Sears Riding Mower Gear/Break Problem

Posted by on April 1, 2006, 3:39 pm

I have a 15.5 HP Sears Lawnmower that is about 6 years old. When I
crank up the mower, it starts out find and begins to idle. Then, when I
engage the gears, the mower doesn't move. I pushed the gear lever back
and forth, and it doesn't work. The lawnmower doesn't move. Also, I got
someone to push the lawnmower as the engine was running from the back,
and I pushed down on the clutch/brake, and the brake doesn;t work
either. I checked the drive belt under the mower and its fine. Whats
wrong?

Posted by Andy on April 1, 2006, 4:31 pm

Andy writes;

You have two drive belts, one for the wheels and one
for the blade. Make sure both are working and engaged.
Look under the engine when the mower is running and
see why the drive belt doesn't move. Or rather, have
someone else look since your mower has a cutout switch
that turns the engine off when you get out of the seat.

This ain't rocket surgery. You just have to check it out.
Either the belt is transferring power to the transmission or
it isn't....

Andy

Posted by on April 1, 2006, 5:26 pm

I have had someone check both belts. The belt/pulley system is fine.
All the belts are tight, they also turn when the mower is running, but
the mower brake or gears dont work

Posted by Don Young on April 2, 2006, 12:10 am

Transmission pulley may be slipping on the transmission input shaft.
Transmission output (axles) may be slipping in the wheel hubs. Either may be
caused by broken keys. Transmission linkage may be bent, broken, loose, or
misadjusted so transmission is not properly engaged. There may be an
internal transmission problem.

Since the brake does not work that would indicate that input shaft pully
slippage is not the problem. Observing what does and does not rotate should
identify the problem site.
Don Young

>I have had someone check both belts. The belt/pulley system is fine.
> All the belts are tight, they also turn when the mower is running, but
> the mower brake or gears dont work
>

Posted by Terry on April 2, 2006, 12:26 pm

> Transmission pulley may be slipping on the transmission input shaft.
> Transmission output (axles) may be slipping in the wheel hubs. Either may
> be caused by broken keys. Transmission linkage may be bent, broken, loose,
> or misadjusted so transmission is not properly engaged. There may be an
> internal transmission problem.
> Since the brake does not work that would indicate that input shaft pully
> slippage is not the problem. Observing what does and does not rotate
> should identify the problem site.
> Don Young

>>I have had someone check both belts. The belt/pulley system is fine.
>> All the belts are tight, they also turn when the mower is running, but
>> the mower brake or gears dont work

Respectfully suggest that if someone has to ask about such basic things it
might be better, for them, to take it to repair shop? Probing around with
being knowledable etc. and possibly without the right tools COULD be
dangerous and possibly cause a more expensive repair?

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