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Emergency-Craftsman Riding Mower won't move

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Giant Menehune

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi Out There,
I need some help from anyone who knows about riding mowers. I have a Craftsman 15.5 HP Hydrostatic Riding mower. I took the deck off to sharpen blades and tighten the belt. I put it back on and the deck ran great, so the next step was to try it out in the yard. But when I try to engage the forward/reverse lever the tractor won't move, not at all! The drive belt is in great shape and it's on all it's pulleys, there's nothing wrong that I can see.
I find this extremely frustrating because I drove it into the shop and it was working great. I didn't touch anything back there and for the life of me I can't get it to move.......I've had to postpone 2 jobs today and if I can't figure it out I'm sure to lose some yards.
Someone Please Help?!!!
 
#3 ·
Is it making any odd noises ? The only things that come to mind is making sure the hydro. bypass rod is fully engauged and If you applied the parking brake before you raised the front end the brake caliper my have stuck. Reach up under and grab the brake lever on the side of the hydro. and try to pull it towards the back of the unit.
 
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#4 ·
You may jack the back up and see if either wheel free spins, One of the axle keys may have give out, Not likely but possible.
 
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Discussion starter · #5 ·
oldsaw-addict said:
Not to be mean or anything, but why are you running a POS crapsman tractor instead of at least a JD rider, ro maybe a used ztr?
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Because it's the only one I got man. I'll be buying a damn Husqvarna or something as soon as I can, but for now, it's the crapsman. What's the best most dependable riding mower you know of? I don't know about brands, so educate me, I'd be very willing to know.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
restrorob said:
Is it making any odd noises ? The only things that come to mind is making sure the hydro. bypass rod is fully engauged and If you applied the parking brake before you raised the front end the brake caliper my have stuck. Reach up under and grab the brake lever on the side of the hydro. and try to pull it towards the back of the unit.
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The hyro rod was jammed up...wouldn't enguage. I got it under control after you suggested looking at that. Thanks again, I'm a newbie, you helped alot...
 
#8 ·
POS crapsman tractor instead of at least a JD rider,
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Ya know the ones that bash Craftsman or anyother brand on lawn equipment a LCO. Decides to run .

Sound's worse than 25 kids fighting over what color their popcicle is . Give it a rest Bashing others equipment means your lacking something im not sure what but i can tell you right now .

GROW UP . Your throwing this macho attitude about what people run . its not your equipment , Its not your account's that get mowed, Its not non of your damn buisness now is it ,

I'll be buying a damn Husqvarna or something as soon as I can, but for now, it's the crapsman. What's the best most dependable riding mower you know of? I don't know about brands, so educate me, I'd be very willing to know.
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Dont let them get to you their just mad as hell because they paid way to much for a lesser tractor . Than folk's like me you and others have and guess what they all mow grass , I used to love deere equipment but all this bashing attitudes and JD this JD that. I wish they had them over priced plastic busting hoods shoved up you know where.
 
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#9 ·
C&KLawnCare said:
Ya know the ones that bash Craftsman or anyother brand on lawn equipment a LCO. Decides to run .

Sound's worse than 25 kids fighting over what color their popcicle is . Give it a rest Bashing others equipment means your lacking something im not sure what but i can tell you right now .

GROW UP . Your throwing this macho attitude about what people run . its not your equipment , Its not your account's that get mowed, Its not non of your damn buinsess now is it ,
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That was my thoughts also, But I didn't want add to the nonsence.
 
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Discussion starter · #10 ·
My customers don't care what brand of mower I use as long as their yards look great when I'm done. So far this Craftsman has done everything I've asked of it, so I'm thinking maybe I'll stick with it. I do believe that the other brands I've looked at may be better,(don't know, never tried 'em), but I also believe they are grossly overpriced. I'm not rich, and I'm forced to be realistic. The Craftsman is going just fine and so are my customers' yards, they're happy with my work, so I'm happy with my machine.....
Thanks Restro for the help, and thanks K&CLawncare for sticking up for me and my old Crapsman...lol :)
 
#11 ·
C&KLawnCare said:
Ya know the ones that bash Craftsman or anyother brand on lawn equipment a LCO. Decides to run .

Sound's worse than 25 kids fighting over what color their popcicle is . Give it a rest Bashing others equipment means your lacking something im not sure what but i can tell you right now .

