Simplicity hydro trans locked up

I bought a simplicity tractor with hydro trans and the guy told me that his son towed it across the back yard because he couldn't get it started and the hydro locked up the rear end. My question is what caused this and how can I get it unlocked? Anyone got any ideas? Thanks, Greg

Most of them have a pressure release that needs set before towing.

Did they set it, and forget to release?

Probably ruined the hydro,they need to be released and then towed very slowly to keep from damaging them.

im not sure but the rear axle is locked tight as a drum! Wheels will not turn!

What happens when you try to operate it running?

Does the engine stall when you move the lever?

If yes, then something is locked. Is there a park brake?

If no, no power is making it to the rear axle, the tow valve is open, or something is broken internally.

I wouldn't think it would be heavy enough to do damage, should have just drug the wheels, just my opinion.

I'm guessing after I power wash it tomorrow I'll have to do some checking to see if it's a pressure thing or what!

IF he tried to push the two valve he may have kind of got it pushed. So now the oil flow is restricted. Usually dragging a mower across a yard will not do serious damage to the hydro. The tires will just drag in most cases.

yes, don't think towing it would cause internal damage either. It would just slide the tires. I'll let you know what I figure out if I do.

If you are lucky the brake has rusted on

i was hoping that to but there isn't a brake on it.

if you could tell me the model of tractor that would help or take a pic of the rear end i will try to help you

My 7016 hydro has a valve on top of
trans , it's stamped steel and under that
is two pins that go into trans , my pins
look rusty , so I never tried to push it down
to release trans for towing. Once after
sitting all winter it would not move, so I gave
It a push while in reverse and it took off on
It's own power , so far it has not happened
again

That's not true on many older models as it'll damage the hydro just by being pulled a surprisingly short distance.

Greg,
I recently helped two neighbors getting their craftsman riding mowers running.
One had a locked up HST. The brake was rusted because owner left it out in the
rain.

The other the HST stopped working after owner pulled it out of the shed. I got
engine running and HST wouldn't work. After researching I discovered many have
Issues with craftsman HST. The only way to service tranny is to remove
transaxle, open vent cover, drain out fluid, refill, then purge air out of
tranny by turning the input shaft. I just jacked one side of mower while owner
sat on seat, started engine and put it in gear. I rotated the wheel in the
air. Slowly it started turning on it own. We went from forward to reverse many
time. It's now working. Thinking when he pulled it out of shed, he didn't have
control rod pulled out and somehow he got air in tranny.

I used to be a big fan of HST's on mowers, but rethinking that they may be
very easy to damage. However my 20 year old JD275 has a place to drain tranny,
replace filter and add oil without pulling tranny out and turning it over. It
a garden tractor, not a cheaper lawn mower.

I worked on husky with only 350 hrs. The HST sounded like it was full of
broken glass. Owner abused mower by pulling heavy loads with it.

Check to make sure brake isn't froze up.

geo.