I have partially solved my problem by doing as I described in my previous post and as viewed in the photo that I attached to my first post. I have have had the Sears Direct manual for 2 months and know where the parts are located. The part numbered 95 is the lever I was referring to.
I have not bothered the brake rod and system. I did that 2 months ago. The Lever and rod that locks and unlocks the differential is what I freed up as it was frozen tight and no movement. As explained in the previous post the slight movement is not loosely movable and therefore will not return to the drive position when released. If you should know how to make it move more freely please advise. I will greatly appreciate the info. Otherwise I will continue to operate it as is until such time as it becomes more free to move.
Thank you for your input.
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(Hello, Hello,
Is any one home ?
you are undoing the brake.
You are going to kill yoursef, your children and any one near by when you mow.
Loosen it off and there is no way to stop the mower moving.
The brake works on the layshaft which locks the differential so one wheel can move foreward while the other wheel can only go backwards so the mower stops.
It can only move 1/10 of a turn in either direction. That is exactly what it is supposed to do.
The bypass ( freewheeling ) lever is the part numbered 95 in the diagram below.
It hangs out the bum of the mower as you were previously told.
craftsman_917273401.pdf)