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Folks, I have a problem that perplexes me. I recently overhauled the drive mechanism of my 30" RER. Many components we worn and in need of replacement. After reassembly, mower worked fine for three or four mowings. Now the mower will move around fine when I first start mowing. All speeds, forward and reverse perform well. When mower heats up, and I stop or reverse, the mower will not move forward. It will still back up fine. Once the mower cools, everything is back to normal. If I continue mowing in forward direction and don't stop, it will mow all day. But as soon as I stop, I have to wait for it to cool. I've even resorted to hosing the engine down to cool it off so it will move. This seems like a heat expansion problem of some sort, but that doesn't explain why it will mow continuously if I don't stop. Help!!!

Check the drive belt and idler pulley. Bet the idler is heating up and sticking, not allowing the belt to tighten up when it gets hot.

Or replace the belt

Rivets said:

Check the drive belt and idler pulley. Bet the idler is heating up and sticking, not allowing the belt to tighten up when it gets hot.

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Hmm...let's think about this. Isn't the mower blade mechanism associated with the belt and idler pulley independent of the motion drive system? I don't have a problem with the blade turning. The problem is, if I stop, the mower won't move forward again until it cools. Can these be related somehow?

By the way, when I overhauled the drive mechanism, I also replaced the deck and other worn components including the idler pulley and belt. I noticed the belt does seem to get hot in operation but I passed this off as "normal" since the it cuts well. Should the belt be hot at all in operation?

Ok so you did not say what brand mower you have so no belt to the drive so must be a snapper.
There is a spring that pulls the clutch to the wheel it rides on when gets hot the spring gets weak

Why will it go all day if you don't stop you ask
When you push the clutch Pedel down it pulls the spring And it is to weak to pull the clutch disk back up to the wheel

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

Carscw said:

Ok so you did not say what brand mower you have so no belt to the drive so must be a snapper.
There is a spring that pulls the clutch to the wheel it rides on when gets hot the spring gets weak

Why will it go all day if you don't stop you ask
When you push the clutch Pedel down it pulls the spring And it is to weak to pull the clutch disk back up to the wheel

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

Click to expand...

Carscw - Sorry I didn't ID the mower brand in my post. I thought this was a Snapper related section of the forum. Anyway, what you say makes sense. I'll check it out and let you know the results.