TROY-BILT Bronco Variable Speed Transmission Issue 💯😀

[@bigsonslawncare]

I had one of these mowers couple years ago and I could never figure out how to fix my problem and of course I wasn't on YT as much. Great information hear✔️💯💪🏽

[@TLMD]

Glad I could help

[@Honestandtruth007]

@@TLMD It's a Doughnut time Or Booty Time 🤣👍 Great job... Bubba 👍😂

[@Mazel_Tov_888]

thx for the visual of the variable pulley in action.

[@MrWoodMan23]

Hello, this is a very educational video. I just bought a Troy Built Bronco. 20 hp courage, 42" cut. Garage kept. Very nice mower. But it seems like it is going faster in reverse than in forward drive. After watching this, I think I will looking into this foot feed. Thanks!

[@TLMD]

Glad it helped. Thanks for being here.

[@PCWood-sn2cc]

No freakin way. For sure. Troy bilt mowers are so finicky its a full time job keepin them going well. Thanks Mr lawn mower detective!

[@TLMD]

You bet

[@KentuckyFriedFixes]

Sweet repair. I would've been trying to put a spring in that idler. LOL!

[@TLMD]

I thought there should be one in there too.....lol Henry the BIG DOG sat me straight though!

[@KentuckyFriedFixes]

@@TLMD Henry has probably forgotten more about riding mowers than I'll ever know!

[@Turningwrenches85]

Great job on that repair of that variable speed LMD 🍩

[@TLMD]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@gravelyman]

Pretty interesting set up. Nice repair LMD 🔧👍

[@TLMD]

Thanks Artie!

[@Honestandtruth007]

It's a doughnut time or Booty Time 🤣👍 Great job Man

[@mr1pearl]

I don't mess with riders but if I keep getting tips like these I might change my mind 👍 Henry !!!

[@TLMD]

Right on

[@southside8714]

You are the man! Great detective work and problem fix. Those variable drives can really be a pain in the butt. Very informative video. Sign me up, I'm subscribing.

[@TLMD]

Thank you very much for your kind words. It is an honor to have you here.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Great job Detective.

[@TLMD]

Thanks T-Bone

[@philliphall5198]

Thanks for sharing this information and advice 😊

[@TLMD]

It was my pleasure. I hope it helps.

[@danwesterberg3956]

great video. I never would have thought it was bent ,just was getting slower little by little...........thanks .............I got you a box of donuts , but some one ate them all..........

[@TLMD]

Thanks for thinking of me!

[@rlt1287]

Ok, I finally got to watch this video.. You a bad man Dave!👍🏾

[@TLMD]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@TheBandit93]

Excellent video on repairing a rocker pedal style hydrostatic transmission this has been very informative I took some new knowledge from this video. I'm looking forward to seeing more videos from you take care. 👍

[@TLMD]

Thanks for watching!

[@GrampiesWorkshop]

How's she goin'? Nice fix on the transmission!! I was surprised to see that arm bent out of position like it was. But that sure was what was wrong. BTW the teeth on that go peddle arm are for 'cruise control' . There should be a matching dog that is activated by the cruise control button and engages on those teeth to hold the peddle in position, if the mower has one. Thanks for posting and take care!!!

[@TLMD]

Thanks Grampie! I was wondering why it was there.

[@henrymurawskibigdogrepair]

Thanks for the shoutout and this video was very good Dave

[@TLMD]

Any time BIG DOG! Thanks again for the information brother.

[@LewisMowersandBoats]

Henry knows his stuff 😊

[@Washington4000]

Best explanation ever, thanks!!

[@TLMD]

Glad to be of assistance!

[@philliphall5198]

Rusty is a problem, don’t leave it outside plus it weakens the spring and rust them up Keep the under side clean also

[@TLMD]

Very true!

[@GammaMatch]

Great thanks alot !!

[@TLMD]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@Honestandtruth007]

Just Subscribed your channel

[@Big_Johns]

It sure is nice when an old dog can teach a young dog new tricks. 🤣 Nice video Dave, I can use this in the future brother, thanks. 👍

[@TLMD]

Please do!

[@henrymurawskibigdogrepair]

Who you calling a old Dog

[@Big_Johns]

Oh it was some other Henry Murawski dude I was referring to sir. 🤣🤣

[@PerrynBecky]

The teeth actually do have a purpose on that actuator. Your machine doesn't have the cruise control option apparently. A friend of mine has this same tractor, and it has a mechanism that has mating teeth that holds that actuator where the actuator stays in whatever position that it's set at. Think of it like "gear positions". The button for this is on the console right to the left of the ignition switch.

[@TLMD]

Thank you Perry. That is some great info. Thanks for stopping in.

[@HobbyMotorDK]

Nice fix Dave - is it me or does MTD tend to over complicate their designs? Have a great Friday

[@TLMD]

Thanks, you too! It seems like a cheap alternative to a hydro. But more parts to break means more money in the end.....lol

[@blinkerbulbsfixitshop8517]

I have a similar style transmission on two tractors, the problem is they stay engaged. Once you start the tractor the drive belt starts turning and when you put the lever in fwd or reverse it goes without using the pedal. Any idea on a possible cause for this? Just got both mowers. Informative video thanks!

