Case 222 Lawn Tractor - Not moving

Hello, I own a 1976 Case 22 Lawn Tractor that was given to me as a family hand me down. It is in great shape and only needed a few minor repairs to make it run strong. Unfortunately, it stopped moving yesterday afternoon. No forward, no reverse. I checked the hydraulic fluid, and it was at the recommended level. While I was using it last weekend(several hours) I noticed that the motion control level(forward and reverse) would occasionally slip into neutral. I originally thought this was just due to the vibration, but now I think it may have been a sign of problems to come. Does anyone have any trouble shooting advice? One note...the tractor was stored in Florida for the last five years. I was only started once during that time. Thanks

There should be friction spring on the power driver lever that needs to tightened a little. Hal

It may have a lever so the tractor can be free wheeled that's in the free wheel mode. Hal

Does your 222 have manual implement lift or hydraulic implement lift? If you have a lever on the right side of the steering wheel that is the same as the travel lever on the left side of the steering wheel, then you have hydraulic lift.

If you do have the hydraulic lift, then tell me if the hydraulic lift is working. The symptom you describe is not unusual and it often indicates a failed LoveJoy coupler. The engines in these tractors do two things. There is a mechanical PTO on the front of the engine that belt-drives the mower deck and snowblower. The rear of the engine drives a hydraulic pump and that pump is coupled to the crankshaft via a LoveJoy flexible coupling that takes out any minor alignment issues.

Over time, the rubber "spider" in the LoveJoy wears out and when that happens, the rest of the coupler quickly disintegrates. Now, if you have some basic mechanical skills, this is not that big of a deal but it does require that you remove the engine.

Right now, you need to determine whether the pump is spinning or not. If the deck lift doesn't work and the tractor won't move, then most likely the pump is not spinning.

If the deck lift does work then you should be checking out the linkage under the tractor that joins the travel lever you move back and forth, to the travel valve itself that is mounted right under the checkplate floor in front of the seat.

Investigate and get back to me.

(quoted from post at 13:47:55 06/09/08) There should be friction spring on the power driver lever that needs to tightened a little. Hal

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Ok thanks! I will check the spring out.

There is a high, low, and neutral setting. That seems to be working properly. If I have it in neutral the tractor moves freely. If I have it in low or high it is much harder to move. Thanks

Tom, My 222 does not have a manual implement lift or hydraulic implement lift. I only have a lever (forward - reverse) on the left side on the streering wheel. Thanks

I know that this tractor is new to you but they are not new to me. I own eleven Case GT's currently. Case made the 222 model two ways. Either WITH hydraulic implement lift OR with manual implement lift. It has to be one or the other unless someone has removed the lift mechanism. If you do not have a lever on the right side of the steering wheel, then the tractor came with the standard mechanical lift and someone has removed the deck lift handle from the right side of the tractor.

Nonetheless, you need to make sure that the travel lever on the left side of the steering wheel is actually moving the spool in and out of the valve body under the tractor. If it is moving that spool, then I think that you have a broken LoveJoy and you will have to pull the engine to repair it.

(quoted from post at 02:12:54 06/10/08) I know that this tractor is new to you but they are not new to me. I own eleven Case GT's currently. Case made the 222 model two ways. Either WITH hydraulic implement lift OR with manual implement lift. It has to be one or the other unless someone has removed the lift mechanism. If you do not have a lever on the right side of the steering wheel, then the tractor came with the standard mechanical lift and someone has removed the deck lift handle from the right side of the tractor.

Nonetheless, you need to make sure that the travel lever on the left side of the steering wheel is actually moving the spool in and out of the valve body under the tractor. If it is moving that spool, then I think that you have a broken LoveJoy and you will have to pull the engine to repair it.

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Ok...I checked it out yesterday and it does have the standard mechanical lift. I didn't realize it had one until I spoke with my father in law (previous owner). When I looked under the tractor, the travel lever was moving the the spool in and out of the valve body so I'll go for the LoveJoy next. My father in law is going to stop by this weekend to help me get the motor out. Thanks a lot for your help! I really appreciate it.

