I just bought a 332 that has 700hrs? on the hour meter. I tested it out on flat ground before I bought it and all worked fine. When I got it home to my hilly place that s when I found a problem. On the flat it is fine but when I go to go up a ibcline of any size it will shop dead in its tracks unless I push up the ground speed lever alot. Going down a hill it will not hold its ground speed and the first time it happened was quit a ride. What is the problem, is there an adjustment or how exspencive is it to fix. The engine is strong and overall the machine looks real good. It has the 50inch deck in good shape. I am afraid to let my 12 year old son driove it incase it takes off on him down the hill.

Any help or advise would be appreciated.

Tom

Does it have low fluid in the trans. This trans is a dryhard unit. But it my be low on fluid. And just needs oil and filter changed. Do you know how to check to see if it is full? The line in the back of tractor And don't put type C fluid in the trans use Deere only fluid. I have a 332 and what a **** of a horse they are like mowing with a 4020D. never pulls down just smokes more.

It's just a wild guess, but it sounds like the bypass valve on the hydro may be slightly open. I am speaking of the lever up under the right fender that you push to release the hydro in order to move the tractor when it's not running. It can have the affect that you are experiencing.

If you don't get a better answer here you want to try the weekend freedom machines website.

Thanks Guys

I know the fluid is up and the lever is in the right position. It happens only once in a while. The stange thing is only once in a while when I try to push in by hand when it is not running it will move very easily. I am going to change the Hyd oil and filter and see what happens. Could the popit valves to disengage the hyd act up. How much fluid does it hold and what type. I was told by a guy that it takes type F trans fluid. Are these trans know for problem? It seems really strange with only 630 hours on it and it is in really good shape and looks like it only has 630 hours on it. Is the 332 a good tractor or did I make a mistake in buying it. I paid $3,000.00 for it with only a 50 in deck and no other attachments.

Tom

$3k seems like the going rate for them. At only 630 hours you should be good for a long time. The trans fluid is Type F. Don't use any other type ATF. I doubt that changing the oil and filter will make much difference, but it is advisable since you don't know when it was last serviced.

My 332 can be sometimes be pushed without disengaging the valve just as you described. No amount of changing oil and filter has changed this. I don't however have the other problems on hills. It has around 1100 hours and is a dependable workhorse. The 332 should outlast most of the new homeowner style mowers at least 2 times over.

Thanks

That is what I figured. Althrough it is 14 years old I am sure it should be trouble free. I think my problem is minor I just need to get use to the tractor and it's little odd ways of behaving. AS long as I know its a good model I can sleep at night. I would hate to have to tell my wife that I bought a bad tractor. She wasn't to keen on me getting it in the first place and thought there was nothing wrong with the MTD. I told her it's red and the 332 was going to be the last tractor (Garden) I would have to buy. I better be right or I will never live it down.

Thanks again!!

Tom

I am trying out a 430 and it is doing the same thing.
I went to the dealer today and talk to a mechanic about it.
He said the linkage can be worn out and to check it, also their is a bushing that wears out also. So you have to remove the deck and check for any play that is down there.

papafoutz

i'm strongly thinking that whatever is involved with the linkage is loose and/or not staying put, which would make sense as it just loosely rolls around

Update on the 430:
I repaired the linkage on this tractor and adjusted it and it works great.
It was missimg a bushing and needed a new bolt on the other end of the rod.
You can adjust it with the back wheels off the ground running. I had the seat cover or platform off when I did it. It is easy to do.

papafoutz