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John Deere 14SB Transmission

greenhand
17 years ago

Greetings! I have a John Deere 14SB self-propelled mower. The powered rear wheels on the unit will no longer engage and when I pull the mower backwards, both rear wheels lock. As of a couple of days ago, one of the rear wheels locks when it is moving forward also. Quite a workout mowing the lawn this week! I have seen several posts regarding transmission issues on this mower. Are these symptons problem an indication of said transmission issues? Any help is greatly appreciated before I rip into this thing. Thanks!

Comments (41)

  • dpankonin
    17 years ago

    I have a JX75 John Deere that is the same as yours. Before suspecting the transmission, the problem may simply be a buildup of dirt and grass around the rear axle, drive gears, and clogs in the rear wheels. The rear axle has a slot at each end into which a spring loaded key fits. The key engages steps inside a gear that in turn drives teeth inside the back wheels. When dirt and grass build up, the key is prevented from going in and out to engage the gear properly.

    My first step would be to clean everything within the dust cap of both rear wheels, including the rear wheel, inner gears (made sure you note the left and right side), keys, springs, and axle. Check the dust cap to see that it is not damaged and that it seats in the groove in the wheels. If the keys, springs, or dust cap are worn, replace them.

    I have also replaced my transmission, but your problem seems to be dirt buildup.

    Good luck. Let me know if you need further help. E-bay always has owners manuals for sale. They are helpful at putting things together.

  • greenhand
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    Thanks for the feedback. I cleaned and oiled today to no avail. I adjusted the traction control according to the manual, but the drive pulley still locks up when I engage the transmission. Belt won't turn and pulley just locks when I pull up on the "engage transmission bar".

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  • dpankonin
    17 years ago

    Sorry to hear that the simple cleaning of the rear wheels, gears, keys does not fix your problem. I would then take off the black cover over the transmission and manually turn the pulley that the belt drives. Is it frozen? Does the transmission turn? Is the pulley tight on the shaft? Are there any unusual noises? Try putting it in each of the 5 gears to see if any gear is working. My transmission problem was the bearings that held the vertical shaft in place into which the pulley sat. If you took the mower over to a John Deere dealer, they could give you an idea of the extent of the problem. I was lucky to buy a transmission on e-bay. A new transmission is around $150, plus cost to put it in. Again, I hope you get it fixed. Keep me posted.

  • greenhand
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    Hey, thanks again for the help. The pulley turns freely when the belt tension is not tight. When I pull up on the drive bar that tightens the belt and should engage the transmission, the pulley freezes. None of the five gears works, though a couple of them seem to "want" to work. The transmission has lost it's differential capabilities as well, meaning that when the mower is not running or when it is running and the transmission is NOT engaged, the wheels will not rotate properly during a turn. One will turn forward but the other will lock. They only both rotate in straight forward motion. They are both locked when I pull back.

    Is the transmission hard to change out or should I have it done?

  • dpankonin
    17 years ago

    I would take the mower to a John Deere dealer to confirm that it is the transmission that needs replacing. Then get a price quote to replace the transmission. On my JX75, there is more than one transmission, so your serial number is critical. Whether to have it done or to do it yourself depends on the price quote of the John Deere dealer, the condition of the rest of the mower, and your mechanical ability. Consider also an independent small engine repair shop. Get one who has replaced this transmission. I have seen good used JX75's in the Twin Cities for $325 to $350. Compare that with the price of the repair. It may be that it is only worth it to repair yourself. If you need a repair manual, yet me know, and I can pdf you the applicable pages that will help put things back together.

  • lawnmowerdan
    17 years ago

    i would fix it no matter what. i consider these to be the best lawnmower made

  • james32904
    17 years ago

    Something like this just happened to my JX75. I removed the right rear wheel and found that three bolts that secure the wheel to the large gear inside the wheel had worked loose and were flopping around inside the wheel. One bolt was jammed between the plastic wheel gear and the metal drive gear, keeping it from moving either direction. I put the bolts back in and tightened them well and it works fine now, although the one of the teeth on the wheel gear was nicked. The other wheel was OK.

  • Tolken4_hotmail_com
    17 years ago

    Ok, sorry to jump in on your thread here but I am having a very similar issue. I was hoping someone could answer a few questions to help me isolate the issue.
    1. A complete explanation of how this whole tranny system works would be great :) Regarding what should spin when and how the engagement with the srping loaded key locks work, and why the pinion gear has the three half spiral depressions in it?

