Towing a Garden Tractor

[steve20]

Would appreciate some good advice on the best approach here:
I am getting a Craftsman Garden Tractor from a neighbor who lives about 1/2 mile away. I just found out the house was sold and they are moving Saturday--so I need a quick solution
Equipment = Craftsman GT model = ? maybe X5000: it is at least 10, prolly 15 years old. It has been sitting for 2 years
Engine = B & S 27 or 28 hp twin
Trans = hydro, not sure which brand
Problem is, I do not have the time to go thru it properly and get it running before moving it. I am thinking of towing it with either another tractor or the truck, no access to a dolley either
Question is: am I going to damage the trans if I put it in neutral and tow it without the tractor engine running? This machine is heavy, at least 600 pounds-prolly more

 

[Eddie]

Look in the manual. My John Deere with a hydrostatic? drive has a special lever that MUST be set in order to safety move any distance.

 

[AandPDan]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
Look in the manual. My John Deere with a hydrostatic? drive has a special lever that MUST be set in order to safety move any distance.


I'll second this. I have a Wheel Horse hydrostatic that also has a lever to disengage the transmission.

 

[Brybo86]

It is usually on the back of the tractor under the seat, you pull it out

 

[howie2092]

rent a small u-haul trailer for a day?

 

[Cujet]

I'm fairly sure that tractor has the above mentioned lever to release the wheels from driving the transmission.

 

[GMBoy]

I agree with the others about the hydrastatic transmisson disconect. Got it on my Husqvarna. However - that model and the age of it, I doubt it is a hydrostatic transmission. Basically, if if it has gears that you can select - its a conventional transmission.

 

[gfh77665]

I have a Craftsman, its maybe 6 years old. Any Craftsman I have ever seen has the rod you pull out in the back area. It pulls out and has a flange that will lock down into the keyhole it comes out from. Do that and its OK to move.

 

[OneEyeJack]

+1 rent a trailer.

 

[Kira]

Hello,
Does your vehicle even have a receiver hitch?
I had to rent a pick up truck to swap refrigerators once. The refrigerators were 5 miles apart. 17 miles total driving.
I went to every shade-tree mechanic and bar seeking to pay someone with a pick up and found no one.
Your 1/2 mile distance makes it more ironic. Kira

 

[steve20]

thanks guys for the quick response. This truely is the best forum to belong to.
The tractor status is basically if you want it, take it because we're leaving Saturday
I have no access to the manual--hopefully they have the key

I will look for the lever--thanks-- i would have never known to look for it
The truck is an old Tahoe--so, yes, it does have a hitch--thanks for the thought though

Steve

 

[JTK]

A measly half-mile away?!?

I'd roll it or carry it on my back for that little distance.

Kidding on the 'back' part. Like said, if you want to free-wheel it and it's equipped with a hydrostatic drive, it will have a clearly marked "bypass" lever, probably on the rear hitch plate area. You won't be able to roll it w/out the bypass engaged. All it does is disconnect fluid flow from hydro pump to hydro motor, allowing the unit to roll freely.

For that short a distance, just slow tow it with another rider.

 

[steve20]

thanks again guys--I will look for the lever/linkage tomorrow.
FWIW-the 1/2 mile is all uphill and this model is a GT, not a LT

 

[Wheel]

I'm pretty sure Sears used HydroGear trans on it's GT series since the late 90's. Mine is a '99 and that's whats in it. The ones I see at Sears still have the same tranny.

There is a little lever on the top right of the drawbar plate that you lift to disengage the trans. It should have a cotter thru it to keep it one way or the other.

Once that's out of gear, I don't see why you couldn't tow it at a low speed (less that 10mph) that distance.

You can get Sears manuals from their parts department fairly cheap if you have a model #.

 

[JTK]

Yep, should be a HydroGear. IIRC, there was an odd year or two some years back where Sears used TuffTorq hydrostatic drives on some models, but either way, they'll all have that bypass lever/rod in the same areas.

 

[Silverado12]

Get some fresh gas, ether and "waterboy" it to your house.

 

[Donald]

Check the gas line. On something that old it might be old and cracked. New inline filter and gas line.

 

[steve20]

thanks again folks--very helpful. The move was changed to this weekend, (I'm dealing with a crazy person here) so we'll see what's going on

 

[2cool]

Don't blame your neighbors for wanting to get out of NJ as fast as possible ;-) I did, and am very happy. Best of luck with the mower. One more suggestion, if you can fit it; use an automotive filter in place of a B&S.