MTD Variable speed pulley, (Huskee Garden Tractor), fix. Tractor will not shift while running

Huskee GT will not shift from forward to reverse ( or vice versa) while tractor is running. The issue was/is a variable speed pulley not working correctly

[@philliphall5198]

I use a air hammer if it’s stuck to remove it 😢 and anti-zee it to keep it from sticking next time 😊😊😊

[@philliphall5198]

I’m thinking people will be fixing up all the older mowers this spring 😊

[@DansShopSD]

What you thinking…. Because new ones are getting so dang expensive or just rusting up over the winter?

[@philliphall5198]

@@DansShopSDwell I was right about them bringing in the older riding mowers, it’s mainly what I worked on all summer, mostly the craftsman brand

[@DansShopSD]

@@philliphall5198 tuff times for all

[@Rick-qf5de]

I had problems with that variable speed and did a quick repair, but the tractor is still real slow, paddles way to hard to push, but if you give it all you got it might do 4 mph until you use cruise control, and only running about 3 mph. Any idea what's causing this, where are these just slow automatic transmissions... ???

[@Mark-zz9rt]

I’m working on a Huskee supreme and I put a new clutch and belt on and that sob keep kicking the belt off 🤬. Hate being stumped by a mtd lawn tractor.

[@DS-bk3mc]

These things will only work properly if OEM MTD belts are used. Aftermarket belts may be nominally the same, but the OEM belts are actually 1/4” or so different AND the pitch of the v on the belt is different. You won’t save any money by using an aftermarket belt on these drives because they will get torn up quickly and the drive itself will not function properly.

[@DansShopSD]

I can’t remember if in this video I used after market or oem. But I can tell you I have since used this tractor 1 a week to mow to just under 3 acres without issue…

[@philliphall5198]

PB blaster works great and just spaying it every once in a while on the machine works 😊

[@DansShopSD]

@@philliphall5198 great point!

[@breannaoliver6316]

​@@DansShopSD please do you have items number from this pulley please!?

[@DansShopSD]

@@breannaoliver6316 I do not sorry

[@philliphall5198]

Really it’s a great system and extremely cheap to keep it up Stay away from the high dollar repair costs of the hyd units Just replace the two brging for 10 bucks and your time

[@DansShopSD]

True!

[@philliphall5198]

I still laugh when you’ll call it a tractor, it’s a simple riding mower. Lololo 😊

[@DansShopSD]

To be fair this one is a GT. I do have other riding mowers though….

[@eddiesheeran5791]

Great video, thanks for confirming what I found recently. I'm working on a 2007 yard machines/mtd mower, and it's extremely hard to shift out of gear when the engine is running. It will also keep creeping forward or backward when you have the clutch/brake pedal pushed all the way. The center sliding section of the variable pulley was partially seized. When I cleaned everything with a wire brush, I found the center section has too much play between it & the shaft, allowing it to wobble enough to get cocked sideways and lock onto the shaft. I just ordered a new variable pulley for it. This machine already has 17 years of use on it. Who knows how many hours.

[@DansShopSD]

Thats awesome! Thats some good information

[@donaldboley771]

Learned something today.

[@miguelalt8855]

DansShopSD great video, thank you. I recently changed the drive belt in my Troy bilt pony (2011), unfortunately; the belt now is very tense, not sure if that’s the way it’s supposed to be, I don't know if that will be the cause of my problem, now I can only control the speed with the throttle lever, even when I put it in rabbit mode the motor goes at high rpm, but the ground speed is about half the normal speed; the (yellow on mine) speed control lever doesn’t work, it goes up and down without locking the notches, offers no resistance and does nothing. (however, the engaging of the parking brake action works fine). I opened up the hood and saw the speed control lever attached to a connecting rod which is attached down there to the cupped metal piece in the correct position as the new Troy Bilt Pony I saw yesterday at Home Depot, but besides allowing to be put in in park position, I don’t see it attached to anything else, is it right? How does it regulate the speed if it is not connected to anything else? Thank you in advance.

[@DansShopSD]

Interesting problem. Maybe send pics or video to my email. [e-mail] Maybe with pics i can help. No promises lol!

[@oscarfigueroa5744]

Greetings from Puerto Rico. I recently changed all the belts but it causing exactly that but it was working perfectly before so, in this case I don't think that is a rusty issue. Any hint?

[@DansShopSD]

Hello Puerto Rico!! Darn I wish I had all the answers for you. My best guess is the main drive belt is the wrong size? If you are confident the belts you put in are routed correctly and the right size them maybe the spring on the idler pulley is shot? Thus it’s not holding tension on the belt??

[@oscarfigueroa5744]

@@DansShopSD Thanks!!

[@teamjax7619]

Awesome videos keep it up 👍

[@DansShopSD]

Thank you

[@philliphall5198]

If you leave it outside put a plastic trash bag over battery area to keep water off this pulley unit

[@DansShopSD]

This sweet machine has an inside life now. Although it did live outside for who know how long before I was asked to come drag it out of the weeds

[@jamiem7740]

Awesome glad it was something minor 🤘

[@DansShopSD]

Right!!

[@philliphall5198]

Don’t use grease because it will collect grass and dirt Just motor oil and wipe it dry

[@shawnice105]

That’s good to know. I was gonna grease mine earlier today but realized I’m out of grease

[@korypickrel4649]

Great lube work on that shaft!

[@DansShopSD]

So nice of you to notice!

[@romeoduggan4718]

What lube did you use?

[@DansShopSD]

Engine oil. Nothing special just what I had handy !

[@philliphall5198]

Thank You for information and advice 😊

[@DansShopSD]

For sure! Thanks for watching. Good luck on your project!

[@FallGuyManiac]

Hi - I’ve got a YTD with this transmatic system with a new variable drive pulley and new belts but it seems to go too fast in low gear. How do I make it slow down?

[@DansShopSD]

Ah man I wish I knew the answer! Most the time I learn as I dig into these machines. I did some googling and I still couldn’t find the answer! I’m sure you are not the only one, You should run some video while you look into and you may be able to help the next guy!

[@FallGuyManiac]

@@DansShopSD turns out it was the variable drive pulley was seized up. it was other pullies i'd had replaced.

[@DansShopSD]

@@FallGuyManiac ah gotcha. Well very cool that you got it figured out!

[@phillipshackelford1074]

How did you get that out of there so easy

[@DansShopSD]

Just lucky I guess … at least with this project!

[@philliphall5198]

Put never zee or wheel brging grease on shaft every time removed

[@DansShopSD]

I better get some of that on hand!

[@philliphall5198]

Yes Sir and use it every where, rear axle and bolts Main thing is to keep them out of the weather because rain just pours down on the pulley and unit Plus springs rust and break I love this simple cheap to operate system over the hydro system they have now, 800 bucks crap is plastic 😢