Lawn Tractor Transmission Types Updated: January 2014
30-40 years ago gear drive transmissions were about the only transmission available for your tractor. They were built just like the transmissions in a Model A Ford or a 1953 Farmall tractor. Big, strong gears. Heavy axles and cast housings. They didn’t break but they were hard to use. You had to stop the tractor to change gears and most of the time you had to wiggle the tractor to move the shifter from one gear to another.
Because the transmissions were so heavy there was a lot of weight on the rear wheels and you could pull just about anything with them including moldboard plows. Because they were so heavily built they were also very heavy and would put grooves in your lawn if you mowed the same way more than once or twice.
Over time we asked for lawn tractors that mowed faster, turned better and didn’t cause so much damage. We no longer had the huge Victory Gardens that required plowing with the garden tractor and if we did we used rototillers instead. So the manufactures listened and changed from the heavy, cumbersome tractors to lightweight tractors that mowed well, mowed faster, turned easier and didn’t cause damage to our lawns.
Seven Types Of Transmissions:
There are now seven types of transmission found in today’s lawn tractors and zero turns. They are gear, friction disk, automatic or CVT, hydrostatic, pump/motor, electric and hybrid. I’ll spend a few paragraphs going through each type so you have a better idea of the best type for you. I am not going into the details of how each one works. Just Google the transmission type and you can read to your heart’s content.
Gear Transmissions
Twenty years ago the gear drive transmission was the most popular but today automatic hydrostatic and automatic CVT transmissions have replaced them in popularity. Often called Manual transmissions this type uses a series of gears to change the ground speed of your tractor. These transmissions are not like the older styles though. They shift better, are much, much lighter and easier to use. They use and inline gear selector instead of the old H-pattern. The biggest downfall of this type of transmission is you have to stop the tractor to shift to a different speed (range). This makes them harder to use when you have a lot of garden beds and landscape features to go around.
To drive the tractor you must push in on the clutch, shift the transmission to the gear you want to use, release the clutch, and hang on. This is a dependable transmission that will give you years of service.
Some manufactures have a shift-on-the-go transmission. This is sometimes listed as a manual transmission but it is actually a CVT. These transmissions are found on the least expensive lawn tractors and are usually listed as 6 or 7 speed.
Friction Disk Transmissions
This is actually the transmission of choice for snow blowers but there are a few mowers like the Snapper Rear Engine Rider that still use this trans. It is a good, dependable transmission when used properly. It uses a friction wheel and disk to change the forward speed of your rider. Don’t use this transmission to pull heavy loads…you will tear up the friction wheel.
You can shift-on-the-go with some models but to get the longest life most brands suggest you push down on the clutch/brake pedal and then shift to the speed you want.
Automatic or CVT
John Deere originally used a CVT in conjunction with a manual transmission on the Model 110. Now days, CVT’s have now matured to the point where you find them in cars, snowmobiles, snow blowers and even heavy-duty farm tractors. There are very few parts that wear in these transmissions and the recently introduced Element V from General Transmissions for your yard tractor is now stronger and requires less worry than all the hydrostatic transmissions. CVT’s for lawn tractors essentially a belt and variable pulley system similar to the drive system in a snowmobile or mini-bike.
I predict that CVT transmissions will replace most of the hydrostatic transmissions within the next 5 years.
MTD is using this on many of it’s least expensive lawn tractors. Using one is very much like driving your car. Put the lever on the fender in F and then press the right foot pedal. The farther you push the pedal the faster you go. To go in reverse put the fender lever in R and press on the right foot pedal. This trans is designed to mow lawns and is not designed to pull heavy loads.
The Element V from General Transmissions is another CVT that you will now find in Yard Tractors. This transmission is tougher, lighter weight and takes less power than the very popular Tuff Torq K46 and Hydro-Gear T2 hydrostatic transmissions. In fact the RS 800 Element V transmission is power rated very close to the most popular garden tractor transmission, the Hydro-Gear G730. These transmissions are very easy to use. Either a fender mounted lever or foot control varies the speed and direction just like the hydro transmission you are used to. These transmissions do not need maintenance and I expect them to last the life of the mower.
To see how tough these new transmissions really are check out spot 1:27 in the next video!
