Mover sometimes does not move and other time moves real slowly

It sounds like there may be an issue with the drive belt on your Poulan Pro PO16542LT riding mower. When you engage the clutch, the belt tightens and provides power to the wheels, allowing the mower to move forward or backward. When you release the clutch, the belt should become loose and the mower should stop moving.
If the belt is loose or damaged, it may not be providing enough power to the wheels when the clutch is engaged. This could cause the mower to move slowly or not at all. When you release the clutch, the belt may not be loose enough to completely disengage from the wheels, which could cause the mower to continue moving slowly or even stall.
To check the drive belt, you'll need to consult the owner's manual for your specific model of mower. The manual should provide instructions for inspecting and replacing the belt if necessary. Alternatively, you may want to take the mower to a professional for repairs if you're not comfortable working on it yourself.

One easy thing to try is to roll the vehicle forward and then put it in neutral and let is coast to a stop. As the vehicle is going very slowly try to disengage the front axle. Sometimes the tension on all the pieces in the system will make it hard to disengage. This is just a temporary thing to try though. The permanent fix is to actually check the actuator and see if it is attempting to move or not when you move the 4wd selector switch.

Maintanance - How to purge Hydraulic drive system Published 01/13/2010 11:56 AM ' Updated 06/02/2015 02:52 PM
How do I purge the hydraulic system?
Hydrostatic transmissions use oil, under pressure, to provide movement for the tractor. The fluid is pressurized with a pump inside the transmission. If any air is in the fluid, the pump will try to pressurize air. This condition is known as cavitation, and is detrimental to the pump since it allows the pump top operate dry. When the pump cavitates it is not pressurizing any fluid, so the transmission is not able to provide the movement needed.
If your mower is new, or has been stored for a long period (longer than 2 months) the transmission needs to be purged before use. Also, if you experience loss of drive, or slower response, then the transmission should be purged first.
The following procedure will remove trapped air inside the transmission(s).

IMPORTANT: SHOULD YOUR TRANSMISSION REQUIRE REMOVAL FOR SERVICE OR REPLACEMENT, IT SHOULD BE PURGED AFTER REINSTALLATION BEFORE OPERATING THE TRACTOR.
Step 1- Place the rear of the mower safely onto jackstands on a level surface with engine off and parking brake set.

Step 2- Disengage transmission by placing freewheel control, located at the back of the frame, in the freewheeling position.

2a- Mowers with seperate pumps and wheel motors the freewheel is activated by turnign the bypass valves, one on each pump, two full turns.
The oil resevoir needs to be filled to the specifications listed in the owners manual before starting the purge procedure.
Step 3- Sitting in the operators seat(riders), start engine. After the engine is running, move throttle control to slow position. With motion control levers in neutral (N) position, slowly disengage clutch/brake pedal.
Step 4-Move motion control levers to full forward position and hold for five (5) seconds. Move levers to full reverse position and hold for five (5) seconds. Repeat this procedure three (3) times.

NOTE: During this procedure there may be some movement of the drive wheels, but they are not under load. The air is being removed from hydraulic drive system.

Step 5-Move motion control levers to neutral (N) position. Shutoff engine and set parking brake. Check and add oil as needed for units with an oil resevoir.

Step 6-Engage transmission by placing freewheel control into driving position, or by closing the bypass valves on the pumps.
Step 7-Sitting in the operators seat, start engine. After the engine is running, move throttle control to full speed. With motion control levers in neutral (N) position, slowly disengage clutch/brake pedal.

Step 8-Slowly move motion control levers forward, after the tractor moves approximately five (5) feet, slowly move motion control levers to reverse position.
After the mower moves approximately five (5) feet return the motion control levers to the neutral (N) position. Repeat this procedure with the motion control levers three (3) times.

Step 9-Your mower is now purged and now ready for normal operation.For further information or assistance, we recommend contacting your lo

1st with mover off verify that both handles move same amount forward , I use a string to measure them , they both have mechanical stops that do bend and move sometimes
second locate control body valve , (thing that handles connect too) there should be a pump pressure adjust (allen key) on the side of this your gonna need to make small adjustments and try it , is difficult to do if you don't have a lift to elevate wheels of mower (but is possible without ) but takes patience

Two possibilities to look for.1. The linkage may have lost a connecting pin. Follow active rods from pedal to control arm on transmission. 2. There is a disengage rod to allow the machine to be pushed without the engine running. If this is in the disengaged position the transmission will not drive. Look at the rear and low down for a lever or rod which is connected to the transmission.

Hi there, I assume the motor runs as usual, and doesn't cut out when you try to move forward or back. That would be a different problem than what I'm thinking about now:
If you look underneath at the transmission belt (this usually goes from the motor pulley to the rear transmission / diff) and see if it has fallen off a pulley, or disappeared completely. This would stop the forward or reverse drive of the mower. If this is the case, a new belt should solve your problem.

If your transmission is automatic on the drive axle, look for a small lever inside the frame and below the seat. It can be hard to find the first time. This lever disengages the drive inside the auto gearbox so the mower can be pushed by hand. If the lever is not not moved, pushing the mower also tries to turn over the engine making it impossible to move. With the lever moved accidentally the drive is disengaged and the mower won't move in either direction. The lever operates a flexible cable that comes out from the auto transmission.

noted for frequent failure of hydrostatic transmissions, just search this site. you have to buy another transmission or lawn mower.

Hi dpelzer--
That piece must come out! Do not run your engine before you are sure the dipstick has been removed. Try to avoid moving the mower while that piece is in there, as any bump can dislodge it from where it may have hopefully fallen: straight down.

Before you move anything, use a flashlight and look into the dipstick port--the hole that you check and fill the engine's oil from. Can you see the remains of the stick?

If you can, leave everything alone and go to your hardware store and buy a "parts grabber," it looks like a long spring and has tiny steel 'fingers' that will open and close when you push a plunger on one end. Carefully, slowly, try to grab that dipstick. Take your time and use extra care so you don't knock that dipstick into the crankcase.

If you succeed in removing the stick, inspect it carefully to be sure none of it has broken off into the crankcase of your mower's engine. Check the dipstick in its entirety, from the handle down, to be sure it is intact.

If you suspect any parts have remained in the crank, or if you cannot remove the dipstick from the oil fill/check hole, your last option is to dissamble the engine to remove its contaminants. This can be a costly, time consuming job.
--Hope this helps

On the chute where the grass comes out there is a black piece of metal under the edge of the deck held on by the 2 big thumb screws is probably bent. You will need to try to move the blade on the side near the chute by hand (Make sure the mower is not running when you do this) if the blade touches the black piece of metal it will kill the mower if you engage the blades and try moving forward. Anyway you need to take the black metal piece off and bend the corner out of the way (I used a crescent and clamped it to the hitch on my pickup). I am guessing i went over something like a street curb with the deck when it was to low and that bent it. Now when ever I move the mower from someones yard or drive it across the street I always raise the deck up all the way. I hope this helps