149 Hydro Issues
 

I’m working on a 149 for a friend, same guy that I got my 125 from. What he told me was it didn’t feel right the last few times he used it. One day when he was mowing it stopped moving. He checked the hydro fluid and it was low, so he added some. Sometimes it moves, sometimes it doesn’t.

I brought it home, and drove it around for about 15 minutes. It will drive normally, then suddenly start free-wheeling, then start moving normally again. Sometimes there is a grinding noise when it starts moving again, but not every time. Also, the hydraulic lift goes up really slow.

Obviously I would have to pull the rear apart to find the problem, but does it sound like it could a simple fix, or time to find a good used rear? I want to get it fixed as quickly and cheap as possible.

check the spirol pins in the driveshaft first,,,,:bigthink:

Gets my vote for a first step. :ThumbsUp:

Plugged hydro filter. The 149 I acquired a couple yrs ago acted the same way. Didn't notice it so bad moving but the hydraulics were really slow. Changed filter and put in new oil and back to normal.:beerchug:

What he said.
change filter/oil in hydro

Both suggestions Pins/Filter great advice... AND THE WINNER IS??

:popcorn::popcorn:

both sound like a "maintenance" thing, I'd do both "just because" if I had this tractor here...
and pull the body, power wash the hydro and rear end, the last few I've worked on, didn't look that "bad" just pulling the drive shaft cover, but once I had the body off, man oh man, the fins on the hydro weren't even visible.... and just like an air cooled engine, those fins are for cooling....

I meant to say that I did check the spirol pin and it was ok. I will get the fluid and filter changed and report back.

Dodge trucker: I already plan on that, this tractor is filthy.

When you jack it to drain it up see if you can pull out one of the rear axles, BTDT.

They do not pull out, but can move in and out about a 1/4” on either side.

I drained the fluid last night and cleaned it all up. There was a lot of sludge in the bottom, I didn’t see any obvious damage though. I’ll fill it up today and take it for a test drive.

I took it for a ride, so far it seems good, although I didn’t go far since it was dark and raining. Tomorrow I’ll take it for a more thorough test drive.