There is one other form of CVT that has the possibility of also replacing the hydrostatic transmisson. Fallbrook has announced a commercial partnership with Hydro-Gear to bring NuVinci technology to the lawn & garden market. Instead of a variable pulley system uses a variable disk or ball/disk system. This is the transmission of the future because it uses fewer moving parts than a gear trans, can pull heavier loads than an automatic and uses less oil than a hydrostatic. At this point in time though they are not yet cost effective for lawn tractor applications.
Hydrostatic
The most common transmission for lawn tractors today is an internal pump and motor drive system called the hydrostatic transmission. There are two types of these transmissions used in Lawn & Garden equipment, hydrostatic enclosed single and hydrostatic enclosed dual. Everything is enclosed in an aluminum housing. Hydrostatic transmissions are more expensive than mechanical transmissions but they are much easier to use.
Hydrostatic – Enclosed Single
Most lawn tractors, yard tractors, garden tractors and estate tractors in the last 20 years have an aluminum housing and inside that housing is the pump, motor, differential and drive axle. These transmissions are sized to the mower application so a lawn tractor trans is designed for mowing and light hauling. A garden tractor transmission is heavier duty and can be used not only for mowing but ground engaging tasks like pulling a DR Power Grader/a>. Hydrostatic transmissions are very easy to use. Either a fender mounted lever or foot control varies the speed and direction.
The residential models you find on today’s lawn tractors are sealed units and are not serviceable by you. Most of the transmissions have to removed from the tractor for any repairs. As an owner the only maintenance you have to do is periodically clean the outside of the case with a leaf blower or garden hose. They are designed to give you hundreds of hours of service for normal use. The garden tractor and estate tractor hydrostatic transmissions are heavier and built to handle heavy loads and ground engaging attachments. Most of the hydrostatic transmissions in lawn tractors do not have posi-traction or differential lock.
These transmissions are very easy to use. Either a fender mounted lever or foot control varies the speed and direction. The pedal on the left side of the tractor is the parking brake. You do not need to depress that pedal to shift the tractor. The forward and reverse is controlled by either a lever on the right fender or two pedals on the right side floorboard. To go forward push the fender lever forward or press on the large pedal on the floor board. To stop the tractor pull the lever back to the middle position or lift your foot off the pedal. To back the tractor up pull the fender lever to the rear or press the small pedal on the floorboard.
On the fender mounted control you HAVE to move the lever to the middle to stop your tractor. It will not go to neutral by itself like the foot controls.
Hydrostatic – Enclosed Dual
Two hydrostatic transmissions are mounted side-by-side in the residential zero turns. Each trans controls a separate rear wheel. That is the primary reason why zero-turn mowers cost more than the lawn tractors. Again these trans are designed for the application and most are not designed to pull loads, just mow and bag. If you want to pull a leaf vacumn or move dirt in your yard cart this is not the transmission for you.
Most of these transmissions are controlled by individual levers called lap bars that sit in front of you. This type of transmission takes practice to keep the tires from digging into your lawn but with a little practice these are very easy to use. A large lever on each side of the seat controls that side transmission. To go forward push on BOTH levers. To stop, pull them back. (The easiest way to explain how to drive a two-lever zero turn mower is to use a shopping cart as an example. With the mower turned off sit on the seat and put your hands on the two large levers in front of you. Close you eyes and pretend you are gripping a shopping cart. What do you do to move a shopping cart forward? Right, you push on the handle. To back up? Right, you pull back on the handle. To go left? To go right? Correct, you PUSH the handle in the direction you want to turn the cart. Two lever zero turns work the same way. Instead of one bar like a shopping cart, the bar is split in two and you move each side to make it move.)
Hydrostatic – Pump & Motor
The more expensive commercial zero-turn mowers, stand-ons, and some golf course mowers use a separate variable displacement pump near the gas engine connected to the wheel motors with hydraulic hose or metal lines. These are usually cast iron for long life and durability. A few of the high-end commercial mowers are now using enclosed cast iron hydros.
Electric
HyBrid Electric/Gas
All Electric
Electric drive systems are found in the mowers like the Cub Cadet Zero/a> and Mean Green Products consist of batteries, electronic controllers and electric motors. The huge advantage of this design is it uses no belts, filters or fluids so they take less yearly maintenance. If you want green technology, no gas engine emissions and 30% less noise on your lawn this is an up and coming alternative to gas powered lawn mowers. You charge the mower using normal household current. They are currently limited by battery technology and battery price but that is changing fast. Electrics are coming and I feel in the next 5 years you will see affordable homeowner versions. These machines are not lawn tractors with electric motors replacing the gas engine but true state of the art electric vehicles. There are already commercial models that will mow all day long on a single charge.
