I have a Craftsman lawn tractor with a manual 6 speed Peerless transaxle model 930-057A. It shifts normally until I have cut a few minutes and I guess the drive mechanism is warmed up, then I have to hit the shifter hard to make it change gears and sometimes that doesn't work. If I turn off the engine, then it will shift more easily but still not as easy as when cold. I suspected that the clutch pedal wasn't releasing completely and the drive belt was still moving, but I tested that repeatedly with my wife pressing the pedal so I could observe the belt and it is stopping. This is baffling to me. Has anyone had hard shifting problems with this type of transmission and successfully identified and corrected the problem?
Difficult Shifting Peerless Transaxle
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bertsmobile1
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Did you read the owners manual about shifting gears ?
If not do so now
Change the lubricant in the box
If not do so now
Change the lubricant in the box
That is correct. No matter how I press the pedal, shifting is hard.
I have had this mower about 20 years and never had shifting problems before. You are supposed to shift only when stopped, which I am. According to what I see in online videos, the lubricant is a very thick grease that is not meant to be changed and can only be removed by either opening up the transaxle and scraping it out, or in one video the guy rinsed it with gasoline. I may end up trying one of these options if I don't get any good advice from this forum.
7394
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Sounds like maybe something got bent ? Mine long ago was not meant to change the grease either.
bertsmobile1
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Sorry to be trite but we have no idea how long you have owned the mower for and weather you are shifting correctly .
So your first guess will be correct, the box is heating causing some thing to stick
Grease is nothing more then a fine particulate matter in a sunspension medium of various viscosities.
And this medium does ozadize, evaporate and degrade over time .
The usual pointer to bad lubricant condition is very hard shifting to reverse
If it was in my shop I would be whipping it out an cleaning the box
Then inspecting ( or just changing ) the flanged bushing either end of the shafts
I would also have a close look at the 2 needle bearings on the shift shaft then the detent ball & spring
So your first guess will be correct, the box is heating causing some thing to stick
Grease is nothing more then a fine particulate matter in a sunspension medium of various viscosities.
And this medium does ozadize, evaporate and degrade over time .
The usual pointer to bad lubricant condition is very hard shifting to reverse
If it was in my shop I would be whipping it out an cleaning the box
Then inspecting ( or just changing ) the flanged bushing either end of the shafts
I would also have a close look at the 2 needle bearings on the shift shaft then the detent ball & spring
shadetree#1
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Here is some links I've saved where you can download a free Tecumseh Peerless service manual and see if you can ID yours.
Most generally the type Peerless that has the Benoite/clay grease's are not intended to be serviceable, specially built to wear out and the heavy grease is also used because the axles, etc, does not use seals, just bushing. Oil will leak out. Not a fun job, removing and re-installing the transaxle after doing repairs. I've took parts from 2 or 3 units and built one, (only doing this type work for myself) just add lots of EP2 grease and little bit of 90W oil. (I drill a small hole just below axle level in the aluminum housing and install 90w oil then seal the hole with a screw) I add just enough of the 90W that the bottom of the ring gear will get lube.
If your tractor/mower is in good shape you might get lucky and find another salvage machine that has the same transaxle.
Individual parts and pieces for those are costly and hard to find.
Transmissions used in several lawn tractors.
Search Tecumseh/Peerless Motion Drive Systems to download the Peerless Service Manual for their transmission
One link is posted below
Most generally the type Peerless that has the Benoite/clay grease's are not intended to be serviceable, specially built to wear out and the heavy grease is also used because the axles, etc, does not use seals, just bushing. Oil will leak out. Not a fun job, removing and re-installing the transaxle after doing repairs. I've took parts from 2 or 3 units and built one, (only doing this type work for myself) just add lots of EP2 grease and little bit of 90W oil. (I drill a small hole just below axle level in the aluminum housing and install 90w oil then seal the hole with a screw) I add just enough of the 90W that the bottom of the ring gear will get lube.
If your tractor/mower is in good shape you might get lucky and find another salvage machine that has the same transaxle.
Individual parts and pieces for those are costly and hard to find.
Transmissions used in several lawn tractors.
Search Tecumseh/Peerless Motion Drive Systems to download the Peerless Service Manual for their transmission
One link is posted below
shadetree#1
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Also since it's all gears do not overlook that it might be external to the transaxle in your shifter mechanism.
Post up the Model number of your Craftsman tractor and we maybe can look at a IPL and give you another hint. Some of them shifter linkages can be hard to see unless lots of metal is removed from the rear and floor of the machine. Might try spraying WD40 on the shifter linkages to see if it reacts different but keep the spray off the v belts.
Post up the Model number of your Craftsman tractor and we maybe can look at a IPL and give you another hint. Some of them shifter linkages can be hard to see unless lots of metal is removed from the rear and floor of the machine. Might try spraying WD40 on the shifter linkages to see if it reacts different but keep the spray off the v belts.
The Peerless 930 transmission is definitely rebuildable, I’ve done it many, many times. As stated they use a Bentinite grease, not oil as a lube. If yours has not been serviced in 20 years, this lube is probably hard and not doing its job anymore. If you decide to open yours up and rebuild it, post back and I’ll give you some tips on what to watch for. Most parts are available. Here’s a service manual which will help you out. https://www.mymowerparts.com/pdf/Te...FFERENTIALS-SERVICE--REPAIR-MANUAL-691218.pdf