Originally Posted By: JTK
The only bad part about the vintage 110's is the variator drive system. They had an iron beast 4spd gear drive, then you had additional ground speed options by selecting a different notch with the variator lever on the right side IIRC. This re-positioned the moveable sheave on the variator, moved the drive belt and gave you a different ground speed. Problem is, like all variator sheaves on OPE, the things lock up over time and are useless. Good thing about JDs is, it's totally user serviceable and parts can be had. Long story short. Leave the variator lever at max and don't touch it.
Yes, I leave the lever at max.
The tractor is pretty flawless in its long life. It has recently in the past 3 years needed repairs. It needed a new starter, surprised it lasted this long. Something was weird with the wiring for the tractor to start so a bypass push button starter was added. And all the belts were just replaced.
The only thing I complain about this tractor is that there must be something wrong with the clutch. It's a ghost clutch. I'll be riding along on a straight-level surface and the clutch will move by itself halfway pressed in, making the tractor move slower and I cannot force the clutch back towards me. I understand that it's supposed to slow down the tractor during descent down hills, but I don't think it should be doing that going on a flat surface. The clutch seems to have a mind of its own, presses part way in and then randomly back out, all throughout I mow the grass. I just keep it in 2nd gear and it takes awhile to move the acre lawn, but I don't need to touch the clutch practically the whole time. But if I use 3rd gear I use the clutch all the time (so I'd rather not). Never have needed to use 4th gear (way too fast) or 1st gear (crawling).