Craftsman rear wheel drive non functioning

[MowGuy]

Hello all, Ive been fixing mowers of all ages and types for a long time, this is one of the few times ive been stumped.

What i have is a Craftsman rear wheel drive pushmower with a 7hp B&S mower Model# 917.377822.

The self propel is out on it. Belt looks good, pulleys spin free, gearbox pulley spins, BOTH output shafts from the gearbox are turning.

The plastic rear wheel teeth look to be in good shape. Ive cleaned the prawl and spring in the pinion assembly and reassembled multiple times and lubricated with everything from dry graphite to thick wheel bearing grease with no difference.

How the heck is the prawl ever supposed to engaged? Its being held down with a spring. The prawl has that nub that slots in the groove in the washer with the dust boot on it.

The only way i can see this stupid design working is that dust boot must have friction so the prawl is forced to slide up and catch the gear sear to drive the wheel. Or what is currently happening is the spring has too much tension and keeps the prawl down while spinning the washer too. I really dont know!

I have read numerous posts on here and all over the internet about this and noone has a fix!!! Im about ready to weld the friggin gears to the gearbox output shafts so its a solid axle drive when the handle is engaged...


What it does currently when you pull the self propel handle is usually nothing happens but the belt tightens and gearbox output shafts spin but the rear wheels are stationary. If you release and engauge the handle a few times usually the right wheel will kick in and drive while left is not. Sometimes it works perfectly and both engage with plenty of power so i know its purely in that awful prawl system.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[exotion]

Hello all, Ive been fixing mowers of all ages and types for a long time, this is one of the few times ive been stumped.

What i have is a Craftsman rear wheel drive pushmower with a 7hp B&S mower Model# 917.377822.

The self propel is out on it. Belt looks good, pulleys spin free, gearbox pulley spins, BOTH output shafts from the gearbox are turning.

The plastic rear wheel teeth look to be in good shape. Ive cleaned the prawl and spring in the pinion assembly and reassembled multiple times and lubricated with everything from dry graphite to thick wheel bearing grease with no difference.

How the heck is the prawl ever supposed to engaged? Its being held down with a spring. The prawl has that nub that slots in the groove in the washer with the dust boot on it.

The only way i can see this stupid design working is that dust boot must have friction so the prawl is forced to slide up and catch the gear sear to drive the wheel. Or what is currently happening is the spring has too much tension and keeps the prawl down while spinning the washer too. I really dont know!

I have read numerous posts on here and all over the internet about this and noone has a fix!!! Im about ready to weld the friggin gears to the gearbox output shafts so its a solid axle drive when the handle is engaged...

What it does currently when you pull the self propel handle is usually nothing happens but the belt tightens and gearbox output shafts spin but the rear wheels are stationary. If you release and engauge the handle a few times usually the right wheel will kick in and drive while left is not. Sometimes it works perfectly and both engage with plenty of power so i know its purely in that awful prawl system.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

The key in the gears needs to have a clean spring below it. Also the gears on the axle need to spin the right direction they can only go on one way but can be put on backwards

 

[MowGuy]

The key in the gears needs to have a clean spring below it. Also the gears on the axle need to spin the right direction they can only go on one way but can be put on backwards

i know what style your talking about where its like a woodruff key with a spring below it and you have to compress it to slide the gear over it. This mower is nothing like that.

heres the sears link to the exploded view. I have seen pictures of just the pinion assembly but its very very small and cant read it...

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/par...7/1500600/P0403046/00002?blt=06&prst=&shdMod=

 

[MowGuy]

Anyone? I know they used this style on many different mowers and years.

I'm going to try to create some friction on that rubber seal as i believe it does more than just act as a seal...I think it needs some sort of friction to keep it from turning, either that or severe tightness between the E clips.

 

[MowGuy]

I FIGURED IT OUT: That "dust boot" that seals the pinion assembly to that bearing MUST have some friction. I remember reading other peoples problems that spent the $80 on brand new factory assembled pinions and it didnt fix anything. Well they didnt replace those bearings that hold the drive shaft to the deck where that seal rides that are now shiny and polished so they dont create much friction. i wrapped about 3 layers of electrical tape around that polished bearing and slid the old used pinion drive over it and it engages every single time now!

Now i gotta find a way to more permanently fix this...