    2. If that is too much I would settle for some basics such as; How should transmission work? I have all the line bearing and outer axle parts off. The transmission is still in the machine with the axle now able to move around a bit and move freely. Should both axles spin together constantly? Or should they spin in oposite direction more like a limmited slip dif in a car?

    My issue was the wheels locking every once in a while in forward and the machine was only spinning one wheel. Also when turning the machine one way both wheels spun freely. When turning the other way the left wheel would lock up and click every half or quarter turn.

    Thank you for any help, after reading your previous notes, I am leaning toward that spring loaded key being the issue as it was pretty messed up in there. Just would love more information on it's function and how to trouble shoot it.

    Thanks in advance!

  • dpankonin
    17 years ago

    The axle, I believe, is one piece. The outer gears on the ends of the axle engage the teeth in the rear wheels, and they do this by the spring loaded key in the axle contacting the steps inside the axle gear. If the springs are weak, if the springs are dirty, if the key is worn, or if parts are dirty and can not move freely, the key will not extend out to contact these steps and drive the wheels. The steps also are necessary for turning, as one wheel can move faster then another by going up the inclines (ramps) and dropping off the steps. When putting the gears back into the axle, be sure the gears are put on the right way. The gears are identical, but must be put on so that the key, when engaging the axle to drive the mower forward, contacts the steps (and stop), rather than the ramps and go over them. I hope this explains a part of the principle of the workings.

  • danleone
    17 years ago

    Anybody ever try to change the belt. It look like I need to take the engine off of the deck in order to feed the belt through? Quite a project. Anyone else have feedback?

  • lawnmowerdan
    17 years ago

    yes you must remove the engine to change the belt but it isnt as hard as it looks.

  • garyncarol
    16 years ago

    Hi All! I have a John Deere 14SB self-propelled mower. The powered rear wheels on the unit engage OK when I squeeze the drive handle. However, when I pull the mower backwards, both rear wheels lock. I cleaned the packed grass and debris from around the tranny and drive axle but that did not help. I did notice that a piece of the deck is missing near the tranny. Would that cause the problem? I suspect the wheels lock because the spring loaded keys in the axle aren't working properly. The dealer will not work on the mower because of the piece missing from the deck. Liability issues! Any help is greatly appreciated before I take this thing apart. Please advise. Thanks!

  • deere_me
    16 years ago

    Greetings garyncarol. I have a JA65. If your JD 14SB works like mine the source of your problem is the transmission clutch lever (mine fell off letting dirt and grass into the tranny). This lever engages/disengages a ball clutch inside the tranny. You are locked in the on position. A spring, mine fell off, is supposed to pull it back to the off position. There is an excellent description and graphics in US Patent 4915203 on this. It is a real nugget that I found on the 'net. Parts s/b available at the JD site. Good luck. Your mower is easily fixable but you may have to clean out the tranny if your lever fell off like mine did. Dissasembly can be done but takes time.

  • sgalper
    16 years ago

    George, your fix worked for me !! Thanks for the detailed explanation, I never would have seen that broken spring without it. Once I re-formed the end of that spring and re-attached it, I could pull my JX75 mower backwards again. You saved me a trip to my John Deere dealer and probably a lot of $$$. Thanks again.

  • sorearms
    15 years ago

    My drive belt has broken (hence "sore arms"). I see from this thread that I have to remove the engine to replace the belt. Can anyone help with some "how to" for this procedure?

  • bluepepper
    14 years ago

    I know this is an old thread, but I found it while researching my problem with a 14sb JD lawnmower. It's been great, but age may be taking its toll. I can only pull the starter string when the blade is engaged. It runs, but tieing the blade engage lever defeats the purpose and I'm concerned something else might go wrong. Any ideas out there would be greatly appreciated.

  • tomplum
    14 years ago

    One would assume the clutch would need to be replaced, or maybe you could service it. Could be the bearing is tight. Does it kill the engine when the bail is released?

  • timster_2009
    14 years ago

    I have a similar prob with my jx75. It won't come out of the top(5th) gear. The owners manual says to adjust the speed selector cable and pictures a different set-up than my mower. There is no cable tension adjustment on mine. The cable goes directly into the transmission housing and is tight. So now if I mow, I have to push this damned heavy thing or run! Symptoms sound familiar to anyone?

  • jbcb327
    13 years ago

    Hello- I have a used, low-hour transmission for the 14SB/SE as well as some other parts available.

