Yard Machine Has Trouble Going Forward + Reverse.

[jdefonseka]

Hello

I have a Yard Machines Model# 3AF608G062.

The Symptoms

The unit has extreme difficulty going from forward/Neutral/ Reverse.
Specially if the mower is at an incline/ decline it's almost impossible to get it out of Forward or Reverse.

I also turn down the throttle completely when trying to move from Forward to reverse or back words.

This is more pronounced when the mower has been used for a little while.

Also when this is happening, the brake lever does not want to stop the mower.

Any ideas as to what might be going on?
I replaced all the belts last year. Not sure if they were OEM belts but it got fresh ones.

 

[ILENGINE]

Try shifting from forward, neutral, and reverse, with the mower not running, and see if it shifts. could be the clutch is not disenaging completely causing you to shift with a load on the fears.

 

[Fish]

You likely correctly responded to your own question.....

MTD has designed that their belts are the only way to go....

 

[jdefonseka]

I appreciate the responses.

Yes it will go forward, neutral and reverse without an issue without the engine running.

I also ordered all new belts for it. OEM MTD. I will respond after I replace them at some point end of this week.

Thanks again

 

[jdefonseka]

Today I replaced all the belts with OEM MTD. Problem is fixed. Lesson learned.

 

[Fish]

Yes, they make the actually bevels on the face of the belts special, so you need to go with their belts, and they have a copyright
for several years. Which is the same reason that the aftermarket blades have a different shaped mounting hole, for the same
reasons. The big aftermarket companies make a fine workable belt for each application, but generic belts will not work...

 

[Carscw]

I don't mind spending the money on the MTD drive belts. They last long enough to justify the cost.

 

[gmetzgar]

I have been having the same issue. I replaced the belts with OEM MTD belts. However being the smart guy that I am I put the belt on the wrong side of a guide and now have a scarred belt along the entire inside circumference. Also the pulley is getting hot after running it for just a couple minutes. Do you think the scarred belt could be causing the transmission to not shift while running? While it is stopped it is not having any issues shifting.

 

[Ronno6]

Not to resurrect an old thread, but I learned this lesson this week quite by accident.
I have owned my Huskee 14AR808K731 for 2 years.
When I got it it was pitifully slow, needing a new drive belt.
I installed an aftermarket belt, and could hardly get the shifter out of reverse no matter how much I backed off on the engagement adjustment.
As part of my routine winter maintenance, I replaced both drive belts with new OEM belts.
Now it shifts easily and is a bit faster as well!
I went back to MTD belts in an effort to increase longevity, since changing them is a bit of a pain.
As said by the OP, Lesson Learned!

I could not get the drive pulley to drop down to clear the belt keepers, and had to remove the engine during the first belt replacement.
Even tho I installed a new pulley using never-seize at that time, the pulley wouldn't budge this time.
So, I removed the engine mounting bolts and rocked the engine to remove/install the belt.
Another reason to hope this belt lasts longer...........

 

[reynoldston]

This is a very good post to review. Use OEM belts. As a repair shop I never use aftermarket belts. I have learned this many years ago the hard way.