GROW UP . Your throwing this macho attitude about what people run . its not your equipment , Its not your account's that get mowed, Its not non of your damn buisness now is it .
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You tell them. Now let me say something on this. I use to have a 1969 International school bus I used as a shop on wheels for some side jobs. It seemed that a lot of people have a lot of ideas on what I should do with it. One day I was not in a good mood any way and this A$$ H*** started by saying if it was his he would do this and that. I went over to his car and said " If this car was mind I would take a torch and cut the back seat area out and box in the front seat and then put a bed on back to haul stuff" He gets real mad and says "Well , that is not your car!" to which I screamed " AND THAT IS NOT YOUR BUS SO SHUT THE H*** UP BEFORE I TAKE IT AND FLATEN YOUR PEICE OF SH** TOY CAR LIKE THE BEER CAN IT IS!!!!!!!" Well after that little blow up in front of about 50 people at the local Bi-Lo store that commits on my bus for the most part stopped. A lot of people are very good at running other peoples businesss but can not run there own. I hate people like that. (And on a side note one of the people watching me flip out was a cop who just laughed and drove off. It is a wonder I did not get in trouble for making such a seen in public)
 
#12 ·
:) LOL Hey i dont care what year they are , Them old school busses can be bought for way less than any service truck at auction's ,

And ya have a vechicle with what ever imagination can be turned into what ever you like , School busses not just for hauling kids anymore :) :)
 
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Discussion starter · #14 ·
oldsaw-addict said:
Well, sorry if I came off like a bunghole, I just hate craftsman products, and feel they should be wiped from the earth.If you like it and it works, thats fine, I just dont like em. I'm happier on a JD ztr, or something similar.
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I wouldn't know a Johndeere from a Husqvarna if they bit me on the a$$. My dad gave me his Craftsman when he got a new one, and it was an addition to my business because untill that time I was doing strictly weed eating and groundskeeping. When I asked what are the best mowers you know of I wasn't kidding. I'd like to know why. Because this ole horse 'aint gonna ride forever, and someday soon enough I'm gonna need a new one. I'd like to know about the best mower you could get with the least amount of money spent. They're so damn expensive, it's almost like getting a car sometimes. But like I said, I'd appreciate any advice from any of you guys who've " been in the biz " awhile.
 
#15 ·
Every one on this site has there own opinion as to which brand unit is the best. I got thrashed a few times after suggesting the unit we sell at the service center where I work so will no longer do so. You will see what I'm talking about as the post come in.
The only thing I will suggest is if you are mowing commercial spend the money for a commercial unit, The larger homeowner units are just for what they say a homeowner.
I will only say I don't care for John Deere because I feel they are over priced and the few I have worked on was a pain in the a$$.
Good luck
 
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#16 ·
oldsaw-addict said:
Well, sorry if I came off like a bunghole,QUOTE]

No if's about it, you did.

As for homeowner vs. commercial, I had a Murray that I used to cut 6 acres (mine) for around a decade, then passed on to my son. No problems that I couldn't fix rather cheaply. I would think that would be good enough to get one started in the business.

Don't know if there is a thread that thanks the people that help the less mechanically knowledgeable, but there should be.
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#17 ·
Hi, I know this an old thread, but I'm having similar problems to the OP. it's a craftsman. Bash it if you want. It's what I've got to work with.

It's older. All green. 20 horse kholer 50" cut, hydrostatic. Starts, motor runs, move to forward or reverse and let the clutch out and there's no movement. If it's the hydro rod as suggested in an earlier post, where does one find such a thing?
 
#18 ·
Hi, I know this an old thread, but I'm having similar problems to the OP. it's a craftsman. Bash it if you want. It's what I've got to work with.

It's older. All green. 20 horse kholer 50" cut, hydrostatic. Starts, motor runs, move to forward or reverse and let the clutch out and there's no movement. If it's the hydro rod as suggested in an earlier post, where does one find such a thing?

Leatherman835, Today at 2:01 PMReport
#17Like+ QuoteReply

I could be wrong but I don't think hydros have a clutch. There may be pedals you need to push, like on a bike to make it go.
 
#19 ·
Leatherman835 said:
Hi, I know this an old thread, but I'm having similar problems to the OP. it's a craftsman. Bash it if you want. It's what I've got to work with.

It's older. All green. 20 horse kholer 50" cut, hydrostatic. Starts, motor runs, move to forward or reverse and let the clutch out and there's no movement. If it's the hydro rod as suggested in an earlier post, where does one find such a thing?
Click to expand...
i believe the rod he is referring to is the hydro bypass lever on the back of the mower below the seat
Try to run the air purge procedure, with the bypass lever open and throttle at 25% bit more than idle. put in forward then wait a few second, then put in reverse wait a few second and repete 4 times or so then idle up and replace bypass lever to drive, see if you get any movement back.
 
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