  • dvuch1
    13 years ago

    may be needing that tranny...my contact email is dvuch1@msn.com . Mine is a jx 75 .Thanks Dave Vuchetich

  • denny7984
    13 years ago

    I have a 14sb my uncle had at a cabin. It sat for years as he had other mowers and a rider. After he passed away I ran it a little and found the Kawasaki was shot. I have disassembled it not wanting to spend a lot on replacing the engine and I saved parts for a JD 14 push mower I have. I think it only had a few hours on it. I have the trans and wheel assy which has a bit of play in the drive pully shaft. It doesn't leak. If someone could use it I'd sell it cheap plus whatever it cost to ship. Denny

  • jed1950
    13 years ago

    I have a 14SB runs good except I some how broke the plastic tab that actuates the blade enngagement,I found the part number but it is for the whole control and not the part I need the part number is AM121395 and seems to be an old number(control is on the right side)so far not able to find,so looking for one that you are parting out and would sell part.

  • rhcook
    13 years ago

    My 14SB drive belt needs replacing. I understand the engine needs removing. Are their any other secrets? Ray

  • gearnold1
    13 years ago

    Sorry to chime in too, but I would like some assistance on replacing the drive belt on a 14SB also.

    Thank you in advance.

  • klhanson74_yahoo_com
    12 years ago

    If anyone is interested or is in the need. I have an extra transmission that will fit 14 and JA series push mowers. Everything is intact, wheel drive gears, pulley and shift cable. It works great no problems. I purchased it in error.
    Contact me.
    Thanks

  • jpcabral_cox_net
    12 years ago

    Sorry to post to and old thread but ... My problem is that I can not engage the transmission by pulling the bar lever, it just will not go into gear. Any advise?

  • tomplum
    12 years ago

    Best remove the cover so you can see if the belt is turning the transmission pulley.

  • rmui
    10 years ago

    I know this is an old thread, but hopefully this information will help someone, just as I've found some old threads here, including this one, have been helpful to me. A few asked about replacing the drive belt. Sorry I don't remember the details now, but a few years ago I did replace the belt of my 1996 14sb mower without removing the engine. It was a tight fit, but after looking at the routing I found a way to squeeze it in without damaging anything.

  • lynettejoyce
    9 years ago

    Wonder which way the spring loaded key goes into the shaft, round side down or up. Fell
    out while I was taking it apart and am not sure. this is also the JD14SB. thanks..


  • chigl68 chigl68
    8 years ago

    For the axle key, the round side goes into the axle (down) and the flat side to the pinion gear (up).

  • tbrown3977
    8 years ago

    Do the keys in the axle actually have a small spring that's seats inside the axle shaft that the key sits on

  • chigl68 chigl68
    8 years ago

    Yes.

  • tbrown32
    8 years ago

    Ok thanks a lot. Does anyone happen to know if those little springs were missing what would it cause the tranny to do? Also where in the world could I order those springs I can't find them any where. Thanks again

  • Chris G
    8 years ago

    I put a new transmission in a JX85 push mower. It works fine forward when you engage the clutch. The issue is when it's not engaged. If you manually push it forward you can hear the pinion gears "click, click, click" but it is very stiff and it seems you are rotating the transmission when you pull it backwards. Did I mistakenly reverse the pinions? Should it roll easy when pulled backward and "click"?

  • chigl68 chigl68
    8 years ago

    It sounds like one of the pinion gears is backwards. Do you hear clicks from both sides when you pull backwards with the transmission not engaged? The gears go on the axle with the open side facing the same direction. If one is reversed the wheel on the "wrong" side will lock in place and not spin when pulled backwards and you will hear clicks from that side when pushing it forward.

    Bk bk - the axle springs ca be ordered from www.greenpartsstore.com or through a John Deere dealer.

  • Chris G
    8 years ago

    So they should both click when you pull backwards then?

  • chigl68 chigl68
    8 years ago

    Yes.

  • lynettejoyce
    8 years ago

    that is what happened to us, we went by the blow-up parts sheet we printed out from JD and it didn't show putting the pinion gears different on opposite side. We put them both in as the diagram showed, When engaged, one wheel pulled, the other just sat there spinning.. Reversed the pinion gear on the spinning side and it worked! worse thing is trying to remove and replace the little keeper that holds the gear in place.

  • Steve F
    10 months ago

    Thank you George West for the springsprin

  • Steve F
    10 months ago

    Thank you George West for the clutch spring fix. I bought my 14SB around when it was first introduced in 1989 and have had virtually no issues with it until this, solved with a $5 spring that my local mower shop actually had in stock. He said he ordered 4 in 2020 and only had one left so my mower isn't the only one around here. The only partparti I remember buying, other than blades, is one wheel, replaced with a generic one front from Lowes.