Your Simple Zero Turn Won’t Move.
Your zero-turn mower is either not going at all or moving very slowly. A worn item might be the problem, or it could be something more catastrophic like a broken transmission.
Engaged transmission bypass levers, a broken or worn tensioner, a worn tensioner pulley, a stretched or missing tensioner spring, old or heated hydraulic oil, an inadequate oil level, or air in the hydraulic system may all prevent a Simplicity zero-turn mower from moving or moving forward.
Please read the operator’s handbook thoroughly before doing any maintenance on your Simplicity. Disconnect the spark plug wires and take out the ignition key.
Table of Contents
Why Your Simplicity Lawnmower Is Stuck: 7 Possible Causes
Manual Transmission for Ease of Use Do Not Use Until Bypass Lever Is Engaged.
The wheels of a Simplicity zero-turn are turned using fluid pumps in the gearboxes. Because of the intense force, the mower’s transmissions will need to be bypassed if the operator intends to push it by hand.
Maybe you neglected to put the transmission’s bypass levers in the DRIVE/CLOSED position and left them in the “open” position. If you do this, your mower won’t be able to revolve its wheels while you’re adjusting the speeds.
On a Simplicity, you’ll discover a bypass lever for both transmissions, one on either side of the vehicle. One of them is located next to each driving wheel. Check that they are set to “DRIVE/CLOSED.”
The Belt on the Drive or Pump of the Simplicity has become Loose or Broken
It’s important to double-check that the drive belt of your Simplicity hasn’t slipped off the pulleys. We recommend replacing the belt whenever you see signs of wear, cracking, or breaking.
Ineffective Simplicity Tensioner Belt
Tensioner A bearing is often located in the middle of a hard plastic pulley. A Simplicity lawnmower may experience pulley or bearing failure.
A broken pulley should be swapped out for a new one. Make sure to oil the tensioner arm so it doesn’t freeze up and can still move freely.
Simplicity Idler Arm Spring is Broken or Missing
Idler springs are used to tighten the driving belt. If the spring is damaged, missing, or too strained, it must be replaced.
Your Simplicity Mower Has Old Hydraulic Oil or There Is Not Enough Hydraulic Fluid
Mowing with outdated or insufficient hydraulic oil might cause the mower to stall or perform poorly.
It is essential to maintain peak transmission performance by inspecting and maintaining the transmission at regular intervals. There are sealed and inoperable transmissions in certain Simplicity riding mowers.
It’s impossible to service the hydraulics, including changing the oil and filter. whether you are unsure whether you should be servicing your gearbox on a regular basis, see your owner’s handbook.
Add hydraulic oil to both the left and right transmission oil tanks to the FULL COLD level if your model has that capability but is otherwise unserviceable.
Maintaining your Simplicity mower’s gearbox requires regular hydraulic oil changes at the intervals suggested by Simplicity.
Remember that the first time you replace the hydraulic oil, you need to do it more often than usual. Oil weight 20W-50 is suggested for transmissions by Simplicity.
After the first 100 hours, and then every 400 hours afterwards, the hydraulic oil and filter must be replaced.
When your hydraulic oil level is low, you should add extra hydro oil until it reaches the FULL COLD level. Make sure your fluid level isn’t low because of a leak by checking for hydraulic fluid leaks.
Your Simplicity Lawnmower’s Hydraulic Oil Is Too Hot
Operating a Simplicity lawn mower with contaminated or insufficient hydraulic fluid increases friction and heat because the oil cannot adequately lubricate the hydraulic system.
More severe damage may also be caused by hot hydraulic fluid.
If your lawn mower’s hydraulic pump is leaking, you should take it to a Simplicity dealer.
Your mower’s gearbox needs to be checked by a professional if it operates normally while cold but stalls when heated.
A Simple Explanation for Your Lawnmower’s Air Problem
It’s important to “bleed” the system after making any hydraulic fluid changes or additions. If there is air in the system, your mower won’t move.
When bleeding a Simplicity hydraulic system, do the following.
Most Simplicity zero-turn mowers include an air release valve that may be used to purge the system.
- The mower can’t go anywhere if the front wheels are free to move, so use wheel chocks to secure them.
- Using jack stands, lift the vehicle’s rear drive tires off the ground.
- The bypass levers should be released and moved to the pushed open position.
- The car must be started and the parking brake released.
- Six forward and backward motions of the speed levers should do the trick.
- The vehicle must be parked with the motor off.
- Put the bypass levers into the DRIVE/CLOSED position.
- Six forward and backward motions of the speed levers should do the trick.
To get the noise level down and the wheel speeds back to normal, repeat the above methods as many times as required. Removing air from the system causes the oil level to drop. See whether the hydraulic oil has to be topped up.
If you want to know how to purge the air from the hydraulic system of your model, look in the handbook.
