John Deere Riding Mower Won’t Go Forward or Reverse? – Here’s What You Can Do

John Deere is a popular manufacturer that specialize in all sorts or riding mowers and hydrostatic tractors. If you bought a vehicle from them, it should be fine for at least 10 years.

However, lack of proper maintenance can lead to problems in the drive belt, carburetor, or any other component causing your vehicle to perform poorly. One of the first issues that you might face is that your riding mower won’t go forward or reverse.

While it can be prevented to some extent with regular maintenance, you need to understand what causes it in the first place. Don’t worry, I will talk about all the main reasons why this can happen and help you find some solutions to your problem.

John Deere Riding Moore Won’t Go Forward or Reverse – Causes and Solutions

There can be a lot of reasons why your riding mower is not moving forward or reverse. For instance, a leak in the hydraulic fuel line, brake issues, or lack of regular tune-ups can all be the culprit behind this issue.

Now, let’s talk about identifying exactly what is causing the problem and how you can fix this.

1. Problem With The Brakes

If you notice that the wheel doesn’t move and instead the engine makes weird noises and produces a sound and smells like burning plastic, then the brakes might be the culprit here. This indicates that the brake on the transmission’s side is stuck, and the pins are posing this problem.

To fix this, you need to take the brake off first. Then clean it thoroughly using a light brass brush and put it back in place. With any luck, this should clear up the issue right away.

2. There’s A Problem In The Drive Belt

The drive belt is an essential component in your riding mower, which serves as a bridge between the engine crankshaft and the transaxle pully to move the rear wheels. If there is an issue with the drive belt, it will cause the rear wheels to not work properly, which can cause this problem.

Typically, identifying a faulty drive belt is pretty easy. It should produce a squealing sound when you are driving your mower and perform sluggishly. However, if the belt is outright broken, the mower will not move at all.

Personally, I would recommend taking the mower to an auto repair shop to get it fixed if the drive belt is the problem. But if you still want to do it yourself and save a few bucks, here are the steps.

• Locate the spark plug by lifting the hood of your vehicle. Disconnect it.
• Disconnect the cutting blades and the right suspension arm along with the deck bracket at the rear. Remove the mower deck by pulling it out below the frame.
• Detach the ground drive belt by first removing the engine pulley bolt and pulling it out of the crankshaft. You should be able to see the drive belt and have easy access to it now.
• Remove the bolts attaching the cables to the batteries and take the battery out of the box.
• At this point, you should be able to take the old drive belt out without any issues.
• Install the new ground drive belt by looping it over the transaxle pulley. Make sure you position it properly and connect all the cables.
• Reset the mower deck and put everything back in its right place.
• If the issue was caused by a faulty ground drive belt, this should clear things up.

3. The Hydraulic Fluid Got Old

The hydraulic fluid that powers your hydrostatic riding lawn mower can get old, which can cause all sorts of issues in your vehicle. And it makes sense, considering how the fluid is responsible for driving the transmission.

Typically, if you don’t use your vehicle for long periods, like over the winter, the fluid can get old. Flushing the system and replacing the hydraulic fluid should fix this issue right away.

You need to drain the engine and refill it with new oil. Make sure you consult the owner’s manual to know the right mixture when you refill it.

4. The Hydraulic Fluid Is Leaking

Sometimes, even with new hydraulic fluids, the lawn mower might show signs of acting up. In that case, the problem might be that the fuel lines are leaking.

You need to look out for sluggish or jerky movements, as this is one of the first telltale signs of this issue. Another way to check for it is to watch out for any burning smell or oil spills.

Fixing the leak is pretty simple, but you need to figure out the source first. If the issue is in the gasket seals, you will see oil leaking out of the rubber parts. Replacing the seals should fix it.

The crankcase can also get damaged from too much pressure. If you notice a broken cap in the gaskets, you need to replace it.

5. The Carburetor Is Failing

Another component of the mower that can cause this sort of issue in your vehicle is the carburetor. For those that don’t know, the carburetor creates a combustible mixture for the cylinder that the engine uses by blending air and fuel.

If the carburetor is acting up, your mower will have trouble starting or moving. To fix this problem, the only thing you can do is replace the carburetor.

Again, it would be a good idea to take it to a professional. It would save a lot of hassle on your end. But you can replace it yourself, too, if you know the steps.

• Turn off the engine and take the key out of the vehicle. Give it a couple of minutes for the engine to cool down.
• Disconnect the battery. To do that – lift the seat up and disconnect the negative cable in the battery.
• Then, lift the hood and unscrew the air duct and take it out. You also want to remove the filter cover.
• Lift off the blower housing in the air filter. Also, disconnect the fuel line and clean up the area if any fuel is spilled.
• You also need to remove the nuts holding the air intake, the fuel solenoid wire, and finally, the throttle spring, in that order.
• Now you will have clear access to the carburetor. Disconnect it by removing the choke rod.
• This is a good time to clean the gasket.
• Now install the new carburetor following the operator’s manual.
• Once that’s done, reconnect the fuel line, reinstall the blower housing and install the air filter.
• Finally, reconnect the battery.

Final Thoughts

A John Deere riding mower not going forward, or reverse is definitely a big problem. But frankly, this issue only comes up if you don’t maintain your vehicle properly.

Regular inspection and tune-up every now and then can easily delay or outright prevent this problem from occurring. And if it does come up, the troubleshooting tips that I have described here should help you restore your riding mower to its former glory. Good luck!