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JOHN DEERE L130 MOWER WONT CLIMB HILL?

MY JOHN DEERE HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT IT. INCLUDING PTO CLUTCH GOING OUT 4 TIMES, DECK HITTING STEERING SHAFT,ENGINE GOING OUT TOOK SEVEN WEEKS TO GET IT BACK. FRONT AXLE BROKE IN HALF AT LEAST THATS WHAT THEY SAID,BECAUSE I DID NOT BRING IN IN FOR THAT PROBLEM,I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A CLICK ING NOISE,HAD NO CLUE ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AXLE. BUT JOHN DEERE COVERED EVERYTHING ABOVE UNDER THE WARENTY THOUGH

AFTER HAVING MY( JOHN DEERE L130) MOWER FOR A YEAR IT NOW WONT CLIMB ANY HILLS. FIRST TIME CLIMBS FINE, SECOND TIME VERY HARD, THIRD TIME I ONLY GET HALF WAY UP,AND SO ON.
WHAT ITS DOING IS ITS MAKING A LOUD SOUNDING NOISE,AND THE FOOT PEDAL GOES FREE, AND YOU JUST SIT THERE.

IM TIRED OF DEALING WITH JOHN DEERE AND IF ITS NOT A VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM IM FIXING IT MY SELF

PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ME FIX THIS PROBLEM, I NORMALY FIX STUFF ON MY OWN BUT JUST CANT FIGURE THIS ONE OUT.

BANDIT, May 2007

home Fix label Garden Tools label_important Lawn Mowers category John Deeredone

Transmission is bad. They don't make them like they use to. Built to Break!!!!! It's a shame. I own a L120 with the same problamo..Enige runs great Gary j

gary j, January 2023

I have a John Deere lawnmower, just paid out 180.00 for belt repair and a piece that holds belt down had to be put back on, and now it won't climb hill. I too think a class action suit is in order.

Debra K Dove, August 2019

JD L120. I have 3 JD rear ends. 2 won't climb any incline & the one that's in it now works O.K. until warm then wont move at all. I think a class action suite is in order. These cost way too much money to be JUNK! JD ought to be ashamed to have their names on these P.O.S. Machines. Don't bother trying to find a good used one, from my experience, THEY ARE ALL JUNK.

Frank, July 2017

I have been running my L130 for thirteen years on two acres of grass with hills, sometimes twice a week with very few problems. Great machine, but now have the hill climbing power problem. JD advises changing the trans, but I also suspect the main drive belt.
any thoughts?

Ron Frey 2016, May 2016

oh bye the way take the numbers off your k46 and call tufftorq and tell them what you have they will send you what mostly faild in a lt160 and a lot of other i spent 160 and the trany is much faster and pleanty of power to go up hills well worth the call you can go on utube and watch how to rebuild the k46 step buy step i did hope it helps

roy, October 2014

my lt 160 won't move i know the trany is a k46 this is a seald k46 no plug to change oil just a vent plug so if you want to change the oil take it out and take the vent plug out dran it out in my case i open it up and clean it i resealed it put new oil in it not what they had in it a good oil senthetic oil now i roar down and up hills like never before its much faster and strong now it runs like a deer should i want to rebuild one if i can find a k46 with the oil filler cap on it thats what i will do hope this helps r taylor maine

roy, October 2014

I've owned my John Deere L120 for almost 10 years. I mow all summer and plow snow all winter. I have never had a single problem with it. I change the oil regularly and keep it maintained and it does what I bought it to do, year after year. So I certainly don't agree that all the entry level 100 series John Deeres are junk.
And just for the record they are built at a John Deere Plant In Greeneville, TN

RW, May 2014

I changed the filter in the transmission and re-filled with 20/50 synthetic racing oil. Racing oil withstand shear better and the heat doesn't effect it. BUT don't just drop the transmission pan as several parts fall out with it. Remove the transmission and turn upside down. Still sluggish but never stops pulling. I'm thinking of putting a small electric fan blowing on the transmission. The plastic crappy fan is useless.

Mike, October 2013

Well I guess I was lucky to get 8 years out of my transmission. Where do we find the upgrade for $400? I'm not paying $1500 for the k66, that half the price of a new tractor.

Bryan, July 2012

Long thread on a different site on rebuilding the K46 transmission. I have not yet done it, but many have with excellent results.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/164892-tufftorq-k46-repair-guide-pictures.html

Darryl, December 2011

i am the owner of lawn mower repair shop in casselberry fl. 32707, most john deere sold by big box stores are not made by john deere, most are made by mtd and john deere gets paid for their name. want a realy good mower by older snapper rear engine , i rebuild several through out the year, j.d. l series are junk, decks rust out in just a few years, snappers i recondition , i install newer electric 10.5 briggs engine or bigger, trans boots, drive wheel, new battery, new solenoid, new battery cables , rebuild carb, bew brake / clutch cable , new engine oil, new spark plug,new gator blades, lub, spindle,lub, front wheel bushings,lub shifter,lub rear right & left fender bushing, and paint mower red when all mower has been taken apart , to recondition unit. i sell them for $750.00

EDDIE, October 2011

Same problem with the trany in my L130. I thought I was buying the last lawn mower I would ever have to buy. Live and Learn. To make it worst, the service coverage in my area is Horrible. Never again a DEERE. I also had to replace the PTO and idlers.

Realy Not Happy with this thing. I should have went to Sears.

