1965 lawn ranger L-155 wont move

[UNBOUND 58]

It wont go in any gear. I jacked the rear end up and the back tires free wheel in any gear. When I first got it home it was doing the same thing, but then it started working alright. Its been sitting while I have been doing other work to it and now wont move again. Sometimes it will catch a little and jerk. Is it maybe a sheer pin or something worse.  

[Ed Kennell 41,296]

Check the keys in the hubs and the transmission input pulley.

 

[squonk 43,298]

If this tractor has been sitting for a while and there was water in the trans, there is a good chance you have some seized bearings in the transmission. That would account for the no movement then jerking.

[UNBOUND 58]

1 minute ago, squonk said:

If this tractor has been sitting for a while and there was water in the trans, there is a good chance you have some seized bearings in the transmission. That would account for the no movement then jerking.

Well it worked fine for moment, So I dont think anything is seized. I went out and spun the right rear tire again and it did engage. It catches sometimes. 

[UNBOUND 58]

The rear hub doesnt spin on the shaft so it is something internal. The input pulley has no play in it and dont think it would effect the rear axle from engaging. Sounds like it is inside the trans housing. I can hear a clicking sound when it doesnt engage.

[Ed Kennell 41,296]

If either axle is turning in a hub or if the transmission input shaft is turning in the pulley, the drive train is not complete.    Not saying this is the problem, but do make sure before you open the transmission.

[UNBOUND 58]

I checked the left hub and it is fine. The output shaft is not slipping in the pulley. I ran the tractor and the rear axles will move and stop then move a little more and stop etc. Not sure I am up to the task of pulling the transmission. How can it one day not move and another day spin the tire in gravel. 

[Ed Kennell 41,296]

Hey Steve, any ideas.   @stevasaurus

[UNBOUND 58]

Is there a key at the other end of the input shaft where the gear is? I am looking at the trans repair manual and there appears to be on page 18 figure 11 or is that a different shaft.

Edited May 31 by UNBOUND

[pfrederi 18,547]

Have you marked both hubs and the input shaft then try running it to see if there is any slippage??  

 

One off the wall possibility that actually happened to my and my L-107 She stopped moving turned out one rear tire had lost all air pressure.  It was old and kind of stiff so it didn't look flat but the bead broke free and the wheel was actually spinning in the tire....

[UNBOUND 58]

i have it jacked up with tires off and can hold both hubs while running in gear and the axles are not moving. I did mark input shaft and it is not slipping. Something after input and before axles aint right. I went out and started the engine in gear at idle and the left axle was turning and I couldnt stop it with my hand. So sometimes it works normal.

[Ed Kennell 41,296]

Is there any possibility the shifter forks are not engaging fully allowing it to slip in and out of gear?

[UNBOUND 58]

That did cross my mind. As it was running with the belt guard off, the input shaft was turning with clutch pedal depressed which is normal with no drag on belt to stop it, but I would get a little grinding of the gears as I shifted to each one. Would that not tell me that it is going into each gear but not turning axles.

[Ed Kennell 41,296]

That's not good to shift with the belt moving.   The belt guard is what stops the belt from moving.

But if it ground a bit and the shift lever kept moving and the grinding stopped, It probably did go in gear.

Sounds like you may be left with a tranny rebuild or replacement.

.3 SPEED #5025 UNI-DRIVE REBUILD - Transmissions - RedSquare Wheel Horse Forum

 

[UNBOUND 58]

Yeah I normally wouldnt do that but it was at idle speed and was curious to see if it was going into gear. I was hoping for simple because it does move sometimes

[Pullstart 65,664]

Sorry, I have to.  So you are @UNBOUND but your tractor is BOUND?  

[953 nut 59,145]

I wonder if the differential could be broken. With the rear end of tractor jacked up, transmission in any gear and the engine NOT running if you turn one rear axle does the other rear axle turn in the opposite direction? Can one axle be rotated with little or no resistance while the other has some resistance?

[UNBOUND 58]

3 hours ago, 953 nut said:

I wonder if the differential could be broken. With the rear end of tractor jacked up, transmission in any gear and the engine NOT running if you turn one rear axle does the other rear axle turn in the opposite direction? Can one axle be rotated with little or no resistance while the other has some resistance?

I took the belt off and turned the input shaft by hand and both axles turned same direction. If I turn one wheel when and it does engage the other side does not move and I can easily spin it. There was one brief moment when I was turning the right side, the left side did move a little in opposite direction. I think the diff is broken. 

[UNBOUND 58]

11 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Sorry, I have to.  So you are @UNBOUND but your tractor is BOUND?  

Bound for the scrap yard or part out.

[stevasaurus 23,214]

After reading all this, I am thinking like Richard... one or both of the axle gears in the differential has lost some teeth and every once in a while a chip gets in the way.  This was always a weak spot in these early transmissions.  Your transmission is fixable and easy to fix.  We will walk you through it.  The gears you may need are readily available and are not expensive.  You have the manual, drop it from the tractor, drain the oil and open up the trans with the shallow (right) side down.  You can then pull out the differential, take it apart, fix and put it back in.  Suggest replacing all seals and gasket.  I'll send you my phone # in a PM.  Call me anytime.  

[UNBOUND 58]

6 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

After reading all this, I am thinking like Richard... one or both of the axle gears in the differential has lost some teeth and every once in a while a chip gets in the way.  This was always a weak spot in these early transmissions.  Your transmission is fixable and easy to fix.  We will walk you through it.  The gears you may need are readily available and are not expensive.  You have the manual, drop it from the tractor, drain the oil and open up the trans with the shallow (right) side down.  You can then pull out the differential, take it apart, fix and put it back in.  Suggest replacing all seals and gasket.  I'll send you my phone # in a PM.  Call me anytime.  

Not sure when I will be able to start the repair, but will call you when I get to that point. Thanks. The hardest part will be removing the trans, I am old and not in the best of shape. 

[stevasaurus 23,214]

here is a video of your differential....

 

[953 nut 59,145]

11 minutes ago, UNBOUND said:

Not sure when I will be able to start the repair, but will call you when I get to that point. Thanks. The hardest part will be removing the trans, I am old and not in the best of shape. 

I'm right there with you. I am 80 and have had a stroke so manhandling anything is out of the question. As long as I can put things on wheels I can move them around the shop and get them onto a hydraulic lift table from Harbor Freight to lift them. I have a dolly that was built from scrap plywood you may want to copy.

 

[UNBOUND 58]

49 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

I'm right there with you. I am 80 and have had a stroke so manhandling anything is out of the question. As long as I can put things on wheels I can move them around the shop and get them onto a hydraulic lift table from Harbor Freight to lift them. I have a dolly that was built from scrap plywood you may want to copy.

 

That would help getter out of there. Anybody know how heavy the trans is.

[stevasaurus 23,214]

It weighs between 60 and 70 lbs.   I'm 75 and I can lift it, but I don't walk with it anymore.