I have an Ariens 20hp 46" (93608500) with this transaxle. I purchased it last year with only about 10 hours of use. It had been purchased as new old stock by a neighbor who then only used it part of a summer on a small yard. The transaxle doesn't even have actual seals for the axle shafts like some versions. Mine just has O-rings. It started leaking grease (OO grade) with 20 hours of total use. The paint wasn't even worn off the mower blades. I was second owner of it so could not pursue a warranty replacement. The axle shafts do not have bearings or bronze bushings. They wear directly into the plastic housing. I measured the wear in the housing at 0.072inch on one side and 0.057inch on the other at that time the leaks were discovered. The axle O-rings could not seal with that much movement. The axle shaft wear in the axle housing is significantly worse now after 2 summers of mowing I ended up drilling a hole into the housing and gluing a hose to the housing with epoxy so that I can refill the transaxle with grease when ever it decides to quit driving. I'd love to join a class action lawsuit over how deliberately a poor a design this transaxle is.
Thank you for sharing. I’ve be having a hell of a time trying to get the axle out and now I see I’m wasting my time. Where do you get the grease from? Any specific name brand I should be looking for? Where exactly on the transmission did you put the hole with tube sealed with epoxy so you can add grease when required? I like that idea and want to do the same. Thanks in advance.
Who the hell would design a plastic transmission like this? This shouldn't even be legal. Avoid any and all mowers with this transmission or similar design. Unbelievable.
@@FriggOff361 I agree, mine is a 2016 and still works great, the bearings get dirty and seize on the drive pulley if its not cleaned semi regularly. :)
My Ariens came with this in it, I really wish I would have done my research before buying it. They should recall it so customers don’t have to deal with the headaches.
Have one of these on a Toro XLS 380. The pedal jams between foward and reverse. Have to play with the pedal like a drummer in a rock band to go fwd and backward. Can't see anything obvious with the likeages and arms causing a problem. All I can say is if I knew at the time back in 2012 about these plastic transmissions I would never have bought the Toro. Too many plastic levers, springs, control cam, rods etc the things a bloody nightmare. Taryl is spot on about these pieces of junk! Anyone got any ideas as to what's going on, why the pedal jams between fwd and rev??
I’m dealing with the same thing on my craftsman LT3000. Lucky me I have the gas tank under the seat not the battery so no easy access. It looks relatively simple to drop the transmission to blow out all debris so that’s what I’m going to do.
the control little linkage barings rust and freeze up causing the forward and reverse to stop moving ..some times the spring brakes .biggest problem with these.
Based on the amount of possible "dead" transmissions discussed in these comments, I'm hoping that someone might want to sell me a Primary Variable Speed Drive Pulley for my Craftsman 19.5 HP 42” LT2500 Lawn Tractor. (Sears Craftsman Model Number 944.602630). As discussed here in 2009 (for this one year only) Craftsman decided to use the problematic (plastic) General Transmission (GT/Gentrans) RS800 Transaxle. The tag attached on the transmission reads General Transmission 415663 (87007 C4) and 415663C0100033. It is a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)) and not a hydrostatic drive.
As if we need this !! CRAP !! might as well be a FORD ther been said Parts are unreal to get and they say to me sorry don't list it ya need to bye new Ha ha why would someone in is right mind bye another one Im taking mine out and putting in old school one ther been said least can get Parts just Stupid Design Prove me Wrong ?
Keep the top of trans clean and blow it out every time it’s used, that’s the best way to keep it working right
Real tough with battery and box in the way.
Truth is there hell to keep it clean and having a air compressor is a must
I have an Ariens 20hp 46" (93608500) with this transaxle. I purchased it last year with only about 10 hours of use. It had been purchased as new old stock by a neighbor who then only used it part of a summer on a small yard.
