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Do mower transaxles have fluid inside them like car transmissions do? For some reason my is hard as hell to shift and I can't figure out why.

Yes they do and there are several different types of trans-axles...
Some have actual gears some have variable pulleys... some are hydro drive.

What type do you have?
You also need to lube any linkage and pivot point. :smile:KennyV

could someone of put the wrong oil in it?

No idea which mine is but the mower is a craftsman model # 917270630

Your trans has a flowable grease in it. A little thicker than 00 snapper grease but on the same priciple.

So where do I get said grease?

Available through any poulan service center. I didn't see many places when searching online but the Dana/Spicer part number is 4300. Poulan has there own part number for it also.

So what exactly is flowable grease? Wikipedia doesn't seem to know.

Is there an acceptable substitute that can be found at an auto parts store?

Take the battery out from under the seat and the plastic battery tray - you should see a yellow top fill port fitting .

Ok cool thanks but is there anything common that I can put in there? Like gear oil or some Lucas oil stabilizer? What are some common causes of a sticking shifter?

My green craftsman is not here for me to compare to. Gear oil is fine . Conditioner oil treatment would be great . I assume your hear box is low on lube just from normal use and heat , the lube treatment should loosen things up fine .

Awesome! Thanks! I've got I huge jug of the Lucas so I'll give that a try

There has to be just thousands of the Dana transaxles out there. Do they all shift hard? You will find that most of them have the original lubrication in them and shift just fine. It sounds like you must have a something that is frozen up with something like rust or something dried out? Maybe shift linkage or where the gears slide on the main shaft? could water of gotten in the transmission? Sure not going to hurt anything trying the Lucas and I hope it works for you. Another question I would have is what do you mean by shifting hard? The shift lever moves hard or does it go into gear hard?

It's very reluctant to move from one gear to another, sometimes I REALLY have to muscle it around. So much so that I've brant the lever and the gear I'm in doesn't match up to the gear the little sticker says I should be.

JoeNoble said:

It's very reluctant to move from one gear to another, sometimes I REALLY have to muscle it around. So much so that I've brant the lever and the gear I'm in doesn't match up to the gear the little sticker says I should be.

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I say try the Lucas because you have nothing to lose or a lot of penetrating oil on the shift linkage. It looks to me like it will have to come apart and repaired. If you aren't into taking it apart maybe a used transaxle, (salvage yard, E-Bay).

I'll def give the Lucas a try and I've tried both wd-40 and white lithium on the linkage. I'm fairly inclined mechanically just never worked on a mower before so if I can get the parts (gaskets, seals, etc) then I can probably rebuild it.

I'm happy to report that after drenching the linkage in white lithium yesterday morning, today she shifts quite easily. Now I just have to adjust the linkage so I have all my gears again. Thanks a ton for the help and info guys!

Ok so I thought I had it fixed but it keeps sticking again. If I spray it all down with lithium it'll shift fine for a little while then start sticking again. Also I looked but I can't find a fill or drain plug for the transmission.

Because there is about a 95% chance that it doesn't have a fill or drain plug. Most of the trannies that I work on the grease/oil has to be put in before sealing the two halves of the transmission.

Damn! Guess I better track down a new gasket. I think the linkage is the problem so I guess I'll tear it all apart, clean it and reassemble it but I would like to change the fluid as its probably been in there for a good 10-15 years.

JoeNoble said:

Damn! Guess I better track down a new gasket. I think the linkage is the problem so I guess I'll tear it all apart, clean it and reassemble it but I would like to change the fluid as its probably been in there for a good 10-15 years.

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seeing the problem comes and gos with the shift linkage lubrication I would keep working on that with some penetrating oil. Can any of this shift linkage come apart or does it go straight into the transmission?

JoeNoble said:

Damn! Guess I better track down a new gasket. I think the linkage is the problem so I guess I'll tear it all apart, clean it and reassemble it but I would like to change the fluid as its probably been in there for a good 10-15 years.

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RTV gray sealant is what most of the OEM's use

I'm guessing black RTV will work as well right? Also what can I use to replace the valve cover gasket? I have a sheet of gasket material that says it seals gas, oil, and coolant will that work?

RTV the valve cover also... or pick up a tube of Form a gasket: Gasket Sealants - Industrial Supply Group
:smile:KennyV

Idk why my mower wouldn't shift.... 10-15 yr old grease isn't good for a transmission?



I'm gonna fill it with Lucas oil stabilizer.

Love the pictures...
Post more on this thread when you get it cleaned up & going back together.
It will be a much happier transmission... :smile:KennyV

JoeNoble said:

Idk why my mower wouldn't shift.... 10-15 yr old grease isn't good for a transmission?

I'm gonna fill it with Lucas oil stabilizer.

Click to expand...

The grease that it calls for looks about like the stuff it is in there now, and smells even worse.

And now everyone knows what lubed for life really means. Thank you for the pictures.