The five types are gear, friction disc, automatic, CVT, and hydrostatic. I’ll spend a few minutes going over each type so you have a better idea of ​​the best type for you. I’m not going to go into the details of how each one works. Just google the type of stream and you can read as much as you want.

Gear

Five years ago, the gear drive was the most popular, but today hydrostatic and automatic transmissions have replaced them in popularity. Often called manual transmissions, this type uses a series of gears to change the forward speed of your tractor. The biggest disadvantage of this type of transmission is that you have to stop the tractor to change to a different gear (range). This makes them more difficult to use when you have a lot of garden beds and landscape features to go around.

To drive the tractor, you have to push in the clutch, shift the transmission into the gear you want to use, release the clutch, and wait. This is a dependent transmission that will give you years of service.

friction disc

This is actually the transmission of choice for snow blowers, but there are some lawnmowers like the Snapper Rear Engine Rider that use this transmission. It’s a good, reliable transmission when used correctly. It uses a friction wheel and a disc to change the forward speed of its rider. Do not use this transmission to pull heavy loads…it will break the friction wheel.

You can shift on the fly with some models, but to get the longest life most brands suggest you press the clutch/brake pedal and then shift to whatever gear you want.

Automatic

This is essentially a variable belt and pulley system similar to the drive system on a snowmobile. John Deere originally used this in conjunction with a manual transmission on the Model 110. Today, MTD uses it on most of their cheaper lawn tractors. Like the friction disc, this transmission is designed for lawnmower application and is not designed to pull heavy loads. Some of the brands have confused the problem by calling their cheap hydrostatic transmission “automatic”, so if you’re not sure, ask.

To drive the tractor, you normally have two levers. One for forward or backward and the other for speed. Move the F/R lever to the direction you want to go and then simply move a fender-mounted lever to change gear. This is a reliable transmission that will give you years of service on flat grass and towing very light loads.

CVT/IVT (Continuous/Infinite Variable Transmission)

The automatic mentioned above and the hydrostatic below are essentially CVTs, but today this means a variable disc or ball/disc system. This is the transmission of the future because it uses fewer moving parts than a gear transmission and less oil than a hydrostatic, but at this time they are not yet cost effective for riding mower applications. MTD attempted to use the dual Infinitrak IVT on the Cub Cadet and Craftsman Revolution, but consumers were unwilling to spend the extra money to purchase this type of transmission. New Holland is using them effectively on its 50hp and larger tractors.

These transmissions are very easy to use. A fender-mounted lever or foot control varies speed and direction.

Hydrostatic

The most common transmission for lawn tractors today is a form of continuously variable transmission called a hydrostatic transmission. These transmissions take various forms, from pumps driving separate motors, which may incorporate a gear reduction, to fully integrated (enclosed) units containing a pump, motor and gear reduction. Hydrostatic transmissions are more expensive than mechanical transmissions, but they are easier to use and can deliver more torque to the wheels compared to a typical mechanical transmission.

Hydrostatic – Simple Closed

These transmissions are very easy to use. A fender-mounted lever or foot control varies speed and direction. The enclosed hydrostatic transmission is a single unit that houses the variable pump, motor, differential and drive axle. Most of today’s lawn tractors, garden tractors, garden tractors and family tractors have an aluminum housing to give off the heat generated by the moving oil. These transmissions are sized for the mower application. Transmissions on lawn tractors and family tractors are designed to handle heavy loads and ground-engaging attachments.

These transmissions are very easy to use. A fender-mounted lever or foot control varies speed and direction. The pedal on the left side of the tractor is the parking brake. You don’t need to step on that pedal to shift the tractor. Forward and reverse are controlled by a lever on the right fender or two pedals on the right-side floor. To go forward, push the fender lever forward or press the big pedal on the floor. To stop the tractor, pull the lever back to the middle position or lift your foot off the pedal. To back the tractor, pull the fender lever back or press the small foot pedal on the floor.

On the fender mounted control, you MUST move the lever to center to stop the tractor. It will not go to neutral on its own like the foot controls.

Hydrostatic – Double Closed

Two hydrostatic transmissions are mounted side by side in the residential zero turn. Each trans controls a separate rear wheel. That is the main reason why zero turn lawn mowers cost more than lawn tractors. Again, these trans are built for the application and most aren’t built to pull loads, just cut and bag.

Most of these transmissions are controlled by individual levers in front of you. With a little practice they are very easy to use. A large lever on each side of the seat controls that lateral drive. To move forward, push BOTH levers. To stop, pull them back. (The easiest way to explain how to drive a two-lever zero-turn lawnmower is to use a shopping cart as an example. With the lawnmower off, sit on the seat and place your hands on the two large levers in front of you. you. Close you look and pretend you are holding a shopping cart. What do you do to move a shopping cart forward? To the right, you push the handle. To go backwards? To the right, you pull the handle. To go to Left?To go right?Correct, PUSH the handle in the direction you want the cart to turn.Two lever zero turns work the same way.Instead of a bar like a shopping cart, the bar is splits in two and you move each side to make it move .) This type of transmission takes practice to keep the tires from sinking into the grass.

hydrostatic pump and motor

More expensive commercial zero-turn mowers, stand-up mowers, and some golf course mowers use a separate variable pump near the engine connected to the wheel motors with hydraulic hoses or metal lines. They are typically cast iron for long life and durability. Some of the high end commercial mowers now use cast iron enclosed hydros.