Tansaxle Problem

[RanchLady]

Specs:
Craftsman 19.5 HP
6 speed transaxle
Model No. 917.271810

I have been rebuilding my lawn tractor and have run into a small (well...maybe large) problem. I can put the tractor in gear and it will not move forward, or backwards if in reverse. It appears to be in neutral in all gears. Everything else seems to be running OK...except I don't go anywhere. Is there a belt I might need to check? Or do I need a new transaxle...or can this one be rebuilt for few dollars? Any help is appreciated.
Thanks:)
Lynn

[Restrorob]

Is there a belt I might need to check?

That would be the first thing to do Lynn, Look under the unit and make sure the belt is on the engine pulley, Clutch idler pulley and the transaxle drive pulley.....

[jkason]

Also, Craftsman wheels are fastened onto the axle with an e-clip. Remove this and see if the square-cut key is stiil on the axle shaft. Check both shafts.
If not, replace it. If it is, you need to tear down your transmission.
If you've never torn one down before, I don't reccomend you do it.

[sawman65]

got a question for ya,is that a shift on the go system? if it is you could have a stuck vsp pully. open the hood and look to see if their is a sticker on the inside it will tell you step by step what to do.

[RanchLady]

Thanks for the assistance. I am stopping this evening on the way home to get that belt and change it this weekend. I am very hopeful that it will fix my problem. Otherwise...time for a new tractor....I have had my eye on one for over a year....
Sawman: It is manual shift...do not see a sticker under hood...
jkason: noticed that when I took tires off to fix...made sure those keys went back on correctly...never tore down a transmission, but hey...I am game to learn ...
Wish me luck...and I will let you all know if the belt was the problem...
Thanks
Lynn

[vaulta]

I have the same problem with my rider mower but its stuck into gear. I move the lever into neutral and it still wont come out of gear. the mower will not go forward or reverse not move at all. All the belts are on the pulleys of my craft mans riding mower. This happened couple of days ago was mowing and all of a sudden it stopped moving. Wont move when shifted into reverse or forward. And its like its stuck into gear, thanks for any help.
chris

[jkason]

It might not be stuck in gear, the brakes may be stuck. Happens sometimes (usually when the unit is stored outside).
If you have checked all the stuff from above, then you can disassemble the transaxle.
Make sure you clean the parts off thouroughly and set them aside in the manner in which they came off. When you find the broken parts, order and install new ones.
Figure on a couple hours at least. Get the repair manual for your model transaxle.

If you are having the dealer/Sears do it, you may want to think about replacing the transaxle if it's newer, or replacing the tractor if it's older.

When I was a dealer, I suggested that the customer replace the whole tractor if the deck, engine or transaxle needed to be replaced. Parts plus labor usually exceeded half the cost of a new machine.

[GravelyNut]

Assuming it is the same style tranny as used by JD and so many of the other makers use, the most common failures are:
1.) Special keys in the shifter failed. Lever moves but nothing happens.
2.) Bevel input/driven gear is stripped. Input pulley and shaft turns but doesn't go anywhere.
3.) Key in input pulley sheared. Input pulley turns on shaft.

[LarryF]

Something similar happened to my ZTR while I was mowing, and I couldn't even push the thing. Turned out to be a very small problem; that is, the belt driving the hydros had jumped off the engine pulley, which is very much like what Restrorob suggested you check. I haven't seen a response from you that you looked at that yet.

[vaulta]

I screwed with it more today. Checked the belts everything is on track. I looked under the machine when running and the main drive belt does not even move when put into gear or reverse. yea its like the brake is stuck or something.

[vaulta]

Also, what would cause the brake to be stuck from storing it outside. So i would have to tear down the trans axle to replace a broken part for the brake being stuck?thanks again

[blk90s13]

My craftsman did that a while back when I asked the local tractor repair shop for advice he said hit the brake assembly with a mallet a couple times (right under the machine )

Did that and she is alive again but I still can't get it to go in reverse have to figure that one out

[Bill Kapaun]

IF you guys would post the Sears 917.xxxxxx number, then the people that are trying to help you can figure out WHAT transaxle you have!
LT1000 etc. is about as useful as saying Chevy. WHICH ONE?

[LarryF]

Also, what would cause the brake to be stuck from storing it outside. So i would have to tear down the trans axle to replace a broken part for the brake being stuck?thanks again

My back-up mower is a 1985 Bolens Eliminator, and since there is no room for it inside the garage, I store it outside under a tarp. Nonetheless, it still gets wet. Last year I had to replace the idler pulleys (this machine happens to have two) because the bearings were rusted so badly they wouldn't turn. But that was easy to detect because in addition to other things not turning, I could smell rubber burning.

[GravelyNut]

My back-up mower is a 1985 Bolens Eliminator, and since there is no room for it inside the garage, I store it outside under a tarp. Nonetheless, it still gets wet. Last year I had to replace the idler pulleys (this machine happens to have two) because the bearings were rusted so badly they wouldn't turn. But that was easy to detect because in addition to other things not turning, I could smell rubber burning.

And you knew it wasn't from the tires, right? :laugh:

[LarryF]

And you knew it wasn't from the tires, right? :laugh:

Right! :) Well, I guess that response isn't too relevant, but it was just to demonstrate that outside storage can sometimes cause rusting of parts one would never expect to rust. I still tend to believe these two (RanchLady and vaulta) each have a belt somewhere that is sitting on a hub instead of the V of a V-pulley.

[GravelyNut]

Right! :) Well, I guess that response isn't too relevant, but it was just to demonstrate that outside storage can sometimes cause rusting of parts one would never expect to rust. I still tend to believe these two (RanchLady and vaulta) each have a belt somewhere that is sitting on a hub instead of the V of a V-pulley.

Could be. It's hard to diagnose something when you aren't there to see it.

[RanchLady]

Well, you are correct...it was the belt....dropped the mower and replaced the belt without any problems - :cool2: it is up and running....and mowing...no more push mower - YIPEE...especially when I have almost 2 acres to mow....
Thanks everyone for your assistance and advice....I am far from being any type of a mechanic, but I would rather try and fix it myself before I have to haul it to someone else.....even though it might take me a month to get it all done....AGAIN....thanks for the help!!!!!:waving:

[LarryF]

Well, you are correct...it was the belt...

:clapping: Good for you.