Philip Natale
At what RPM does the transaxle operate?
Changing the size of the pullies ‘should’ affect rear diff speeds. Right?
If you put very small pullies, for example, say… 2″, on engine and rear pinion, would the tractor go faster? Could the transaxle handle it?
Are higher RPM transaxles available without super high wheel spin? “lower gears”
Paul
Hi Phillip,
1. At what RPM does the transaxle operate? Measure the drive pulley on the engine and the drive pulley on the transmission. Figure out the “gear ratio.” For example, if the engine pulley is 5 inches and the transmission pulley is 10 inches – then the trans pulley runs at 1/2 the engine RPM.
2. Changing the size of the pullies ‘should’ affect rear diff speeds. Right? The “guys” who race lawn tractors do this with MANUAL transmissions. No one races with hydrostatic transmissions.
3. If you put very small pullies, for example, say… 2″, on the engine and rear pinion, would the tractor go faster? Could the transaxle handle it? No, it’s the ratio of the engine pulley to the transmission pulley. For example, a 10-inch pulley on the engine and a 5-inch pulley on the transmission would make it go faster. No, the only transaxle that may handle it is the K66 – all the other will overheat.
4. Are higher RPM transaxles available without super high wheel spin? “lower gears” different gear ratios? K46 transmissions are available for 18, 20, and 22 inch rear wheels. That way the manufacturers can keep the ground speed under 5.5 MPH for safety. (Lawn tractors are very suceptical to roll-overs.)
Erick
Hey Paul, Just stumbled upon your fabulous website while trying to research Zero Turn mowers. I live in Hawaii where the grass never stops growing. I read, I think, all your replies and did not notice anyone asking about Hustler Turf ZTM. Our local farm tractor supply store carries different models the Raptor SD and the Fastrak. What do you think of these Hustler ZTM? They seem to be quite sturdily built. And are made in Kansas. We have a place with a large lawn (~ 1/2 acre) with some slope and about 2 acres (with gentle slopes) of pasture divided into a couple of paddocks that have not had grazers for years. I plan to hire someone with a tractor to mow the pastures before I tackle them with my prospective ZTM. Eventually, we will get goats, sheep and or cattle to keep it under control. Until then want to keep in mowable with a ZTM. Thanks you again for your very informative site. Cheers
Paul
Hi Erick, Yes, Hustler is a good brand and they make great high end residential and commercial mowers. Personally, I would go with the Fastrak. It has heavier duty transmissions and a deck that can handle rougher ground like your pastures. Just remember ZTR’s are lawnmowers – not field mowers – so cut the grass when it gets no more than 12 inches tall. Taller than that and you’ll have to mow it 2-3 times to get it all cut down.
Erick
Thanks Paul
The Hustler does seem well built. What do you think about deck width. Do narrower decks, e.g. 48″, stress the spindle/belts less than a wider 54″ or 60″ inch deck? I would have to make more passes to complete the mowing but that is ok.
thanks again
cheers
erick
Paul
Hi Erick, No, each deck is designed for the stress. I’ve always had great luck with 60-inch decks in that price range. They cut well and get rid of the grass very well when mowing the taller stuff. .
Erick
thanks again Paul, you da man!
Casey M
So I’m thinking about buying the Troy bill super bronco xp 50 for my 2 acre yard. I plan on using a small trailer and plowing in the winter. The yard is relatively flat, will the xp 50 be able to handle it with its transmission or do I need to step up to the super bronco GT?
Paul
Hi Casey, Yes, The 2019 Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP 50 at Home Depot is built correctly to give you a long life on your property.
K46 transmissions are designed for lawn tractors with 18-20 in rear wheels and 42-50 inch decks. The Super Bronco XP 50 has 20 inch rear wheels and the 50-inch deck so it was made correctly for the trans.
