steve the woodruff key was sheared off on the cluster gear shaft as u can see in the pictures.I added a few pics of some of my other toys . The 69 Charger came with a Electro the tires were all flat with some off the rims don't know if the guy gave it a new name or the letters just got worn off eel hor is what I call it. I saved the 16 automatic from the scrap yard someone just dropped if off it's a nice tractor the sheet metal is all straight. It had been sitting for a long time the carb bowel had a hole in it also the exhaust valve was burnt. I ground the valve by putting in my drill press and ground it down with a piece of sand paper stapled to a block of wood even surprised me when I lapped it in very nice mark in the center of the face. Thanks for all the replies 4 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,344 #14 Posted October 21, 2020 Glad you found it and thanks for the pics!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,866 #15 Posted October 21, 2020 That is a lot of weight on the stern How much...There are limits for even for WH transaxles... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,344 #16 Posted October 21, 2020 4 minutes ago, pfrederi said: That is a lot of weight on the stern How much...There are limits for even for WH transaxles... Looks like no more than a couple hundred pounds. My own "me" is that and then some.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,866 #17 Posted October 21, 2020 5 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Looks like no more than a couple hundred pounds. My own "me" is that and then some.... plus wheel weights and then running into an icy snow pile...something has to give.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,771 #18 Posted October 21, 2020 25 minutes ago, roadkillinct said: the woodruff key was sheared off on the cluster gear Glad it was an inexpensive fix. 29 minutes ago, roadkillinct said: I saved the 16 automatic from the scrap yard someone just dropped if off it's a nice tractor the sheet metal is all straight. Nice save! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadkillinct 58 #19 Posted October 22, 2020 If i remember right each one of those weights are 12.5 lbs what u don't see is the tires are filled with RV antifreeze. That tractor will moved the snow ,my driveway is slanted down to the road at a pretty good grade hence all the weight. My neighbor gets a big kick out of the tractor I really have to pay attention because it will climb a pretty good size snow bank and then get hung up. Here's a pic of my Power King that I mentioned before. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,863 #20 Posted October 22, 2020 That is the first time I have seen a key from the cluster gear shaft do that. Out standing that you found it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadkillinct 58 #21 Posted October 22, 2020 Steve, I have never seen anything like that either, was looking for shavings, pieces or some signs of damage. If u look close at the key it sheared off at a perfect concave shape probably partially caused by spinning around the shaft. I hope this helps others down the road. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites