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TimeMaster Transmission Problem
#1
N
Nebraskahockey
N
Nebraskahockey
I have a Toro TimeMaster, model 20199 that I bought used and having some problems with the transmission. Not sure if this is specific to the TimeMaster or just the Toro personal pace system. I have replaced the drive belt and adjusted the cable numerous times. The problem is, when I fully push down on the self propell the mower is slow to build speed. On pavement, fully engaged the tires won't spin, it won't pull away hard, it slowly builds power and tries and pull, but no real power. Basically a 3 yr old could withstand the pulling power of the mower on concrete. If I start to push a little it will get up to full speed, but has no initial torque. I'm used to old toro 3 speed transmission where when you pull the handle the tires spin and the mower takes off. I'm really unfamiliar with the personal pace and would appreciate if anyone had any ideas or has ran into this problem before.
Thanks,
Thanks,
#2
exotion
My personal pace being broken as it is the way its designed is for you to push the mower it the matches your speed
exotion
I have a Toro TimeMaster, model 20199 that I bought used and having some problems with the transmission. Not sure if this is specific to the TimeMaster or just the Toro personal pace system. I have replaced the drive belt and adjusted the cable numerous times. The problem is, when I fully push down on the self propell the mower is slow to build speed. On pavement, fully engaged the tires won't spin, it won't pull away hard, it slowly builds power and tries and pull, but no real power. Basically a 3 yr old could withstand the pulling power of the mower on concrete. If I start to push a little it will get up to full speed, but has no initial torque. I'm used to old toro 3 speed transmission where when you pull the handle the tires spin and the mower takes off. I'm really unfamiliar with the personal pace and would appreciate if anyone had any ideas or has ran into this problem before.
Thanks,
My personal pace being broken as it is the way its designed is for you to push the mower it the matches your speed
#3
N
Nebraskahockey
N
Nebraskahockey
Yes, but my understanding is, if I have the personal pace bar pushed all the way down, so the transmission is fully engaged, shouldn't the mower take off while sitting on a driveway, rather than sit still until I start pushing. The TimeMaster has what they call a traction handle, so you can fully depress the personal pace lever without actually having to lean into the mower. I think perhaps it has something to do with the clutch in the transmission?
#4
exotion
Ya it definately doesn't sound right
exotion
Yes, but my understanding is, if I have the personal pace bar pushed all the way down, so the transmission is fully engaged, shouldn't the mower take off while sitting on a driveway, rather than sit still until I start pushing. The TimeMaster has what they call a traction handle, so you can fully depress the personal pace lever without actually having to lean into the mower. I think perhaps it has something to do with the clutch in the transmission?
Ya it definately doesn't sound right
#5
Ric
Set your Timemaster on it's side with the Air filter up and look above the transmission at the drive belt and see if it's tight, Make sure the spring from the Transmission to the frame is hooked. If the belt is not tight replace the spring and drive belt and that should fix your problem.
Ric
Yes, but my understanding is, if I have the personal pace bar pushed all the way down, so the transmission is fully engaged, shouldn't the mower take off while sitting on a driveway, rather than sit still until I start pushing. The TimeMaster has what they call a traction handle, so you can fully depress the personal pace lever without actually having to lean into the mower. I think perhaps it has something to do with the clutch in the transmission?
Set your Timemaster on it's side with the Air filter up and look above the transmission at the drive belt and see if it's tight, Make sure the spring from the Transmission to the frame is hooked. If the belt is not tight replace the spring and drive belt and that should fix your problem.
#6
N
Nebraskahockey
N
Nebraskahockey
Ric, thanks for the post. I have replaced the drive belt but perhaps you can provide some additional guidance. The spring is hooked from the transmission to the deck thereby creating tension, but if I crawl underneath the mower I can pinch the belt together with one hand. There is some resistance, but it's not tight like an automotive engine belt or like the three speed toro transmissions when fully engaged. How tight should the belt be? Obviously the self propel cable doesn't have any affect on the belt tension so I would need to adjust or replace the spring to improve the tension?
#7
exotion
When you engage the transmission it pulls the whole transmission assembly thereby tightening the belt see if you can have someone engage the transmission while you look and see how tight the belt is with it engaged
exotion
Ric, thanks for the post. I have replaced the drive belt but perhaps you can provide some additional guidance. The spring is hooked from the transmission to the deck thereby creating tension, but if I crawl underneath the mower I can pinch the belt together with one hand. There is some resistance, but it's not tight like an automotive engine belt or like the three speed toro transmissions when fully engaged. How tight should the belt be? Obviously the self propel cable doesn't have any affect on the belt tension so I would need to adjust or replace the spring to improve the tension?
When you engage the transmission it pulls the whole transmission assembly thereby tightening the belt see if you can have someone engage the transmission while you look and see how tight the belt is with it engaged
#8
N
Nebraskahockey
N
Nebraskahockey
Actually that is not how this transmission works, that is how the Toro transmissions I've used in the past worked. With the TimeMaster, engaging the transmission actually engages something behind the transmission that thereby engages the drive. The cable system has no affect on the tightening of the belt, I've even clamped the personal pace fully engaged to verify it has no affect on the belt tension.
#9
Ric
The spring is suppose to keep tension on the transmission to keep the belt tight. The transmission shouldn't be moving, removing the tension spring allows the transmission to rotate so you can replace the belt. Is your tab in position to keep the trans from rotating? The cable system affects the BBC to engage the blades. Your belt should come from the transmission to the bottom pulley, your BBC belt comes from the top pulley to the brake drum pulley. There should be a cable to adjust your self propelled and you should be able to increase or decrease for the speed you want or the speed of the mower you want when fully engaged. It should be on the mower handle, loosen the nut and you move it forward or backward to adjust the drive. if that doesn't work and If your drive belt is loose I'd get a new belt and new tension spring.
You shouldn't be able to pinch that belt together, if your doing that you have the wrong belt.
Ric
When you engage the transmission it pulls the whole transmission assembly thereby tightening the belt see if you can have someone engage the transmission while you look and see how tight the belt is with it engaged
Actually that is not how this transmission works, that how the Toro transmissions I've used in the past work. With the TimeMaster, engaging the transmission actually engages something behind the transmission that thereby engages the drive. The cable system has no affect on the tightening of the belt, I've even clamped the personal pace fully engaged to verify it has no affect on the belt tension.
The spring is suppose to keep tension on the transmission to keep the belt tight. The transmission shouldn't be moving, removing the tension spring allows the transmission to rotate so you can replace the belt. Is your tab in position to keep the trans from rotating? The cable system affects the BBC to engage the blades. Your belt should come from the transmission to the bottom pulley, your BBC belt comes from the top pulley to the brake drum pulley. There should be a cable to adjust your self propelled and you should be able to increase or decrease for the speed you want or the speed of the mower you want when fully engaged. It should be on the mower handle, loosen the nut and you move it forward or backward to adjust the drive. if that doesn't work and If your drive belt is loose I'd get a new belt and new tension spring.
You shouldn't be able to pinch that belt together, if your doing that you have the wrong belt.
#10
N
Nebraskahockey
N
Nebraskahockey
The belt number matched the belt I took off the mower, I'll have to take a closer look at that spring and determine if its wore or if I botched something when reinstalling. There is some tension on the belt, but if I squeeze hard enough I can get the insides to touch. Thanks for the help.
#11
Ric
I do know that when you start replacing belts you have to adjust the cables, so just a word of warning don't adjust that cable to tight or you will probably pop the end off. start the procedure with the cable lose and adjust a little bit at a time until you get the thing where you want.
Ric
The belt number matched the belt I took off the mower, I'll have to take a closer look at that spring and determine if its wore or if I botched something when reinstalling. There is some tension on the belt, but if I squeeze hard enough I can get the insides to touch. Thanks for the help.
I do know that when you start replacing belts you have to adjust the cables, so just a word of warning don't adjust that cable to tight or you will probably pop the end off. start the procedure with the cable lose and adjust a little bit at a time until you get the thing where you want.
#12
M
mgplencia
I just purchased a TimeMaster 30' last weekend, and on Monday it worked great, but on Tuesday I feel that it's not pulling hard. Should there be a noticeable amount of torque when the personal pace bar is pushed all the way down?
Thank you for any comments.
M
mgplencia
I have a Toro TimeMaster, model 20199 that I bought used and having some problems with the transmission. Not sure if this is specific to the TimeMaster or just the Toro personal pace system. I have replaced the drive belt and adjusted the cable numerous times. The problem is, when I fully push down on the self propell the mower is slow to build speed. On pavement, fully engaged the tires won't spin, it won't pull away hard, it slowly builds power and tries and pull, but no real power. Basically a 3 yr old could withstand the pulling power of the mower on concrete. If I start to push a little it will get up to full speed, but has no initial torque. I'm used to old toro 3 speed transmission where when you pull the handle the tires spin and the mower takes off. I'm really unfamiliar with the personal pace and would appreciate if anyone had any ideas or has ran into this problem before.
Thanks,
I just purchased a TimeMaster 30' last weekend, and on Monday it worked great, but on Tuesday I feel that it's not pulling hard. Should there be a noticeable amount of torque when the personal pace bar is pushed all the way down?
Thank you for any comments.
#13
P
piccolo217
you can try one of two things...loosen the nut that attaches the on/off button housing and pull the traction cable downwards towards the mower, hold it there and re-tighten the nut. If that doesn't fix it, if you look under the personal pace control bar (where your hold the mower) there's a black cylinder piece that the traction cable attaches to. That piece will have to be replaced as it has probably worn out on the inside. it's slotted on the inside to fit onto the grooves on the gold bar running underneath the handle. once it wears out it wont rotate when you depress the pace bar. I've had five of those but switched to the Exmark Commercial 30 this season.
P
piccolo217
Yes, but my understanding is, if I have the personal pace bar pushed all the way down, so the transmission is fully engaged, shouldn't the mower take off while sitting on a driveway, rather than sit still until I start pushing. The TimeMaster has what they call a traction handle, so you can fully depress the personal pace lever without actually having to lean into the mower. I think perhaps it has something to do with the clutch in the transmission?
you can try one of two things...loosen the nut that attaches the on/off button housing and pull the traction cable downwards towards the mower, hold it there and re-tighten the nut. If that doesn't fix it, if you look under the personal pace control bar (where your hold the mower) there's a black cylinder piece that the traction cable attaches to. That piece will have to be replaced as it has probably worn out on the inside. it's slotted on the inside to fit onto the grooves on the gold bar running underneath the handle. once it wears out it wont rotate when you depress the pace bar. I've had five of those but switched to the Exmark Commercial 30 this season.
#14
R
Rivets
R
Rivets
Piccolo, do you realize that this thread is over two years old and I doubt the posters are still in need of help.
#15
B
BigO23
I had the same issue. There are two springs in the transmission housing. One in the back and one in the front. The front spring puts the tension on the drive belt. My front spring had fallen off and was missing. The part is called an extension spring only around $5.00. Replace your drive belt and make sure both springs are on the transmission. Also adjust the cable.
B
BigO23
I have a Toro TimeMaster, model 20199 that I bought used and having some problems with the transmission. Not sure if this is specific to the TimeMaster or just the Toro personal pace system. I have replaced the drive belt and adjusted the cable numerous times. The problem is, when I fully push down on the self propell the mower is slow to build speed. On pavement, fully engaged the tires won't spin, it won't pull away hard, it slowly builds power and tries and pull, but no real power. Basically a 3 yr old could withstand the pulling power of the mower on concrete. If I start to push a little it will get up to full speed, but has no initial torque. I'm used to old toro 3 speed transmission where when you pull the handle the tires spin and the mower takes off. I'm really unfamiliar with the personal pace and would appreciate if anyone had any ideas or has ran into this problem before.
Thanks,
I had the same issue. There are two springs in the transmission housing. One in the back and one in the front. The front spring puts the tension on the drive belt. My front spring had fallen off and was missing. The part is called an extension spring only around $5.00. Replace your drive belt and make sure both springs are on the transmission. Also adjust the cable.
#16
M
midnitelamp
what difference would it make if the thread was twenty years old? I searched for an answer to this same problem and found it here.
M
midnitelamp
Piccolo, do you realize that this thread is over two years old and I doubt the posters are still in need of help.
what difference would it make if the thread was twenty years old? I searched for an answer to this same problem and found it here.
#17
I
ILENGINE
The difference is the regulars here tend to ignore the old threads. Sometimes information changes or gets updated within the same model, so it preferred that people start a new thread if they have a question. At this point this thread is 6 years old, and the person that you quoted posted 3 years ago.
I
ILENGINE
what difference would it make if the thread was twenty years old? I searched for an answer to this same problem and found it here.
The difference is the regulars here tend to ignore the old threads. Sometimes information changes or gets updated within the same model, so it preferred that people start a new thread if they have a question. At this point this thread is 6 years old, and the person that you quoted posted 3 years ago.