4400 HST problem

[Moledoggie]

I just bought a 2000 4400 with about 2,000 hrs at an equipment auction. I'm still learning about this machine, but time is limited - weekends but it's cold in WNY. I found the operator's manual on Deere's website, but not the service manual in pdf-format
Its a hydro transmission and the tractor continues moving after I take my foot off the pedal, both forward and reverse. I am running at a lower engine rpm to minimize the undesired movement. I found 1 grease fitting and added grease, but it didn't seem to make a difference.
Any suggestions on what to look for next would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Pete76NY]

Mole, I could be a real smart alek here and tell you that you shoulda bought a Kubota... but I won't! Is your pedal not centering quickly enough, or is your pedal centered and the tranny keeps moving after it does center?
If it is simply the pedal not centering, you may have to pull that apart, clean and relube it, sounds like it mighta sat for a while. If the pedal returns to the center or neutral position and the tractor keeps going, you probably have a sticky gate on the directional valve that the pedals work (sorry, I shoulda been saying pedalS all along, I forgot those green ones don't use the heel toe 1 piece pivoting pedals!)
I do love old green and yellow though, that's why I'm here!
Binghamton now, originally from Allegany...where are you? Pete

 

[Jake Winn]

When was the last time that it was serviced? was they hydro oil changed and the correct oil used? It should be Deere Low-vis oil.

What is the serial number? If i remember correctly there was parts change in the foot pedals on those. Also you need to check where the arm goes into the case and hydro.

Good luck

 

[Moledoggie]

From the picture on the company's website, the machine was on their lot when the grass was green (no date on the pix), and I bought it on Jan 3,2009. I wll try to contact their service department for more information.

The S/N is LV4400H342353

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Moledoggie]

Does 'pedals centered' mean all the way up? If not, I'm not sure what you mean. There is no side-to-side motion
It feels like the pedals don't have enough force to bring them all the way up when I take my foot off them.
If I'm going slowly forward, slightly depressing the reverse pedal changes to a slow reverse direction. It's the same reverse to forward.
There's a 6' mower deck making it hard to work under the machine.
I'm in North Tonawanda during the week, and Machias on weekends in late March thru deer hunting season.
Since watching my neighbor with his new 4320, I got the 'green and yellow' bug.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[alabamafrog]

I got a 2000 4700 HST with around 1,700 hrs and the same problem. I’m pretty mechanically inclined and I haven’t figured it out yet. I took it to my local Deere dealer and they had no clue or desire to even try to fix it. I posted about it here last summer. I have the factory operators manual for mine and I have went through it several times and did all of the adjustments in it to no avail. I’m almost positive it is something internal because I can jack it up and watch all of the linkages and there is no slack in any of it. I have a feeling that it is in the swash plate or whatever linkage is internal and goes to the swash plate.

On mine if going forward you have to use the reversed pedal to stop and if going reverse you have to use the forward pedal to stop and it is very tricky to “get the hang of it”. I ran into several things with mine before I got used to it so be very careful. The 2 pedal design makes it worse because you have to quickly find the other pedal if you need to stop. It would be great if we could figure this thing out.

Here is my baby; http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj235/alabamafrog/Tractors/4700/

 

[alabamafrog]

I’m not certain how similar the 4400 and 4700 are but on mine if you look under the floor you will see the centering mechanism, there is a roller and a notch or cup that the roller goes into to center the pedals I’m 99% certain that all that stuff is adjusted perfectly on mine. Usually when a hydrostat center is off it will creep in one direction or the other, not in both directions. I have watched mine closely and the linkages always return to the exact same spot whether going forwards or backwards and whether stopped or creeping.

Now I must state that I have no idea if we have the exact same problem or not, you might be well advised to check the linkages on yours yourself and make sure it’s not a simple adjustment problem. But if you do figure it out please let me know about it.

 

[Jim Plunkett]

I had a 955 that would do that if all the linkage wasn't all clean and well greased. If it's cold where you are the grease will be stiff,try working the pedals back and fourth a lot and a couple more shots of grease to push any dirt out. Oil any other pivot points or places things touch that you can see

 

[Moledoggie]

Nice tractor! Mine has a hard cab with heater, belly mower and turf tires (combination doesn"t make alot of sense to me). If I can get it working as it should, I want to add a loader, ag tires and a rear snowblower. For now, I keep the engine rpm low enough to not be a problem. This weekend is supposed to get a little warmer. I will try to spray PB Blaster and grease up all the moving parts I can find.
Thanks,
Mike

 

[alabamafrog]

I’m not positive about it but I’ve always thought that it is bad to run a hydrostat at low rpm? I try to always have mine over 1500 when moving at all and keep it up near PTO speed when working. If yours is like mine and if you can’t get it fixed then it will just take time and practice before you get where you can stop it without thinking even with the rpms wide open. But be careful in the mean time.