I had a LT1000 17 HP that ran good for 8 years, but hit a branch that locked up the blades. From that point on it wouldn't start. The crank shaft bent and through the timing off and the governor was shot. The repair shop who was checking it out told me, it would cost more to repair than it was worth. The shop repair owner had 2002 Craftsman LTX1000 18 HP in fairly good shape, but it has been sitting up for about 2 years. He said you can have it if you don't mind pulling the engine and installing it in your mower. They were too busy to work on it and the lead time would be 9 weeks. With a little minor repairs I got it up and running. I didn't swap the motors, I just worked on completing the repairs on the LTX1000 because it was in better shape than my LT1000.
Now for the question: The Transaxle sounds a bit noisier than to the LT1000 that has already went to the scrap yard. It works great, but has a grinding sound that I thought would go away with use.
Any advice would help, Change oil?, etc. I don't want to run it until it fails when I can do something to save it.
December 15 update: I removed the Hydro Gear Transaxle and changed the oil. The oil was dark gray with a little black slime. I replace the oil with 20w 50 as stated in the manual. I found one of the two idlers pulleys was froze up. I replaced both of them. The belt still had a lot of life in it.
Now to the bad part, Today was my test day without the mower attached. I checked everything and thought it was ready to go. With fingers crossed I started the engine and released the clutch without putting it in gear. The drive belt was working along with the idler pulleys and the drive pulley on the Transaxle. I depress the clutch and put it in gear. When I released the clutch nothing happened. I checked the neutral rod making sure it was in. I checked the linkage of the of the speed lever and it was connected to the transaxle and moving as it should. Remember, it was working but noisy before I removed it. In hindsight I should have replaced the idler pulleys and then tried it before pulling the transaxle. Now I need more help in solving this problem. When I replace the oil I made sure there was no trapped air. Did I miss a step in reinstalling the unit? Is it in the linkage that I could have screw? Is there a safety switch?
As far as I know, the previous owner bypassed them. I'm stumped. Help!!!!!
Now for the question: The Transaxle sounds a bit noisier than to the LT1000 that has already went to the scrap yard. It works great, but has a grinding sound that I thought would go away with use.
Any advice would help, Change oil?, etc. I don't want to run it until it fails when I can do something to save it.
December 15 update: I removed the Hydro Gear Transaxle and changed the oil. The oil was dark gray with a little black slime. I replace the oil with 20w 50 as stated in the manual. I found one of the two idlers pulleys was froze up. I replaced both of them. The belt still had a lot of life in it.
Now to the bad part, Today was my test day without the mower attached. I checked everything and thought it was ready to go. With fingers crossed I started the engine and released the clutch without putting it in gear. The drive belt was working along with the idler pulleys and the drive pulley on the Transaxle. I depress the clutch and put it in gear. When I released the clutch nothing happened. I checked the neutral rod making sure it was in. I checked the linkage of the of the speed lever and it was connected to the transaxle and moving as it should. Remember, it was working but noisy before I removed it. In hindsight I should have replaced the idler pulleys and then tried it before pulling the transaxle. Now I need more help in solving this problem. When I replace the oil I made sure there was no trapped air. Did I miss a step in reinstalling the unit? Is it in the linkage that I could have screw? Is there a safety switch?
As far as I know, the previous owner bypassed them. I'm stumped. Help!!!!!
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