Service Transmission

Transmission and Hydraulic Oil

NOTE: Tractor is filled with John Deere High Viscosity Hy-Gard™ (J20C) transmission oil at the factory.

Do not mix oils.

Do not use type “F” automatic transmission fluid, J20D Low Viscosity Hy-Gard™, or Bio Hy-Gard™.

MIF

Use the following oil viscosity based on the air temperature range. Operating outside of the recommended oil air temperature range may cause premature hydrostatic transmission failure.

John Deere Hy-Gard™ (J20C) transmission oil is specially formulated to provide maximum protection against mechanical wear, corrosion, and foaming.

Checking Transmission Oil Level

NOTE: Do not overfill reservoir tank. Oil will expand during operation and could overflow.

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.)

2. Lift operator seat and lock into position.

MX42535

3. Check oil level in reservoir (A). Oil level should be between MIN (B) and MAX (C) on reservoir.

4. If oil is below MIN (B) on reservoir, remove cap (D) from reservoir and add oil until oil level is between MIN and MAX on reservoir.

5. Install cap on reservoir and hand tighten only. Do not overtighten cap.

Changing Transmission Oil and Filter

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Escaping fluid under high pressure can penetrate the skin and cause serious injury. Avoid the hazard by relieving pressure before connecting hydraulic or other lines. Tighten all connections before applying pressure. • Search for leaks with a piece of cardboard. Protect hands and body from high pressure fluids. • If an accident occurs, see a doctor immediately. Any fluid injected into the skin must be surgically removed within a few hours or gangrene may result. Doctors unfamiliar with this type of injury should reference a knowledgeable medical source. Such information is available from Deere & Company Medical Department in Moline, Illinois, U.S.A. In the United States and Canada only, this information may be obtained by calling 1-800-822-8262.

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.)

2. Allow engine and transmission oil reservoir to cool.

MX42536

3. Remove filter cap (A) and filter from each transmission. Discard filter.

4. Allow transmission oil to drain into a drain pan.

5. Apply a film of clean oil on gasket of new filter.

MX43019

6. Install new filter into each transmission, with spring end (B) facing filter cap.

7. Replace o-ring on the filter cap.

8. Install filter cap (removed earlier) and tighten to 7.3-12.3 N•m (5.4-9 ft lb).

9. Lift operator seat and lock into position.

10. Fill reservoir until oil level is between MIN and MAX marks on reservoir. Lower seat.

11. Start engine.

12. Allow engine to idle for 1 minute at low idle before full throttle.

13. Move throttle lever to the 3/4 fast idle position.

14. Unlock park brake.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Help prevent serious bodily injury. Remain alert to other people and the surroundings when operating the machine.

15. Run engine in full throttle for five minutes and then cycle motion control levers forward and rearward several times. Check for leaks around filter.

16. Stop the engine. Check oil level. Add oil as necessary.

Cleaning Transmission Fan and Cooling Fins

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Compressed air can cause debris to fly a long distance. • Clear work area of bystanders. • Wear eye protection when using compressed air for cleaning purposes. • Reduce compressed air pressure to 210 kPa (30 psi).

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.)

2. Lift operator seat and lock into position.

MX42537

3. Clean cooling fins around exterior of transmissions and fans (A) with a rag, brush, or compressed air.

4. Clean transmission fan screens (B).

Checking and Replacing Traction Drive Belt

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Entanglement in a belt or sheave can cause serious injury. Stop engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.

NOTE: The traction drive belt is self-adjusted using a spring tensioner and does not require a tension adjustment.

Checking Belt:

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.)

2. Inspect belt for excessive wear, damage or stretching while in position on the transmission sheave and drive belt tensioner sheave.

Replacing Belt

1. Remove mower deck belt.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Components are installed under spring tension. Wear eye protection and use proper tools when installing and removing components with spring tension.

MX42538

2. Insert a 1/2 in. drive extension tool into square hole (A) on tensioner arm, and rotate to release tension on belt (B).

3. While tensioner arm is rotated, remove traction drive belt from clutch pulley (C).

4. Remove belt from both transmission drive sheaves and idler sheave (D).

5. Install belt onto drive sheaves and idler sheave as shown.

Checking and Adjusting Neutral Creep

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Do not attempt this adjustment unless you are a qualified and properly trained technician. Improper adjustment can result in an unsafe machine.

Checking Motion Control Linkages

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.)

2. Raise rear of machine only enough for rear tires to rotate freely.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Engine exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can cause serious illness or death. • Move the machine to an outside area before running the engine. • Do not run an engine in an enclosed area without adequate ventilation. • Connect a pipe extension to the engine exhaust pipe to direct the exhaust fumes out of the area. • Allow fresh outside air into the work area to clear the exhaust fumes out.

3. Start engine.

4. Set throttle lever to the fast position.

5. Unlock park brake.

6. If the rear drive wheels begin to creep, an adjustment is required.

Adjusting Motion Control Linkages

NOTE: Perform adjusts with rear tires off the ground just enough so wheels can rotate.

1. Stop engine and lock park brake.

MX24736

2. Move both motion control levers (A) to the neutral lock position.

3. Sit on seat.

4. Start engine.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Use extreme caution when adjusting for neutral creep. Drive wheels are free to spin when machine is raised off the floor and the engine is started. Do not have engine running any longer than necessary to do adjustment. Shut off engine and remove key as soon as possible after adjustment is made.

5. Set throttle to fast idle position.

6. Unlock park brake.

MX24924

7. Locate left and right motion control linkage adjustment points (B).

8. Be sure the right motion control linkage is in the neutral lock position. The right drive wheel must not turn. If it does turn, adjust the motion control linkage.

MX24925

Picture Note: Front plate shown removed for clarity.

9. Adjust nut (C) on end of steering linkage.

• If wheel is spinning in forward direction, turn nut clockwise to bring wheel to a stop.

• If wheel is spinning in reverse direction, turn nut counter-clockwise to bring wheel to a stop.

10. Move the right motion control lever completely forward and rearward in the slot and then back to the neutral lock-out position.

• The drive wheels will slow down to +/- 4 rpm. If the drive wheels are rotating faster than +/- 4 rpm, repeat previous step.

11. Repeat procedure to adjust the left motion control linkage.

• Drive wheels should not rotate when in neutral lock position.

12. Stop engine.

13. Move both motion control levers to the neutral lock position.

14. Lock park brake.

15. Dismount from the machine.

16. Lower machine.

Adjusting Tracking

If the machine does not track in a straight line while going forward, adjust the tracking:

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.)

MX24919

2. Turn the adjusting screw as required:

• If machine tracks to right, turn adjusting screw (A) clockwise one rotation.

• If machine tracks to left, turn adjusting screw (A) counter-clockwise one rotation.

3. Test vehicle for proper tracking.

4. Repeat the steps 2 and 3 as necessary to adjust the tracking.

5. Return vehicle to service.