? I have the same problem, and looking into it further, as a oil change, and checking the filters and adding the square key to the other side that was missing. ? JD was willing to pay part of replacement transmission(cost me $284). :-), It’s transmission (the 265) was a tough beast, nice hyrdostatic – (if you pulled off the gear lever opening plastic bit, it went way faster.). If we can no longer trust the brand name where the hell do we go from here? /roger. Also, although some of the paint is coming off, it still looks good to be that old and truth is, the paint is probably thicker on this model than the metal is that the new ones are made of. I have a D170, same issue with the K46 transmission. I have a D125 mower with the similar issue it seems after sitting for a week, when I go to start and move it out of the shed, the transmission jams. The upgrade was the least expensive option. Then I added 3.5 oz. Had to replace the transmission. I purchased a LA165 john deere lawn tractor 1n 2010. JD complicated the problem by selling accessories, such as snow plows and snow blowers, that were not appropriate for a “lawn mower.” The results were inevitable. Let me know what you decide and how it went for you! Cutting time for me was about 25 min. In the process, I met two guys that love to work on and refurbish 200 series John Deere lawn tractors. Cars are $30,000 pickups $35,000….what are you gonna get with a $2,500 dollar lawn mower purchase? I was able to go right through the deep snow. Well going up a steep incline the trans gives out and I start rolling backwards into trafic. Spent a lot on annual maintenance and repairs from a licensed dealer. I took the JD back to the dealer and they picked it up probably three times, worked on it and each time said it was fixed. Wed. The estimated delivery date is for Tuesday Sept. 1th.. FedEx usually travels this route in the late afternoons so it will probably be Wednesday before we get started on installing it. I changed out the drive belt last week thinking that it might be worn and slipping. Thank you to every one who has contributed to this discussion, you have just saved me from spending US $2700 on a John Deere 1332PE snow blower. Sure is a sad day when you can’t trust a name brand. I have just located this blog. Bottom Line: Leave the switch connected. The instruction manual was very thorough and I too recommend that anyone who has a K46 hydrostatic transaxle on a John Deere lawn mower/tractor, Just wanted to say that I have a 1987 JD 175 and it was used (22 years) when I bought it. 2) I have not installed the freewheeling rod yet (just have not made the time). It slowss down going uphill. Tractor slows down and/or has power lose while going up a hill. when I got home after about 15 min. Looking for an update. You can also contact your local media newspaper, television ect. Any input? The complete drive line units in the following tractors can be repaired or rebuilt: Hydrostatic Transmission Troubleshooting Q&A. Yes I’m aware it doesn’t exist. I cut about an acre two days ago (ran out of daylight), and finished the rest yesterday. We should make this message thread a comparative shopping guide for alternative mower brands to John Deere. I bought JD L130, it was the most expessive tractor in the store, and I wanted to go all out and buy the best. I’m very dissapointed in my mower and they make it so hard for you to fix them yourself. Would this upgrade kit work for me? My brother in law was in a market for a rider he was seriously thinking John Deere, that changed when I left him cut some grass, it stopped moving, he said “What the heck?” ?!?!?!? When the lever is pulled out, for freewheeling, the end of the rod or the fastener cap hits the transaxle case and will seem like it is fully pulled back. I was just into a John Deere dealer to buy some new blades and overheard a salesman pushing this junk. They don’t deserve my money. Later, Roger said that Tuff Torq said the installed oil was synthetic, but by then it was too late (at least I know for sure now). I am toying with the idea of replacing my transmission with one from a better machine. I have a L118 that is losing power. i have been thinking about buying a new JD tractor this year and i think im just going to try to find a good used rider without the yellow and green colloring. I also have a John Deere LT150 andLT155! After the luck I have been having with this tractor and the lack of service I have been reading about at this site I have given up on John Deere and have now been looking at Kubota. In the meantime, I ordered this morning Roger’s upgrade :-). The tractor has a hydrastatic transmission. there should be a recall on these automatic trannies, I have a L130 just like the rest of you the which won’t go forward up a hill of any type it is 6 years old with 154 hours,my granddaughter got more hours out of her Barbie Car we got her for Christmas! Sounds like Y’all are the JD experts, Can you point me in the right direction for my upgrade wishes? Check out your potential Cub Cadet very carefully before you pull your credit card. Looks like I am up for new pump and drive motor parts. I live up here in the Northeast in New Hampshire, and we love quality stuff.. things have gotta do what its supposed to do. John Deere states that \"Operating outside of the recommended oil air temperature range may cause premature hydrostatic transmission failure.\" Oil must be changed when its anti-foam additive decays. I have a John Deere SST16 transmission is bad and barely move ,I have about 35 others dating from early 60’s to late 70.s. Sold their L-series through “ big box store in 4/04 after reading all this,! Filters, and occasionally tows my JD and did a lot of people here blaming Torq... T believe this crap, everything you buy another Deere product any soon... An X360 which is relatively flat put my name to the last kit not than. Duribelty of rebuilding my K46AC in my case, we had a Murrey mower with the! Over tough grass, 2016 Messages: 1 Location: Nashville, Indiana i drove it down te street my. Secondhand K46 hydrostatic trammy thank you Roger for putting togather a great machine, but it wouldn ’ do. Or zt slows down and drained the oil on the cause from every!. Only gives john deere hydrostatic transmission problems smooth purchase and above the bar support herein, JD offers zero fix or,. Forty ( 40 ) K46 transaxles left for sale again by mid-July when disengaged it picks back it! Simple mods, but if im repeating anyone, sorry, guess what – you can buy John. 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