Lawn Tractor Transmission Types

The fives types are gear, disagreement disk, automatic, Cvt, and hydrostatic.  I'll spend a few minutes going straight through each type so you have a best idea of the best type for you. I am not going into the details of how each one works.  Just Google the transmission type and you can read to your heart's content.

Gear

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Five years ago the gear drive transmission was the most beloved but today hydrostatic and automatic transmissions have substituted them in popularity. Often called by hand transmissions this type uses a series of gears to turn the ground speed of your tractor.  The biggest downfall of this type of transmission is you have to stop the tractor to shift to a different speed (range).  This makes them harder to use when you have a lot of organery beds and scenery features to go around.

To drive the tractor you must push in on the clutch, shift the transmission to the gear you want to use, release the clutch, and hang on.  This is a dependable  transmission that will give you years of service.

Friction Disk

This is easily the transmission of selection for snow blowers but there are a few mowers like the Snapper Rear machine Rider that use this trans.  It is a good, dependable transmission when used properly.  It uses a disagreement wheel and disk to turn the forward speed of your rider.  Don't use this transmission to pull heavy loads...you will tear up the disagreement wheel.

You can shift-on-the-go with some models but to get the longest life most brands advise you push down on the clutch/brake pedal and then shift to the speed you want.

Automatic

This is essentially a belt and changeable pulley law similar to the drive law in a snowmobile.  John Deere originally used this in conjunction with a by hand transmission on the Model 110.  Now days, Mtd is using this on most of it's cheapest lawn tractors. Like the disagreement disk this trans is designed to the mower application and they are not designed to pull heavy loads.  Some of the Brands have confused the issue by calling their reasonable hydrostatic trans an "automatic" so if you are unsure ask.

To drive the tractor you typically have two levers.  One for forward or reverse and the other for the speed. Move the F/R lever to the direction you want to go and then plainly move a fender mounted lever to turn the speed. This is a dependable  transmission that will give you years of service for flat lawns and pulling very light loads.

Cvt/Ivt (Continuously/Infinitely changeable Transmission)

The automatic mentioned above and the hydrostatic below are essentially Cvt's  but now days this means a changeable disk or ball/disk system.  This is the transmission of the time to come because it uses fewer entertaining parts than a gear trans and less oil than a hydrostatic, but at this point in time they are not yet cost sufficient for lawn tractor applications.  Mtd tried using the dual Ivt Infinitrak in the Cub Cadet and Craftsman Revolution but consumers were not ready to spend the extra money to own this type of transmission. New Holland is using these effectively in their 50 hp and larger tractors.

These transmissions are very easy to use.  Either a fender mounted lever or foot control varies the speed and direction.

Hydrostatic

The most base transmission for lawn tractors today is a form of Continuously changeable transmission called the hydrostatic transmission. These transmissions take some forms, from pumps driving cut off motors, which may concentrate a gear reduction, to fully integrated (enclosed) units containing a pump, motor and gear reduction.  Hydrostatic transmissions are more high-priced than mechanical transmissions but they are easier to use and can forward greater torque to the wheels as compared to a typical mechanical transmission.

Hydrostatic - Enclosed Single

These transmissions are very easy to use.  Either a fender mounted lever or foot control varies the speed and direction.  The enclosed hydrostatic transmission is a singular unit that houses the changeable pump, motor, differential and drive axle.  Most of lawn tractors, yard tractors, organery tractors and estate tractors today have an aluminum housing to give off the heat the entertaining oil creates.  These transmissions are sized to the mower application.  The organery tractor and estate tractor transmissions are built to deal with heavy loads and ground entertaining attachments.

These transmissions are very easy to use.  Either a fender mounted lever or foot control varies the speed and direction.  The pedal on the left side of the tractor is the parking brake.  You do not need to depress that pedal to shift the tractor.   The forward and reverse is controlled by either a lever on the right fender or two pedals on the right side floorboard.  To go forward push the fender lever forward or press on the large pedal on the floor board.  To stop the tractor pull the lever back to the middle position or lift your foot off the pedal.  To back the tractor up pull the fender lever to the rear or press the small pedal on the floorboard.

On the fender mounted control you Have to move the lever to the middle to stop your tractor.  It will not go to neutral by itself like the foot controls.

Hydrostatic - Enclosed Dual

Two hydrostatic transmissions are mounted side-by-side in the residential zero turns.  Each trans controls a cut off rear wheel.  That is the traditional presuppose why zero-turn mowers cost more than the lawn tractors. Again these trans are designed for the application and most are not designed to pull loads, just mow and bag.

Most of these transmissions are controlled by private levers that sit in front of you.  With a dinky custom these are very easy to use.  A large lever on each side of the seat controls that side transmission.  To go forward push on Both levers.  To stop, pull them back.  (The easiest way to expound how to drive a two-lever zero turn mower is to  use a shopping cart as an example.  With the mower turned off sit on the seat and put your hands on the two large levers in front of you.  Close you eyes and pretend you are gripping a shopping cart.   What do you do to move a shopping cart forward? Right, you push on the handle.   To back up? Right, you pull back on the handle.  To go left?  To go right?  Correct, you Push the deal with in the direction you want to turn the cart.  Two lever zero turns work the same way.  Instead of one bar like a shopping  cart, the bar is split in two and you move each side to make it move.)  This type of transmission takes custom to keep the tires from digging into your lawn.

Hydrostatic -Pump & Motor

The more high-priced market zero-turn mowers, stand-ons, and some golf procedure mowers use a cut off changeable pump near the motor associated to the wheel motors with hydraulic hose or metal lines.  These are usually cast iron for long life and durability. A few of the high-end market mowers are now using enclosed cast iron hydros.

Lawn Tractor Transmission Types

Hydraulic Press Brakes