MTD Speed change

[Anonymous-0]

My 19 HP MTD has a should have seven speeds but it stays in the top speed ( difficult to mow with). Any one got an idea?

 

[retired logger]

shift lever linkage has come apart. will have to take seat and rear fenders off to reach it, more than likely. they are prone to it, cotter pin more than likely fell out.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Possibly the variable pulley that is between the engine belt and the transaxle belt has seized up. Or maybe the linkage that moves that variable pulley forward and back has come apart.

If you are lucky, there is a removable panel right in front of the seat (the one the forward/reverse lever sticks through. Remove that, as well as the shift knob, and the variable pulley should be right there, near the front of the opening. When you move the speed selector lever, the variable pulley should move forward and back and the center part of the pulley should move up and down on the center post, changing the effective sizes of the pulleys. If that center part of the variable pulley does not slide up and down, it probably needs to be lubricated. If it is stuck, I would start with penetrating oil, and then when it is moving, add regular engine oil. It would be a good idea to remove the engine and transaxle belts before oiling the variable.

While you are in there, it is a good idea to lube the idler pulley that tightens the transaxle belt.

If your machine does not have a removable panel in front of the seat, you probably will need to put the machine on its side to get to the variable. I have worked on both kinds, and the ones with the removable panel are sure a lot easier!

If the linkage has fallen apart, hope that you didn't lose anything, or you will be buying parts. Having a parts book with an exploded diagram really makes it easier to see how things are supposed to go together. Good luck!

 

[IH2444]

Yep what he said. Could also be a wrong belt on the drive system.