This is a situation that every mower owner would prefer not to encounter— your zero-turn mower suddenly fails to catch fire, and you’ll have to move it somewhere quickly. Don’t worry, just take a few minutes to adjust, and you can easily push the zero-turn mower to where it needs to be. Now, let’s take a look at how to manually push a zero-turn mower.
Why Might You Need to Push Your Zero-Turn Mower?
Sometimes, you have to get out of the car and push the zero-turn mower. For example, the mower suddenly breaks down while working. You have to get it into neutral first to push it back into the garage. For another example, you drive the mower into the wet, soft areas, leading to the wheels idling in the mud. You’ll need the hydrostatic drive systems disengaged and then dragged out. By the way, if some areas of the yard are often muddy, such as near the edge of a pond, consider buying a reliable hand-push lawn mower to avoid getting stuck.
How to Manually Push a Zero Turn Mower？
If you just want to push the mower without preparing, you probably have found—it doesn’t move at all. Don’t think it’s broken, it’s actually by design. Your mower has two separate sets of hydrostatic transmissions that control the left and right rear wheels, respectively. Once the engine is stalled, the hydraulic fluid in the drive train is locked, and the wheels naturally fail to rotate. If you push it hard, it will only damage the hydraulic system, and it will not be cheap to repair. If you want it to push away, you have to let the mower in first freewheel mode. This step is to temporarily disconnect the transmission system through a device called a bypass valve. The following safe and universal operating steps apply to almost all zero-turn mowers.
Step 1: Prioritize Safety
Make sure the mower is secure before you do any joystick pulling. Stop it on the ground as flat as possible— because once the wheel is unlocked, on a slope it may slide off on its own. Then, pull on the parking brake. Turn off the engine and pull out the key to prevent it from suddenly starting on its own.
Step 2: Locate the Hydrostatic Bypass Valves
This step is the most critical in the whole process. You have to find two bypass valves (sometimes also called release levers or rods). Note, they must be in pairs, one for each transmission. What they do is they open a channel that allows the hydraulic fluid to flow around the normal circuit, which unlocks the wheels.
As for the location, it will be a little different from model to model, but generally at the rear of the mower. You can look near the rear wheels, under the engine, or in the protrusions behind the frame.
Step 3: Disengage Both Valves
After finding them, switch both valves to the “Push”, “Freewheel”, or “Disengaged” positions. Generally speaking, the operation methods are probably as follows
- Pulling the rod outward.
- Turn the little lever 90 or 180 degrees.
- Pull it out and then turn it around to make it stuck in the open position.
Remember to release both valves. If only one is loose, when you go to push the mower, it will spin around the wheel and won’t be able to push at all.
Step 4: Release the Parking Brake
The transmissions are now in freewheel mode, so you can release the parking brake.
Step 5: Push the Mower
Now the mower can roll with moderate force. It’s still heavy, so push slowly and carefully.
Step 6: Re-engage the Transmissions (Crucial!)
After you have pushed the mower to the desired position, be sure to do the steps the other way around before restarting.
- First, pull the parking brake.
- Both bypass valves are then pushed back firmly into their original “Drive” or “Engaged” positions, ensuring that they are fully reset in place.
Warning: If you start the engine with the bypass valve still open, the mower won’t move, and there’s also the possibility of messing up the hydrostatic pump. If you find that the lawn mower is on fire after pushing but cannot go, the first thing to do is to check whether these two valves have been fully reset.
Guide to Common Zero-Turn Mower Bypass Valve Locations
The release valve mechanism and position are not the same for different brands, and even different models of the same brand may be different. Some were near the rear wheels, some were hidden under the seats, and some protruded from the bottom of the rear frame. Below, we take a look at the typical location distribution of several common brands.
Bobcat
On most Bobcat mowers, you can look at the position behind the machine, under the engine. Two metal tie rods are generally seen next to the gearing on each side. To get the mower into “push” mode, you just need to pull these two rods outward.
