(ET) E-10 transmission problems

[Chip Gribben <futurev radix net>]

Just when I thought I finished restoring the tractor from Hell,  
something else goes wrong and I think I'm out of my league on this one.

Last year, a friend Al, brought his E-10M for me to work on. The  
motor was shot and the batteries were flat so I installed a new  
motor, new batteries, Landis Controller, replaced the charger wiring  
harness which some critters ate through, repaired the steering which  
was really loose, installed a new belt and sharpened the blades. I  
test rode it this past month with no problems and mowed my lawn four  
times with it. I did notice it was a bit on the noisy side and hoped  
it wasn't the new motor I installed but overall it was working great  
for me here before turning it over to Al.

But when Al took it home this weekend to mow his property he said the  
reverse gear locked up on him just as he was finishing his lawn with  
it.  He said the rear wheels locked up as well and he had to winch it  
up on the trailer to bring it back to my place because the rear  
wheels wouldn't budge. He said he released the brake and it was still  
locked up.

When he arrived I took a look at it on the trailer and the rear  
wheels were moving free, so something must have broke free on the  
trip back here and we were able to roll it off the trailer.

But when I tried running it, the tractor seems to be making alot of  
noise, like chains dragging on the concrete. In neutral it sounds  
terrible and it sounds like something is spinning and slowing down.  
When I put it in reverse it creeps forward very slowly instead of  
moving in reverse. Eventually after shifting the gears around it  
seems to catch and do OK but then it gets sluggish again and reverse  
seems like its completely gone.

Something is messed up and I can't figure out what the cause is or  
I'm denying that the transmission is shot since this looks like a  
major job. I have no idea what's involved in repairing or replacing a  
transmission. I told Al, transmissions are something I know nothing  
about.

I just can't seem to get this tractor out my garage. It's been one  
thing after another. And I need to figure out what is wrong with my  
E-8 since that broke down last year and I haven't had time to figure  
that one out.

What do you all think is the problem?



Thanks

Chip Gribben