The transaxle doesn't even have actual seals for the axle shafts like some versions. Mine just has O-rings. It started leaking grease (OO grade) with 20 hours of total use. The paint wasn't even worn off the mower blades. I was second owner of it so could not pursue a warranty replacement. The axle shafts do not have bearings or bronze bushings. They wear directly into the plastic housing. I measured the wear in the housing at 0.072inch on one side and 0.057inch on the other at that time the leaks were discovered. The axle O-rings could not seal with that much movement. The axle shaft wear in the axle housing is significantly worse now after 2 summers of mowing
I ended up drilling a hole into the housing and gluing a hose to the housing with epoxy so that I can refill the transaxle with grease when ever it decides to quit driving. I'd love to join a class action lawsuit over how deliberately a poor a design this transaxle is.
Thank you for sharing. I’ve be having a hell of a time trying to get the axle out and now I see I’m wasting my time. Where do you get the grease from? Any specific name brand I should be looking for? Where exactly on the transmission did you put the hole with tube sealed with epoxy so you can add grease when required? I like that idea and want to do the same. Thanks in advance.
Grass will shut these down in a heartbeat
Shame it’s a joke
Clean your sh*T lazy bones
I won't be buying a new tractor with one of those in it.
Who the hell would design a plastic transmission like this? This shouldn't even be legal. Avoid any and all mowers with this transmission or similar design. Unbelievable.
mines worked great for 10 years now
@@FriggOff361 I agree, mine is a 2016 and still works great, the bearings get dirty and seize on the drive pulley if its not cleaned semi regularly. :)
My Ariens came with this in it, I really wish I would have done my research before buying it. They should recall it so customers don’t have to deal with the headaches.
Have one of these on a Toro XLS 380. The pedal jams between foward and reverse. Have to play with the pedal like a drummer in a rock band to go fwd and backward. Can't see anything obvious with the likeages and arms causing a problem. All I can say is if I knew at the time back in 2012 about these plastic transmissions I would never have bought the Toro. Too many plastic levers, springs, control cam, rods etc the things a bloody nightmare. Taryl is spot on about these pieces of junk! Anyone got any ideas as to what's going on, why the pedal jams between fwd and rev??
I’m dealing with the same thing on my craftsman LT3000. Lucky me I have the gas tank under the seat not the battery so no easy access. It looks relatively simple to drop the transmission to blow out all debris so that’s what I’m going to do.
@@kilabeez0 Mine had an access panel behind the gas tank where I could remove a plate and then the gas tank; 5 minute job and running again.
the control little linkage barings rust and freeze up causing the forward and reverse to stop moving ..some times the spring brakes .biggest problem with these.
I’ve have good service with my RS800 for 5 yrs. I guess it depends on how you care for them?
My Husqvarna has this transmission. 146 hours and no reverse
These cause so much trouble and they are not correcting the problems.
I’m not sure if they even make them anymore, to many moving parts and plastic controls
What about the Internals
Looks complicated
Based on the amount of possible "dead" transmissions discussed in these comments, I'm hoping that someone might want to sell me a Primary Variable Speed Drive Pulley for my Craftsman 19.5 HP 42” LT2500 Lawn Tractor. (Sears Craftsman Model Number 944.602630).
As discussed here in 2009 (for this one year only) Craftsman decided to use the problematic (plastic) General Transmission (GT/Gentrans) RS800 Transaxle.
The tag attached on the transmission reads General Transmission 415663 (87007 C4) and 415663C0100033.
It is a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)) and not a hydrostatic drive.
"Respect the tightening torque"
If you dont you will crack the plastic.
What a joke.
Parts are way too expensive fof this piece of trash transmission.
As if we need this !! CRAP !! might as well be a FORD ther been said Parts are unreal to get and they say to me sorry don't list it ya need to bye new Ha ha why would someone in is right mind bye another one Im taking mine out and putting in old school one ther been said least can get Parts just Stupid Design Prove me Wrong ?
Why would you compare this to a Ford ? The best vehicles on the planet ? You are an idiot , farmer