Official Hydro-Gear parts

If you constantly use residential power equipment such as riding mowers and tractors, then it's likely that you've occasionally encountered a transaxle malfunction. It's estimated that as many as 14 percent of the top-rated mowers break down within their first four years of service. Typically, the issues that prevent your equipment from running can be resolved with careful troubleshooting.

A DIY checklist to get your mower or tractor back up and running

It's important to adhere to the following steps in order to rule out any misdiagnosed malfunction:

  • Check your settings—The transaxle won’t move the wheels if the freewheel rod is in the transport position.
  • Purge air from the transaxle—Follow the steps shown in the owner’s manual to purge air from the transaxle when the riding mower won’t move.
  • Check the ground drive belt—A worn or broken drive belt won’t spin the transaxle drive pulley.
  • Check the fluid or oil—Check the level of transaxle fluid or oil.

Repair and replace your mower and tractor Hydro-Gear parts

If the above checklist doesn't alleviate your problem, then it's likely that your transaxle has parts that have stopped working. The following list presents common Hydro-Gear parts that often cause problems:

  • Transaxle fan—To maintain the lubricating properties of oil within the drive unit, the transaxle fan provides necessary cooling. If the fins break, then it's best to replace the fan entirely.
  • Drive pulley—A worn or broken drive pulley won’t spin the drive shaft so the lawn tractor won’t move. Replace the drive pulley if it’s damaged or broken.
  • Shaft seals—Worn or broken shaft seals can allow fluid or oil to leak out of the transaxle. Replace any leaking shaft seals.
  • Drive gears—A broken drive gear can cause the transaxle to lock up. Examine the drive gears and replace any broken gears when the transaxle lock up.