Henry, July 2011

Same problem in MD with tranny, broken front axle. L130 is junk and waste of money.

MD Man, May 2011

I returned my K46 to a fellow at the Tuff Torq factory to be upgraded to the heavy duty K57. It works great and cost much less than a new K57 or a rebuilt K46. I would recommend this route it any one.

Scott, May 2011

my john deer L130 has a tranmission problem also . this lawn mower is not worth the money. my L130 was used for 4 grass mowing season, and for what I paid for it I would tell you if you were looking for a new mower to run away from this type mower as fast as you can. the grass bagger has been a problem also, but I can mow with a bagger but I can not mow with out a working transmission. sorry to say john deer let me down

Mark, April 2011

I went through the same thing in N. Colorado. The dealership flat out lied to me about the whole thing and even sold me un-needed parts. They said they checked the transmission and the oil was fine but the tranny was bad after less than 150 hours. They told me I abused it? I dropped the tranny myself and it was only 1/2 full of fluid. The district manager lied about calling, made an appointment and never showed.
Don't buy JD!!!!

Colorado, January 2011

you cant buy a decent john deere unless you spend around 3500.00 anything they sell below that is pure junk.my 25 yr old 165 with the kawasaki engine and hydro was a real machine-my new la145 is crap-biggest mistake i made was selling it for the 145.so if im gonna spend between 4 and 7 k for a tractor it will be a kubota.

no more deere for me, September 2010

I have a transaxle Upgrade kit for the JD Lxxx series that will solve the tranny problem.
Go to: www.jd-k66-upgrade.com
or
www.Super500Upgrade.com

Roger Daisley, June 2010

Same problems with my L130.May use it as a flower pot stand by the HIGHWAY !

George Neely, June 2010

It seems that a class action law suit may be in order for this wide spread problem. I know that the L130 is
not your father's John Deer, but it still cost $2500,
which is more than most of the competitors models
that last much longer. My 12 year oms Craftsman with
a 20 hp Kholer and 48 in deck cuts and climbs much better than my 4 year old L 130. And at the time, it was nearly $1000 less.

Rabo, June 2010

I would like to know how Aussie Tim repaired his front axle. I've replaced 4 on my L130 and it just broke again today. Looking for a better alternative.

DonnieB, April 2010

You get what you pay for these are not true deeres on which there reputation was built

true deeres, April 2010

I have had the same problem for the past 4 years. We have had it fixed 4 times abd last week I was mowing and the front axle broke, I am very sorry I bought this.

Frank and Ronda Butman, March 2010

I also have broken 2 x front axles on the L130 (in Australia).
They are made of Gray Cast iron.

I have fixed it by making my own - problem is now solved.

What is the go with the transmissions - do you just change the oil to 10W30 - or do you need to upgrade to the K66 - and what is this transmission out of?

Aussie Tim, January 2010

My Home Depot bought L130 has been a piece of crap.After 400 hours on my L130 John Deere, my front axle just snapped into. POT FRIGGIN METAL MADE CHEAP. of course repairs are on me.

Don Oliver, October 2009

Same story, L130 won't climb hills. Removed trans from tractor, easy enough, but not sure where the drain plug is, I want to replace trans oil. Also I have a hair line crack...can I fix with an epoxy?
can any one tell me where the drain plug is?

Mike, September 2009

I have the same problem with my LA140. After only 50 hours, I can't climb up my driveway, which is only about a 10-12 degree incline! I changed the drive belt, but it's the K46 Tranny! I'm really, really, disappointed in John Deere...

Ken G., July 2009

ive read take the tranny out empty the fluid an fill back up with 10w30

emclark1011, July 2009

seems to be a common problem. My L130 has the same problem. Deere recommended changing the two drive pulleys and the drive belt, which I did. It now will pull the hill but is not as fast as it was when I first purchased.
Repairman said replacing transmission with new one would solve the problem. Plus replacement transmission is "new style" and solves the problems with the oem transmission. Only $600 plus two hours labor. Just 5800 to $900 to solve a problem that should not be.

bigdeman, April 2009

I have the exact same problem with my 145 and hills. Three years old started the problem this year. I just got it back from John Deere after they had it for 2 months and couldn't find anything wrong with it! I mowed the lawn today and sure enough, it still has the problem. If these trans are $400 a pop and keep going out is it worth replacing it multiple times?

What ever happened to American quality?
(I know we outsourced it)

-Raymond, November 2008

Consider an upgrade of the rearend to a K66. They can be had for less than the price of a rebuild kit for the K46 that is in it. There are lots of other parts to swap out but you should not have to worry about it again other than maintenance.

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?p=505445

mrwebconnect, November 2008

Mine did the same last year it was the transmission. I fixed it myself it was real simple it only took me about an hour or so. It cost about $400
My front axle just broke for the second time. I'm trying to find a replacement on the internet.

Disappointed Deere Owner, September 2008

I've had problems with my L130 ever since it was new. The front axle has broken 3 times. The spindles also have broken twice. Once under warranty and the other times of course the warranty was expired. JD dealer informed me that this "was unusual". I feel there's a problem with the new JD's being made cheaply. I also have the sluggish tranny problems and today the lift linkage cracked. I've been fixing this lemon constantly. No more Deeres for me!!!

Kathy, May 2007

You will need a new throw away transmission. I went threw two of them until I unloaded it after the second one was installed.

John, May 2007

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