JD430 Hydraulic release to roll it out of the way? - Blocking my snowy driveway...

As to the tractor dying while plowing...maybe a fuel pump failure, or even a bit of water in the fuel that has frozen...

If you have a dvom you can check the battery voltage and alternator output if you can get it running. You can listen for the electric lift pump with the key in the on position.

As Chuck said above, it has a nuetral position in between the fast and slow selection on the lower right side of the dash. Just remember to push down on the big red knob to make your selection from left to center which is nuetral to right. Good luck. Jim.

Edit: Chuck's post didn't show up till I did a page refresh. Sorry for the redundancy.

Just put the range selector in neutral. Should run fine with no electrics at all once it's started. Likely a fuel issue.

My all time favourite feline was a barncat named Uncle Fester. Don't recall why I named him that but he drooled like a tap so maybe that was it. I'm sure you don't do that though.

Uncle Fester said:

Hi folks!
I haven't posted here much, my 1986 model 430 garden tractor mostly sits, I go through maybe 5 gallons of fuel a year.
Well, it's plowing time.... She just quit on me. I'm thinking maybe alternator or something... Starts fine but then just stops.

Well, it stopped right in the middle of my driveway. I can't roll it at all, since the transmission is engaged. The hydraulics need to be released / disconnected...

How do I do that? There has to be a way, I just don't know it and haven't found a reference in my limited paperwork or the forums, Google and Youtube...

Help?!

Thanks!

-Rick
<><!

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Excellent point Pacecar. Especially if somebody is used to a 400 range selector like I was. When I first got it I thought the selector on my 420 was seized up. Finally figured out I had to push it down. Also thought low range was to the right like a 400. I bought it from my brother and the lever was to the left when I went over to get it so I figured it was already in road gear. Wasn't impressed with top speed till I found out why it was such a turtle. The 420 fenderpan decal is either gone or it's under the thick paint roller finish.

pace_car said:

Just remember to push down on the big red knob to make your selection from left to center which is neutral to right..

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Another thing that’s weird is the hydro levers. Center on 400 is up-down-float (right outlet) and on the 420 the right is up-down-float (right outlet).

No, army, I don't drool.... much. LOL

Thanks, guys, for the info. I never would have known about the N position, I don't have a decal and never really got much documentation. I should probably do that. I've never been able to budge that range selector lever, my friend (and a great mechanic) had tried to loosen up the linkage once when he was servicing it, but although he said I'd be able to move it, I've still never gotten it moved.
I'll go out and give it a go once the sun warms thing UP to freezing. It's been a bit chilly here in the northeast. We didn't get anything like Buffalo, but the Albany area got a piece of the action with that last blizzard.

Does pushing down (in?) on the lever before moving it sideways do the trick? That seems to be the interlock discussed in several posts above... I have never had one of the 420 or 430 tractors with this two speed rear axle so don't have direct experience.

Chuck

Sitting on the seat, you pull the lever back toward the seat then slide it left or right.

Thanks Jeeks !! -- always best to have an expert chime in that is familiar with the operational issues...

Jeeks is right. It gets pulled back to free it so it can be shifted left or right.

Also, they arent constant mesh transmissions, so you may have to rock the tractor back n fourth to get it to shift.

Still can't budge the range selector. The tractor sits. Tried to start it again, seems like no fuel to me. Thought with the warm up we've had here recently, any ice might be melted and it might start and run. I'll dig into it after the new year. I have relaxing to do, and the tractor isn't blocking anything important.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

CHEERS!

TempletonJDguy said:

Jeeks is right. It gets pulled back to free it so it can be shifted left or right.

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I’ve spent the last couple days working on a 420. The shift selector actually goes back and down. It’s on a rod that goes back and down at a 30 degree angle. I think if you rock the tractor with your body weight and pull/push down on the lever from the back hopefully it will pop into neutral. Obviously neutral is in the center.

I have to pull my range selector towards the back of the tractor to move it between low and high

Pull towards the back, while putting some pressure down, while doing all that move it to center for N. On it starting but not running, and very little use, look for the diesel going bad (algae), plugged pickup may have overheated the pickup pump.