The engine on your Cub Cadet mower turns the hydraulic pump. Shifting the transmission while the lawnmower is still moving puts undue stress on the gears, the differential, and the linkages. Linkages can get bent and not operate through the full range of motion. The scheduled maintenance in the user's manual will keep your mower operating for many years without problems. If you try these remedies and your Cub Cadet hydrostatic transmission still doesn't engage, it is probably time for a trip to the service shop. You can find this schedule in the user's manual that came with your Cub Cadet mower. Free-flowing hydraulic fluid allows the wheels to turn without having to turn the pump. The clutch should be disengaged and engaged slowly and easily. Your Cub Cadet hydrostatic transmission has a transmission bypass. Step 2: Start the Engine. Your Cub Cadet tractor should try to move against the parking brake if the transmission is operating properly. On his retirement, he started a remodeling and home repair business, which he ran for several years. If you need to move the mower by pushing, opening the bypass allows the hydraulic fluid to move inside the transmission as you push the mower.
The problem is often due to the bypass valve, so let's take a look at what you should do when your Cub Cadet hydrostatic transmission won't move. A bypass valve stuck in the open position can happen accidentally. What Kind of Maintenance Do I Need to do to My Cub Cadet Transmission? Cub Cadet SC 500 HW Review: Does This Mower Stack Up? Check the pedals, levers, and linkages on your Cub Cadet mower for obstructions or other damage. The user manual that came with your mower will give you more information on the limits of your Cub Cadet lawnmower and how best to operate within those limits. Keeping your mower clean and free of debris will lengthen its life and ensure it operated a peak efficiency. Check the Driveline. Set the parking brake on before working on your Cub Cadet Mower. Understanding how the hydrostatic transmission on your Cub Cadet mower works is important to using the transmission without problems.
Is your riding mower refusing to move? The hydrostatic transmission on your Cub Cadet mower is a sealed unit. What is the problem when a Cub Cadet hydrostatic transmission won't move? Step 4: Engage and Disengage the Transmission Bypass. Opening the bypass valve avoids damage to the hydraulic pump and the differential. Keep your Mower Clean and Properly Maintained. Check the Pedals and Levers for Obstructions. You may have neglected to close the bypass, or it may have stuck in the open position. Getting the most from your Cub Cadet riding lawnmower and ensuring a long life is a matter of how you use your mower and how you maintain the equipment. Popping the clutch or stomping on the clutch can damage the linkages or cause the clutch assembly's failure. Allowing dust, dirt, and oil to build-up on the engine and transmission causes both to work harder and hotter. Some best practices will help you get the best performance from your Cub Cadet Lawnmower. This switch prevents the mower from running if you are not on the seat.
My Cub put itself in bypass and I cannot move forward or reverse. Work the parking brake lever through the range of movement several times and then try your Cub Cadet lawnmower again to see if it will move. Working the bypass lever from open to close several times may remedy the situation. The engine sits idling happily and you are going now where. Dennis is a retired firefighter with an extensive background in construction, home improvement, and remodeling. I tried shifting the bypass lever by hand and it moves freely, but does not seem to move far enough. When the Hydrostatic Transmission Engages but the Mower Doesn't Move. You hop on your Cub Cadet riding mower, start the engine with no problem, put the lever into forward, and release the clutch. Unless the engine is running, no hydraulic fluid circulates through the transmission. How to "Move" a Stuck Cub Cadet Hydrostatic Transmission.
A running engine is necessary to engage the pump on the hydrostatic transmission. Make sure that the parking brake releases completely when the lever is disengaged. Best Practices for Using your Cub Cadet Riding Lawnmower. It does not click into position, just sort of floats. Higher operating temperatures will shorten the life of the engine and the transmission. You can check for problems in these areas using the following list. In the case of your Cub Cadet, that is the rear wheels.
Opening the bypass valve allows the transmission fluid to move freely. A Cub Cadet riding lawnmower runs fine in most instances, but the hydrostatic transmission won't move is suffering from a stuck or open bypass valve in the transmission. Ensure that you get the best performance from your Cub Cadet riding lawnmower by reading the directions in the user's manual. Each model of Cub Cadet lawnmower has specific limits of operation. Use the Transmission Properly. Carpet on stairs presents a few extra challenges when it comes to cleaning. Step 1: Work Safely. Use the clutch carefully. Debris can build up behind or under the pedals or linkages and prevent them from working. Be Sure the Parking Brake is Releasing. Restoring your Cub Cadet mower to operating status is usually a matter of a few simple steps. There are check valves, bypass valves, and operating valves that control the hydraulic motor's speed, force, and direction. Step 3: Try the Transmission – Shift to Forward.
According to the manufacturer's directions and limitations, the hydrostatic transmission should not need routine service. Fortunately, most of the time, this is an easily resolvable situation. We hope that these hints, tips, and instructions will help you get your Cub Cadet mower going again. Several other issues can cause your Cub Cadet lawnmower to refuse to move even if the hydrostatic transmission is working. There are no parts or assemblies involved in the hydrostatic transmission that are user-serviceable. The user's manual is included with your Cub Cadet riding lawnmower for a reason. Lawnmower Brands To Avoid.
Make sure that the drive belt is not broken or hasn't slipped off the pulleys. The safeties include the parking brake, the PTO, and the seat switch.