(quoted from post at 02:12:54 06/10/08) I know that this tractor is new to you but they are not new to me. I own eleven Case GT's currently. Case made the 222 model two ways. Either WITH hydraulic implement lift OR with manual implement lift. It has to be one or the other unless someone has removed the lift mechanism. If you do not have a lever on the right side of the steering wheel, then the tractor came with the standard mechanical lift and someone has removed the deck lift handle from the right side of the tractor.

Nonetheless, you need to make sure that the travel lever on the left side of the steering wheel is actually moving the spool in and out of the valve body under the tractor. If it is moving that spool, then I think that you have a broken LoveJoy and you will have to pull the engine to repair it.

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Can you recommend a place where I can purchase a replacement LoveJoy flexible coupling? Since I'm just starting out I have limited resources. I want to make sure that I buy one that is compatible with my setup. Thanks again for your help.

LoveJoy connectors can be bought from all sorts of places. Grab your Yeller Pages. Look under "bearing supply" and then call one of them. It wouldn't surprise me if Tractor Supply have them in stock. On line, Grainger's, McMaster-Carr or Surplus Center dot com are just a few choices. Use the link below and then go to page 1146 to see "spider couplings". LoveJoy is a brand name that everyone is familiar with but other people make the same type.


Take out the engine and find out what happened. Most likely, you are going to need the complete coupler which consists of two halves plus the spider. They aren't that expensive. What's important is the diameter of the pump shaft and the crankshaft. Once everything is apart, then those diameters can be checked quite easily. When you put it back together, use Loc-tite on the LoveJoy set screws.
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(quoted from post at 02:13:28 06/12/08) LoveJoy connectors can be bought from all sorts of places. Grab your Yeller Pages. Look under "bearing supply" and then call one of them. It wouldn't surprise me if Tractor Supply have them in stock. On line, Grainger's, McMaster-Carr or Surplus Center dot com are just a few choices. Use the link below and then go to page 1146 to see "spider couplings". LoveJoy is a brand name that everyone is familiar with but other people make the same type.


Take out the engine and find out what happened. Most likely, you are going to need the complete coupler which consists of two halves plus the spider. They aren't that expensive. What's important is the diameter of the pump shaft and the crankshaft. Once everything is apart, then those diameters can be checked quite easily. When you put it back together, use Loc-tite on the LoveJoy set screws.
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Great...I will let you know how everything works out. I'm looking forward to spending time on my lawn tractor again. Thanks again for your help.

(quoted from post at 02:13:28 06/12/08) LoveJoy connectors can be bought from all sorts of places. Grab your Yeller Pages. Look under "bearing supply" and then call one of them. It wouldn't surprise me if Tractor Supply have them in stock. On line, Grainger's, McMaster-Carr or Surplus Center dot com are just a few choices. Use the link below and then go to page 1146 to see "spider couplings". LoveJoy is a brand name that everyone is familiar with but other people make the same type.


Take out the engine and find out what happened. Most likely, you are going to need the complete coupler which consists of two halves plus the spider. They aren't that expensive. What's important is the diameter of the pump shaft and the crankshaft. Once everything is apart, then those diameters can be checked quite easily. When you put it back together, use Loc-tite on the LoveJoy set screws.
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Click to expand...

Tom,
I wanted to let you know that your diagnosis was correct(not that I doubted you). I took the motor out this weekend and found that the rubber spider wore out and coupler had disintegrated. The spider only had three teeth left and the rear most coupling had no teeth on it. I haven't removed the coupling yet, but I plan on taking care of that tonight. The manual I have lists the set screws as 5/16" X 5/16". Should an allen wrench work to remove these. It looks like it will, but I wanted to make sure I didn't need a special tool. Thanks for all your help.

Rich