bd 300 bulldog shifting issues

[Dennis]

I have  a bulldog i bought from home depot in 2013.  In the last season it started refusing to shift from neutral to either forward or reverse.  I changed the trans axle fluid and made sure the cables were lubricated and free.  With a lot of coaxing, I can sometimes get it to shift.  once I start driving it, things improve until I let it set awhile.   Any suggestion on where to go from here?

[vaughn]

  Just saw this. Have you disconnected the cable from the rear end and tried to put it in gear?

[Judy]

Have a Bulldog BD300 4X2 It has forward neutral and revers it has to be in neutral to start and it is stuck in gear. How can I get it out of gear so I can get it started? Any suggestions?

[JimWil]

On 4/28/2023 at 6:44 PM, Judy said:

Have a Bulldog BD300 4X2 It has forward neutral and revers it has to be in neutral to start and it is stuck in gear. How can I get it out of gear so I can get it started? Any suggestions?

Did you figure out why your BD300 won’t move out of gear ?

Mine is in neutral and won’t go in reverse or forward

[JimWil]

My Bulldog BD300,265cc,4x2 that I purchased from Home Depot 9/2013 has same issues on the Dana Transaxle. It won’t go in reverse or forward. I can see the cables want to move the selector mechanism on the transaxle.

I haven’t removed the cables yet to see if I can move it by hand. 
Anyone figured out/resolved the issue?

[todd emard]

try this.  My wife's BD300 had same issue. I emptied the Trans case of its gear oil, 90 weight, and refilled it with 15/40  motor oil. Works like a charm now and easier to shift. Thas all started when she put alot of force on the shift lever and over time snapped the shift cable. My neighbor came over and suggested the motor oil instead of gear oil. Hes a performance boat mechanic and said that's what they do for hard to shift boats. It works.

[JimWil]

14 hours ago, todd emard said:

try this.  My wife's BD300 had same issue. I emptied the Trans case of its gear oil, 90 weight, and refilled it with 15/40  motor oil. Works like a charm now and easier to shift. Thas all started when she put alot of force on the shift lever and over time snapped the shift cable. My neighbor came over and suggested the motor oil instead of gear oil. Hes a performance boat mechanic and said that's what they do for hard to shift boats. It works.

 

[JimWil]

2 minutes ago, JimWil said:

 

I disconnected cables, took off shifter arm and sprayed PB Blaster penetrating oil on the shaft coming out of the transaxle, let it sit a while and then started working it manually with a wrench back and forth from reverse to forward . Put it all back together and now it is shifting just fine. Thanks for the input on this shifting issue.

Now I need to locate a dump bed fender, one is broken and i might need to replace the seat.

 Thanks, 

JimWil

[DannyRambo]

I have a 2015 BD-300 that won't shift at times due to an extremely high idle. The only way i can shift is to shut her down, as the engine is dying I shift, then turn switch back on. Anyone else had this problem? Any ideas for a cure? Thaks everyone!

[W B]

Have you adjusted your shift cables  as per the book?  I fought this forever because I was just adjusting the back end ( and cussing ). Finally read the instructions and followed them to a T. Everything shifting now. ZYou have t o start in the front under the hood. Read the book.

[W B]

Dennis,

Find your manual or look up one online . Find the section on adjusting shifting cables and follow them to the "T". Don't skip any steps thinking this is easy. Don't ask me how I know!

[Michael J]

I have a Bull Dog BD 300 and I am looking for a Dana Transaxel for mine Model #265. If anyone know where i can find one please email me.

Thanks

[Russvato]

Does anyone know where to buy a reasonably priced CVT belt for the Bulldog BD300? The pt# on the books for a CVT belt is 2-20694. There are lots of these on ebay but I bought one and it is 1-2" short at 45" circumference. I struggled to get it on  but is too tight. A 47" would be a better fit. I see one on Amazon but they are asking $150.00. ? Is this a normal cost for this belt?

[Russvato]

There is also evidence that this belt has changed part#'s to 19718, 19719? Original pt# 2-20694?? Anyone know the story on this?

[W B]

Russvato,

You say belt is too tight. Have you loosened hold down bolts on engine and let it slide backwards. that's how you adjust tension on these machines.

[W B]

SHIFTING ISSUES WITH ALL BULLDOGS

Find your manual or look up one online . Find the section on adjusting shifting cables and follow them to the "T". Don't skip any steps thinking this is easy. Don't ask me how I know! It all starts under the hood, not behind the seat. Don't skip any steps!

[W B]

Dennis

See post 10 and 11 for shifting and 15 to adjust belt

[W B]

On 3/17/2025 at 7:58 PM, Russvato said:

There is also evidence that this belt has changed part#'s to 19718, 19719? Original pt# 2-20694?? Anyone know the story on this?

Just where would this evidence be found?

[W B]

On 3/17/2025 at 7:53 PM, Russvato said:

Does anyone know where to buy a reasonably priced CVT belt for the Bulldog BD300? The pt# on the books for a CVT belt is 2-20694. There are lots of these on ebay but I bought one and it is 1-2" short at 45" circumference. I struggled to get it on  but is too tight. A 47" would be a better fit. I see one on Amazon but they are asking $150.00. ? Is this a normal cost for this belt?

 

 

try this link

https://hammerheadperformance.com/american-landmaster-belt-l3-cvt-drive-belt-19719-replaces-2-20694-17918

[W B]

Russvato

What engine do you have in the BD300? The link I provided above fits an L3 which is not the same as a BD300. If you have a kohler engine the part # you need is 2*20693.and are cheaper belts out there. Just google.

[Russvato]

Original engine was Kohler 277CC, 9 hp. I now have an 16hp Duromax and, yes I have tried loosening the motor mounts for a belt I bought on Ebay and had the 2-20694 pt# on it. I discovered that it was about a 45" length and I am needing +/- 47". The Landmaster belt on AMAZON WANTS 150.00. Seems a bit much compared to all the other brand UTV belts. The problem is that a lot of these vendors do not publish the belt dimensions. So you have to purchase by brand name utv which is sketchy at best.

[W B]

I. Fabbed a new motor mount for. That purpose. You have to check clearance on the shifting lever. If u are unable to do that you will have to call the belt dealers online till u find one that will help you. They are cheaper anyway.

[W B]

Russ

When I fabbed the first mount A belt dealer went to great lengths to find one`. He finally found one like you about 47" but only available in a width of about 1". This belt didn't last any time and it shredded. I modified my mount to allow the stock belt tio fit. On the stock belt, do some googling. I found one under 100.

[Russvato]

Yeah, I was going to fab something until I realized that the valve cover on my motor barely comes off due to the shift cable plate on the gearbox. I have no room left. Even if I did, the belt would have to be custom.