[@TLMD]

Make sure the pulley is operating correctly. It may be stuck in the fast position. Good luck!

[@TLMD]

Also verify that the belt is the correct length. I have seen people try to fic the original problem with a shorter belt and then create the other situation as well.

[@arciefan]

Nice but would have been nice to see you bending the arm or at least the before picture of it. Hard for me to tell what you did by just the explanation. Thanks

[@TLMD]

I completely agree with you on this. I am working hard to get all of the pertinent information into these videos. I will work harder in the future to include as much information as possible.

[@Globaltalentgt]

Collaboration make your channel grow up faster 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@TLMD]

We do that a lot in this community.

[@PerrynBecky]

Awesome repair tip. I have a question now... When I engage the "go pedal" whether the trans is in gear or not; a steady knock starts happening at about 1 second intervals, (maybe slightly sooner), and it doesn't change no matter how fast the tractor rolls and even if it's sitting still. Any ideas?

[@TLMD]

I would check the belt for a missing chunk of rubber and or any part of the drive idler tension assembly up between the frame rails. Good luck!

[@PerrynBecky]

@@TLMD Thank you. I have also seen videos as of last night where the Courage engine is notorious for the upper bolts backing off and producing a "knock" too, It just seems unlikely to be the engine bolts if it only happens when the drive is engaged. I will have to check for the nick in the belt like you say. Thanks for the tip.

[@PerrynBecky]

@@TLMD Excellent news, your tip on the drive belt was 100% accurate. Not only was there a "chip" in the belt, it was severely cracked up and several chips all around the belt was present. We replaced it, and the knocking sound is GONE. THANK YOU. Now I need to watch your video to see if I missed an adjustment feature when you fixed the rod on the "go pedal". It's grabbing a little too aggressively and the mower tries to creep a little without coming to a full stop. Maybe you can offer a tip on this too? Thank you again, Perry.

[@hughbean6785]

Do you know what the center bolt is for on the variable speed pulley is it a adjustment or just to hold the opposite welded pulley in place

[@TLMD]

No adjustment on the variable speed pulley. It just holds it to the bracket.

[@Kramabaretter]

What a bad pulley like that make the machine jerk in gear when you press the pedal... that's what we're experiencing now after double-checking all the belts and pulleys Etc

[@TLMD]

If its not functioning smooth it could cause that.

[@Kramabaretter]

It's herky-jerky and new belts checked all pulleys I'm going to pull it they see how it functions

[@tazmun]

Y’all can swear at the old craftsman’s all you like and so will I. But most of them from my experience when I worked at Sears all had a standard real transmission with a real reverse, included regular forward gears. They were almost in indestructible too. These variable speed pulley disasters are junk. As far as I’m concerned. God forbid you have hills or steep places on your lawn or have a little trailer or something you’d like to pull around. I saw them all the time doing the job of a garden tractor and somehow they survived it most of the time. If you’ve already got one, this is good information here, but a better idea is don’t get one!

[@TLMD]

Thanks for being here! I really appreciate it!

[@jasonwilloughby6538]

Do you have to pull the rear axle off to get the variable speed pulley bracket off?

[@TLMD]

No. But it is way easier.

[@thebaron44]

I might try that next time I replace the engine drive belt , working through the battery box hole was not fun but it worked.

[@jasonwilloughby6538]

@@TLMD I have tried everything. But that hook on the bracket that grabs the back axle won’t budge. Help! I wish you had a video of when you took the transmission axle off.

[@thebaron44]

When I removed my VSD I t ook a pair of vise grips and bent the curved bracket out of the way...the VSD popped right off....I did NOT ben it back

[@robertmailhos8159]

Don't get.aa speeding ticket on this mower plus don't be doing doughnuts with it either LoL 😅 be safe out there Young Man and your other half as well

[@TLMD]

Thanks Robert. Now that is some funny stuff.....lol

[@robertmailhos8159]

@@TLMD it's doughnut 🍩 time 😀

[@afhostie]

Would that arm be the cause of the mower moving forward when in gear without touching the go pedal?

[@TLMD]

The go pedal is the least of your worries. If the Variable Speed Pulley isn't working properly it will act like it wants to go all the time. Does the parking brake keep it from moving?

[@afhostie]

@@TLMD it does, it just wants to go like idling in a car with foot off the brake. It does sound like a belt is slipping sometimes when I'm holding the mower stopped with the brake while in gear. Also it's hard to change out of gear while the mower is running.

[@afhostie]

I replaced the upper and lower belt since they looked rough and that seems to have completely fixed it. Looks like the cloth on the inside was completely warn through and there were cracks running all the way to the cords. The other 3 sides also looked to be quite worn though less consistently.

[@Rysdad1]

How did you bend the arm forwards?

[@TLMD]

Sorry for the delay in answering. I used a ratchet strap looped around the arm in question and pulled it forward. I hope that helps you.