Pedro Hernandez
Hey Paul, I’m looking to buy a new lawn tractor and I’m looking at the Craftsman they sell at Lowe’s. The Craftsman T310 Turn Tight 24-HP-V twin 54 inch and the Craftsman T260 Turn Tight 23-HP-V twin 50 inch. According to MTD the T260 has the tough Torq k46 transmission, and the T310 has the hydro gear t2. My question is if the t2 transmission is better than the k46? Can you tell me what the difference is and which one is better? Thanks.
Paul
Hi Pedro, The two transmissions are equal. Equal in specs and life. One is not noticeably better than the other. I think it’s interesting the MTD is now using a Hydro-Gear trans in that mower. That said,
I don’t recommend the T310 unless you have a flat lawn and don’t expect to pull anything other than a small cart. The problem with this mower is the same as all “LGT” (light garden tractor) mowers in the $2000-$2500 price range. The transmission is designed for 42-48 inch deck and 18-20 inch rear wheels. The 22 inch wheels and the 54-inch deck is too big for the lawn tractor transmission. If you want a 54 inch deck in a lawn tractor that will last you have to go up to the $2700-$3300 Garden tractors with the K58 or K66 transmissions.
Pedro Hernandez
Thank you for your answer, it helps me a lot. So do you think the Craftsman t240 46 inch deck will be better than the t260 50 inch deck? Which one would you recommend since both of them have the same specs besides the size of the deck? Thanks again.
Paul
Hi Pedro, It depends on the size of your yard. The 46 cuts the best and can handle up to 2 acres.
David
Thanks so much for the helpful information.
Could you tell me the craftsman and John Deere and cadet equivalent to the Husqvarna TS354X?
Do they have one with the k66 with differential lock with the k66 or higher?
It looks like some of the Cub Cadet GT and John Deere gt use the k58.
Is the k58 is weaker than k66 ?
Thanks again .
Paul
Hi David, Husqvarna is the only one of the three still using the K66. The rest have moved to the newer K57 or K58. The K57 has 3/4 inch axles. The K58 has one-inch axles like the K66. The specs for both the K58 and K66 are pretty close.
You have to get above $5000 to get the K58 in an X500 Deere. If I remember correctly they then jump to the K72 on the X700 series.
Locking diffs are very hard to find. Everyone wants them but no one wants to pay the extra money to get it. Craftsman has the locking diff in the 50 Craftsman Pro. Cub Cadet has one in the XT2 54 inch Garden Tractor and of course the XT3 with the cast-iron driveshaft hydro. I don’t know if John Deere even has a locking diff anymore in the X500 series.
Which brings up a good point. If you want a really good Garden Tractor the Cub Cadet XT3 is one of the best choices around. It’s built “like they used to be” with full channel frames, drive shaft driven cast iron transmissions, and commercial grade horizontal shaft engines. It’s not that much more than the Husqvarna or XT2 Cub Cadet and quite a bit cheaper than the equivalent John Deere or Simplicity. It’s a dealer only model and your local dealer may have to order one in.
Darrell N Maybank
Hey Paul. I’m very close to purchasing a new garden tractor and have few questions about three that interests me. All are Craftsman…model: 20409 (54″ deck 24hp Briggs, 48″ wheelbase, turn tight) and model: 27055 (54″ deck 26hp Briggs, 40″ wheelbase, turn tight extreme) and model: 27048 (50″ deck, 26hp Kohler, locking differential, 40″ wheelbase)…no turn tight…why?? Is the shorter wheelbase a Pro Series attrbute? And what are the types/model transmissions each is equipped with?
Thanks
Paul
Hi Darrel, All three models are heavy-duty tractors capable of ground engaging work. The 20409 has not been made for two years. Does your local SearsHomeTown Store still have one? It was made by Husqvarna and has the Hydro-Gear 730 garden tractor transmission. The front end is weak and a lot of the last ones made needed the toe-in fixed right out of the box so make sure it has the full warranty. Other than that it was an excellent tractor and was a staple in the Craftsman line for years.
The other two are Craftsman Pro made by MTD (Cub Cadet) They have the K58 Garden Tractor transmission. The shorter wheelbase does turn better than the old 20409.
The 27048 does not have Turn Tight Extreme because the tractor will not turn that tightly with the diff locked. It will just keep sliding straight ahead.
Darrell
Thanks for your insight and fast reply. I now have enough info to make a purchasing decision here.
David
How durable are the Husqvarna lgt54dxl transmissions? How would it compare to the TS354D?