Right drive motor failed then regained function

hello All!

I have a 2007 Scag Freedom Z. I have accumulated 870 hours on it since new. I have had numerous problems with my FH580 Kawasaki engine so I had it replaced with Honda 670 from Repower specialists in Oregon. The Honda engine runs fantastic but I’ve just started running it. I’ve accumulated about four hours on the Repower kit and, while mowing, I experienced a right drive motor malfunction. The right drive motor would not drive forward. It barley moved. It would drive backwards for a short distance and then not drive. I checked the fluid level which was clean and full (I’ve changed it about four times since new and am assuming it was changed by the shop that replaced the engine). I cycled the free wheel valve. I moved the drive lever back and fourth and after about 2 minutes of monkeying with it the drive “caught” abruptly and worked fine. I parked it and haven’t run it since.

The conditions were wet when this occurred. The terrain is a bit bumpy (horse pasture).

I had the engine changed in a professional shop and they did very good work.

I have not done any form of trouble shooting or inspection other than looking at the belt.

Anything jumping out at anyone here?

Sticky bypass valve or air pocket could in the drive system. The bypass valve will bleed the air out of the pump but the separate wheel motor just has to have fluid pushed through it to get the air out.

Freedoms only have transaxles in them no drive or pumps. On top it has a fan remove the drive belt and take fan off and look at that pulley make sure it is seared good on top of the trans. The wet might have been making it spin and when you moved the other but chance it got traction and took off. Also would look at the belt and make sure it has good tension on it. Next time your out and it does this look over the side and see if it is spinning and if not try bleeding the air out of the system to see if that helps and if not might be time for a new transaxle.

HydroGear ZT2800 transaxle drive units