Peerless 205-024C Hydrostatic Transaxle Sluggish

[dougand3]

Neighbor brought this Murray Select Wide Body LT with above tranny. Engine is Briggs Opposed Twin and runs great (it's a repower). Tranny was packed 1" deep in dirt. Mower is slow and can't make a 10* grade. Sound like Tranny fluid has broken down from heat? I can pull transaxle & replace fluid. What fluid is rec? I've read Synthetic Engine oil 20W-50 and read ATF Mercon. Murray just wants you to replace w/ new trans. Thanks, Doug

 

[StarTech]

Well the VST205 uses 80w90 gear oil or at least what the document here indicates. But go through the troubleshooting info first.

TECUMSEH-QUICK-REFERENCE-AND-TROUBLESHOOTING-FOR-ENGINES-AND-TRANSMISSIONS-695933-R10-05

 

[dougand3]

Thanks, StarTech.

 

[dougand3]

Synthetic 20W-50 Engine Oil seems the most popular for the hydrostatic side. (I didn't mess with 90W gear oil side.)
I pulled the transaxle. Emptied broken down oil and cleaned gunk out of reservoir. The rubber bellows was in good shape. Filled with ~ 1.25 qts 20W-50.
Runs fast & strong now. Forward & Reverse behave normally. 2 hours mow time and still good.
A good write up - Search internet for peerless205-024c.blogspot