stuck brakes 450b jd

[rock digger]

My 450 has sat most of the summer and we have had a lot of rain,.plugs are out of the case and they are dry. It does not want to move when you release the main clutch the engine bogs down. I have put everything in neutral and tried to pull it but it is stuck. Any Ideas????

[LeonardL]

It definitely sounds like stuck brakes to me. The first thing you need to determine is if it is actually the brake bands that are stuck. Some times it is the linkage that gets frozen in the applied position and can cause your issue. If the linkages are all loose and working free then you need to look at the bands themselves. I have backed the main brake band adjustment screw out pretty loose and then rocked the machine to get them to break loose. What ever you do, do not use penetrating oil or diesel fuel. If you use anything liquid at all, use water. Preferably hot water. Water can be dried back out but oil is there for ever. Or at least until you change the clutch fibers. Put the machine in first gear and try to use the engine to break them loose. I have soaked them in water overnight before to get the rust to soften and let the bands turn loose. The problem then is getting everything dried back out. If none of this works then the alternative is take the tops off and go inside to get the bands to turn loose.