John Deere
For many John Deere ZTrak™ models, the bypass controls are pull-out metal rods located at the back of the mower. They are often tucked under the rear bumper or frame, with one on each side. Some older models may have levers mounted underneath the seat that need to be flipped to enable free rolling.
Cub Cadet
If you own a residential Cub Cadet, such as a model from the Ultima series, check the very rear of the frame, on the inside of the rear wheels. The mechanism is usually a pull-out rod that sometimes requires a slight turn to lock it into the disengaged position.
Toro
Toro often makes its bypass valves easy to find on models like the TimeCutter® and Titan®. Look under the rear bumper for two highly visible metal rods or pins protruding from the frame. You will often need to pull them out and then rotate them to lock them in the freewheel position.
Husqvarna
Husqvarna mowers typically place their bypass rods at the rear, near each hydrostatic transmission, in a location similar to John Deere and Cub Cadet. The operation is usually a simple, straight pull outward to disengage the drives.
Bad Boy
Bad Boy often places the bypass control directly on the hydrostatic transmission (transaxle) housing itself. You may have to see it from the side of the machine or from behind the rear wheel. It looks and operates differently — you use a small lever or knob and turn the bolt head 90 degrees with a wrench to open the valve.
Scag
In the style of the Scag commercial model, the mower usually features a strong, clearly marked lever positioned just behind the machine. This design is for ease of operation, generally just pull the rod up or out, which can disconnect the drive system, allowing the mower to push manually.
Gravely / Ariens
Gravely and Ariens‘ mowers are similar in design, with bypass controllers generally located behind the machine and below the engine near the wheels. What you’re looking for is the kind of metal tie rod that pulls out, and sometimes you need to turn it around and lock it in the “de-drive” position.
Additional Tips for Pushing the Zero-Turn Mower
- Get Help if Possible: These are heavy machines. Having a second person to help push and guide, especially on uneven ground, makes the job much safer and easier.
- Clear Your Path: Before you start pushing, remove any rocks, branches, tools, or other obstacles from your intended path.
Avoid Towing Unless Specified: Many manufacturers do not recommend towing a zero-turn mower, even in freewheel mode. High-speed towing can make the drivetrain overheat, damage it. Hand pushing is the safest way to do it. If you want to drag it, you must first read the specific requirements in the manual.
Reconfirm brake: After disengaging the bypass valves, make sure that the parking brake has been fully released. Some models of levers also act as a brake when pushed out to the bottom, so make sure they are all in the neutral position.
Why Won’t My Zero-Turn Mower Start?
After pushing the mower to safety, the next step is, of course, to find out why it went wrong in the first place. If the engine fails to start or stalls suddenly, here are a few of the most common and worthwhile reasons to check first:
- Dead Battery: The most common issue. You may hear a clicking sound or nothing at all when you turn the key.
- Safety Switch Engagement: Zero-turn mowers have multiple safety switches (on the seat, parking brake, and control arms). If any of these are not properly engaged, the engine will not even try to start. Make sure the brake is on, the control arms are out in the neutral/park position, and you are sitting firmly in the seat.
- Fuel Problems: This could be as simple as an empty fuel tank or as complex as old, stale gas that has clogged the fuel system.
- Clogged Filters: A blocked fuel filter or air filter can prevent the engine from getting the air and gas it needs to run.
- Faulty Spark Plugs: Worn-out or dirty spark plugs can’t create the spark needed for ignition.
If you need spark plugs, filters, and more, finding high-quality replacement zero-turn mower parts is essential for getting your machine running again. Using reliable aftermarket parts can save you money without sacrificing performance.
Conclusion
I want to know how to push the zero-turn mower. In fact, the key is to disengage the hydrostatic bypass valve. This simple operation makes the mower enter freewheel mode. Aim to protect important parts from damage. Remember to always re-engage the valves before starting the engine. Once your mower stops and you find a broken part, it’s necessary to have a reliable source of high-quality zero-turn mower parts. FridayParts has a lot of stock on our side to get your mower back in use quickly and affordably.
