Apparently have a transaxle/transmission problem ( the mower just stopped while mowing, and promptly the belt started binding/smoking...it's as if the transaxle just froze up).....have replaced the belt and adjusted brake/clutch.....mechanically everything looks solid and adjusted properly....have taken the transaxle apart.....immediately noticed that the lever that slides along the collared shaft looked to be jammed....also noticed a combination of 2 distinct colors of grease within the casing: orangish and the other blackish/brownish.....have cleaned out most of the old grease, but did NOT soak/clean the gears (the grease on them seemed clean enough not to disturb)....then filled the resevoirs with a 80-90 gear oil (right or wrong?)..and reassembled....everything seems to be rotating and working now, but seems to require excessive force to rotate the external top pulley and the corresponding internal gears.
My questions: should everthing rotate freely without alot of resistance, or is it normal for a fair amount of force be required....... is it possible that the excessive resistance is due to the old grease on the internal gears, and that cleaning them would be the solution.......does it need to be in any particular gear (or neutral) while checking......and finally, should I be using the 80-90 gear oil, or something else....it most definitely is more liquid than wha t I found inside, which was more like chocolate pudding.
THe transaxle is a Peerless, on an old Murray 30" riding lawnmower..model #309029x92B .
Thanks for any comments or other suggestions !
My questions: should everthing rotate freely without alot of resistance, or is it normal for a fair amount of force be required....... is it possible that the excessive resistance is due to the old grease on the internal gears, and that cleaning them would be the solution.......does it need to be in any particular gear (or neutral) while checking......and finally, should I be using the 80-90 gear oil, or something else....it most definitely is more liquid than wha t I found inside, which was more like chocolate pudding.
THe transaxle is a Peerless, on an old Murray 30" riding lawnmower..model #309029x92B .
Thanks for any comments or other suggestions !