I have a Ariens YT150H riding mower with a hydrostatic cluch. Worked fine when I parked it last week and now the clutch won't engage when you move the control foward or aft. We did check the tranny engage pin on the back and it was in the correct position. we moved the switch back and forth several times to no avale, could it need fluid and if so how do I service it. I do see the service tube attached to the aft side of the gas tank but did not how to properly get the cap off and if I could, what kind of fluid and how much do I put in. Thanks for your help
Garden - Ariens
Answers & Comments
Hi ern1224.
Did you check under the hydrodrive for any fluids on the ground?
The first thing you should do is check the fluid level in the drive tank. Most have a dipstick under the cap as in some cars.
If your fluid level is fine, changing the filter and fluid sometimes helps. That should be done regularly anyway.You could have debris from the drive clogging the lines. You also could have water in the oil from condensation. If you used it on a warm day, the ambient air enters the housing, then at night the cooler air will cause the moisture in the air to condense. If the fluid is milky, then you have water in it. This will cause it to not function or not fuction well. Drain it and put fresh fluid in.
Next, check all the linkage from the clutch pedal to the hydrodrive.
I couldn't find a parts schematic for your particular model and am pasting here a website for another hydrostatic model. There shouldn't be much of any difference: http://www.jackssmallengines.com/help.cfm?aribrand=ARN#/Ariens/934019-000101_HT%2c_16hp_Kohler_Twin%2c_Hydro/Hydrostatic_Drive
Use a low viscosity hydraulic fluid.
Hope this helps. If it does, I'd appreciate a 4 thumbs up. Thanks,
Handie Andie