Walk behind anti-reverse wheels damage lawn

[elderone1]

A "safety" feature prevents wheels from turning backwards when mower is pulled backwards. You have to push forward a second time just a bit to release the catch. Time and again the non-turning wheel doesn't release and digs and pulls a chunk out of the turf. Where the mower is stopped by a raised-bed board, it can't be pushed forward, so it has to be wrestled or lifted to allow it to move backwards.

I realize that the design standards were created by lawyers who live in Miami condos and think everyone who actually uses these devices do so on hills of wet grass wearing flip-flops or bedroom slippers. For me in the real world, this supposed safety feature is a damned nuisance, and I would like to disable it.

Anyone know how to disable these anti-back turn wheel mechanisms?

 

[elderone1]

I forgot to mention that this mower is a Craftsman self-propelled walk-behind, not my Cub Cadet riding mower!

 

[primerbulb120]

I have this same problem with my Toro self-propelled mower. I thought the wheels needed greasing, but after inspecting the mechanism I realized that there is no way to disable this "safety feature." I think it is just a problem with the design, and the manufacturer called it a safety feature to increase sales.

 

[Rivets]

On the Toro the reason the wheel will not rotate backwards is that the cable is adjusted too tight. Loosen the cable and the wheels will rotate in both directions. I don't know which Craftsman you have, but the principle is the same, so try loosening the drive cable.