I have a Craftsman YT4000 which has a Tuff Torq K46B Transmission Axle. I started noticing early this season that it would occasionally have trouble getting up hills. This would happen even while I was already moving fine up a relatively small incline (15-20 degrees, I would say). It is almost as if the gas isn't getting to the engine. It has gotten way worse now that it is colder, but has been getting worse for some time now over the season. The last 2 mowings (yesterday at 40F and then a week ago at 70F) were REAL slow going up hill. What I noticed was:
So - I read through several threads here and on other websites. I watched several YouTube videos as well. I had come to the conclusion that it was the Transmission and I should remove it, drain it, and fill with 5W50 or 15W50 to solve the problem. I did just that with minimal problems. I took off the K46B, cleaned it up, pulled the fill plug, drained the sludgy old oil, re-filled with 15W50 to about 1 1/2 " below the fill hole, and moved the axle back and forth several times once the fill plug was put back in place. I then ran the mower in reverse and forward several times to purge.
I mowed the backyard sideways so that the incline was slightly less than the usual mowing. It was a bit better than previous, but not by a whole lot. I still got stuck a few times and had to back off on the gas pedal to get moving again. So now I'm stuck wondering what else I can do
It does have a new belt and I do not believe it's slipping as it is tight - and usually when it slows down I'm already at top speed on the same degree incline - so no extra load to cause slippage (or at least that is my thought).
What should be my next task? I would assume something internal isn't quite working right, but don't really have the skills/tools to rebuild the transmission I don't think. Is there some other transmission that might fit this mower that is better/cheaper and can be fit without requiring a welder?
Anyway - a little frustrated that I worked for quite a few hours and did not solve the problem
Thanks in advance,
Andy
- I could start on the incline fine, then would lose speed until it was essentially not moving.
- While not moving I could bring the gas pedal back half way and it *may* move again
- While not moving I could sometimes only let off the gas then press the gas slowly again to get it moving. Either way it always would eventually move.
So - I read through several threads here and on other websites. I watched several YouTube videos as well. I had come to the conclusion that it was the Transmission and I should remove it, drain it, and fill with 5W50 or 15W50 to solve the problem. I did just that with minimal problems. I took off the K46B, cleaned it up, pulled the fill plug, drained the sludgy old oil, re-filled with 15W50 to about 1 1/2 " below the fill hole, and moved the axle back and forth several times once the fill plug was put back in place. I then ran the mower in reverse and forward several times to purge.
I mowed the backyard sideways so that the incline was slightly less than the usual mowing. It was a bit better than previous, but not by a whole lot. I still got stuck a few times and had to back off on the gas pedal to get moving again. So now I'm stuck wondering what else I can do
What should be my next task? I would assume something internal isn't quite working right, but don't really have the skills/tools to rebuild the transmission I don't think. Is there some other transmission that might fit this mower that is better/cheaper and can be fit without requiring a welder?
Anyway - a little frustrated that I worked for quite a few hours and did not solve the problem
Thanks in advance,
Andy
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