What Causes Creep in a John Deere 185 Garden Tractor?

Placement

• The John Deere 185 weighs nearly 650 pounds and is almost 40 inches tall. When working an incline, some creep is a natural consequence of a large machine tilted at a steep angle. Most complaints of hydrostatic creep are, in fact, registered when working a slope. Yet the design of the 185 transmission provides control when working angled surfaces. Given this reality, creeping may not need to be remedied but, instead, managed. Drivers should account for some creep when mowing, turning and stopping.

Charge Pump

• In most hydraulically-regulated transmissions, the charge pump will push fluid through the drive unit while the tractor is operating. Tractors, like the 185, have charge pumps that provide more fluid than necessary to make up for disruptions in flow during rapid engagement or disengagement of the clutch. The surplus fluid then powers additional movement of the tractor, despite the neutral position of the clutch and pedals. Again, this is part of the machine's design and not a symptom of a larger problem.

Stiff Linkage System

• If the components of the system that link the transmission controls to the actual transmission are not meshing smoothly, this will affect the timing of the tractor's movement and stoppage. Friction among moving parts naturally delays and inhibits the proper function of the linkage mechanism. Creep may result from this stiffness of the linkage apparatus. Therefore, regular lubing of the linkage parts must not be neglected.

Misaligned Linkage System

• Whether through excessive use or manufacturer error, the linkage components may not be fitted in the exact position necessary for the controls to correspond with the transmission. Creep is an inevitable result. In this case, adjustment is required. The 185 operator's manual will show the location of the linkage system, which can be accessed by lifting the tractor. To re-align the linkage correctly, the machine must be running and idling while the linkage nuts are rotated until the wheels stop moving. The operator's manual provides the correct procedure for linkage adjustment.