1993 MTD "Bad to the Bone" transmission issues

[ausmavsfan]

1993 MTD "Bad to the Bone" model 133m660g352

My riding mower has trouble shifting between gears. It does not matter if the engine is running or not. Sometimes, to get it shift between gears, I have to heave my body weight forward and backwards to get it to click into gear. There are other times, when the shifter will not budge and it wants to stay in forward/ reverse. Which can be frightening when you have the parking brake on but it still rolls forward because it is stuck in that position. I don't know if it is the actual transmission or the shifter. What do you all think?

 

[shiftsuper175607]

1993 MTD "Bad to the Bone" model 133m660g352

My riding mower has trouble shifting between gears. It does not matter if the engine is running or not. Sometimes, to get it shift between gears, I have to heave my body weight forward and backwards to get it to click into gear. There are other times, when the shifter will not budge and it wants to stay in forward/ reverse. Which can be frightening when you have the parking brake on but it still rolls forward because it is stuck in that position. I don't know if it is the actual transmission or the shifter. What do you all think?

I think it's the shifter...1 vote shifter

Is the shifter handle actually moving once you force it? and at that time, the transmission responds the correct way?

 

[ausmavsfan]

I think it's the shifter...1 vote shifter

Is the shifter handle actually moving once you force it? and at that time, the transmission responds the correct way?

There are times when I force it, but it wont budge. I pull pretty hard, but i don't want the metal to bend. It helps a little if i shake it back and forth. When it finally gets to the right position it goes right away.

 

[shiftsuper175607]

There are times when I force it, but it wont budge. I pull pretty hard, but i don't want the metal to bend. It helps a little if i shake it back and forth. When it finally gets to the right position it goes right away.

Lay down beside it and try and move the shifter.(two people if needed) See what linkage is involved and lube it.
They can have pivots and linkage that gets rusty, even frozen. The transmission is not moving in relation to the body of the mower. The linkage must pivot and change angles as you shift.

Also, older mowers lose nuts and bolts and something could be shifted or binding also.

 

[ausmavsfan]

Lay down beside it and try and move the shifter.(two people if needed) See what linkage is involved and lube it.
They can have pivots and linkage that gets rusty, even frozen. The transmission is not moving in relation to the body of the mower. The linkage must pivot and change angles as you shift.

Also, older mowers lose nuts and bolts and something could be shifted or binding also.

Got it.. I am a novice at this so what grease or oil do you recommend?

 

[shiftsuper175607]

Got it.. I am a novice at this so what grease or oil do you recommend?

Oil and grease collect dust...mowing makes lots of dust sometimes. dust can be abrasive. So there is debate about what is best or if you should even use it.
Light oil can penetrate rust and free up frozen parts...heavy oil/grease can stay in place longer.
There was a good post today about a spray PB Blaster...a penetrating oil.

First, see if you can find the problem and if there is a frozen/tight joint...free it up with WD40, or even motor oil dripped off your finger. You may have to remove the linkage to work with it. That could be difficult.
Get your mower shifting.

 

[Bob E]

Try neutral adjustment on page 11 of your owners manual.
http://www.mtdproducts.com/equipment/DisplayOwnersManualList?storeId=10500&catalogId=20500&langId=-1&logoCode=&modelNumber=133m660g352&serialNumber=