[schreib]

I backed my JD 445 up on a short rise in front of my wood shed. The trailer was full of wood and the 445 wanted to roll forward away from the shed-- not my desired option.
So, I put a thinner piece of wood behind on of the trailer wheels and backed over the wood so it would hold both units from rolling. I pulled the red E-brake but it did not seem to hold.

With some putzing around I got myself stuck, so to speak: The tractor and trailer would not budge. I emptied the trailer and disconnected it so now it is only the tractor sitting there; when I pulled the black brake release, too hard apparently, it broke off in my hand; cheap plastic. I recall there may be a "free-wheeling" lever somewhere but could not identify anything readily; then again, the problem may be the brake locked up instead. How does this all work? With the engine ON I can't get it to go forward or back because it is locked up solid, braked it seems.

Any suggestions to free this up? thanks!

 

[CJadamec]

You will have to free the brake before it will let the back wheels turn.

Not really a safe way to do that with it still on the hill. Maybe chock the wheels or secure the tractor to the shed with a suitable strap or rope. Sounds like if you broke the release handle off you will have to get under the tractor to free up the brake linkage.

The brake and the freewheeling valve work on two different parts of the axel independent of each other. So that won't do you any good.

 

[x738]

Brakes need to be OFF and the engine needs to be OFF to use the freewheeling lever.



Using Free-Wheeling Lever

IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! To prevent transaxle damage, NEVER tow the tractor. Only push tractor by hand. Do not use another vehicle to push tractor.

When you need to move the tractor without starting the engine, use the free-wheeling lever:

M71465
· Pull free-wheeling control lever (A) up.
· Unlock park brake.
· Push tractor to desired location.
Lever will return to the operating position when tractor is started and driven.

 

[rydplrs]

Just the tractor stuck? Use a ratchet strap to pull the brake pedal to the front axle. Then remove the right side panel and hopefully you have long needle nose to mess with the parking brake rod and release it.

A ratchet strap to a car is also usually enough tension to tension and pull a tractor out.

Even giving chain a full pull before connecting it to my bucket 40-50’ of chain had enough sag I don’t think I got any direct tension, but curled my way out.

 

[schreib]

thanks Folks. I now know what I need to do.
. . very helpful, thanks
I will report in when I get 'er out!

 

[schreib]

Just the tractor stuck? Use a ratchet strap to pull the brake pedal to the front axle. Then remove the right side panel and hopefully you have long needle nose to mess with the parking brake rod and release it.

A ratchet strap to a car is also usually enough tension to tension and pull a tractor out.

Even giving chain a full pull before connecting it to my bucket 40-50’ of chain had enough sag I don’t think I got any direct tension, but curled my way out.

well, it is not really "stuck" as such. . . just locked in place by the brake on a small rise.
thanks for the pointers!

 

[Sundancer268]

On my 445, the brake release is red and just snaps down to release. You can snap it down and unless you step hard on the brake pedal, it will not release. The black handle on my 445 is the cruise control. The free wheeling release will NOT release the brakes. There is a rod behind the right side engine panel in front of the brake release handle that actually locks the brake linkage with a small spring on it that actually controls the brake linkage. It moves up and down to control the brake. We had a 425 at work where the spring rusted through and is no longer available from JD so we just wired up the rod with some coat hanger wire so it could be released. We later drilled a hole in the dash and shoved that wire up so we could still use the E-Brake.

 

[schreib]

On my 445, the brake release is red and just snaps down to release. You can snap it down and unless you step hard on the brake pedal, it will not release. The black handle on my 445 is the cruise control. "

uuuuuh, yeah. The black handle?!
I broke the CRUISE CONTROL lever, not the brake lever! Geez.

 

[DRobinson]

Push on the brake pedal and then the release handle.

 

[schreib]

Push on the brake pedal and then the release handle.

yep, did that. Pretty amazing and embarrassing. . .
It worked.

 

[trav]

Well it could be worse, you could have broken the brake handle. Isn't it funny that sometimes we jump to the worse conclusion in a case like that instead of questioning our first assessment the situation?

 

[Herminator]

We have all been there in one way or another.

 

[sty of the hog]

Probably need to buy a new tractor to pull it out


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Montana Dan]

I backed my JD 445 up on a short rise in front of my wood shed. The trailer was full of wood and the 445 wanted to roll forward away from the shed-- not my desired option.
So, I put a thinner piece of wood behind on of the trailer wheels and backed over the wood so it would hold both units from rolling. I pulled the red E-brake but it did not seem to hold.

With some putzing around I got myself stuck, so to speak: The tractor and trailer would not budge. I emptied the trailer and disconnected it so now it is only the tractor sitting there; when I pulled the black brake release, too hard apparently, it broke off in my hand; cheap plastic. I recall there may be a "free-wheeling" lever somewhere but could not identify anything readily; then again, the problem may be the brake locked up instead. How does this all work? With the engine ON I can't get it to go forward or back because it is locked up solid, braked it seems.

Any suggestions to free this up? thanks!

Easy, lift up off the hill to a flat location like the dealership parking lot for parts with a helicopter and I'm sure they'll have all of the parts you need.

 

[Montana Dan]

We have all been there in one way or another.

View attachment 786257

Count me in.

 

[TyBoo]

If you are like me, you never use the cruise control anyhow so you actually did yourself a favor now that you won't, like me, try it first for the brake release.

 

[schreib]

oooooohhh. I love you guys.
yes indeed, Tyboo. I have NEVER used that dang thing anyway. What a favor I have done myself.


Normally, I always feel compelled to fix things I break. This time? nope.

 

[schreib]

Push on the brake pedal and then the release handle.

by the way, thanks for your service in Vietnam DRobinson.

 

[DRobinson]

by the way, thanks for your service in Vietnam DRobinson.

Thank you.