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Hey All,
JC Allison here.

Have a Craftsman 15.5 HP, Electric Start, 42" Mower with a Hydrostatic (Automatic) Lawn Tractor, Model No. 917.270622.

Last Thanksgiving day, was mowing the yard when the Craftsman started having TransAxle problems. Stopped mowing, and parked it as I had not the funds to have it looked at.

Last week, it finally got picked up by a fellow from the local Lawnmower Shop, and after messing with the Carburetor, and Battery, he got it up and running, but could find nothing wrong with it.

Am suspecting that the TransAxle is turning into a problem that happens only when it get heated.

Found the LawnMowerForum while looking for a forum that might provide some answers and insight into the mechanics of the TransAxle, and registered in anticipation of having problems with it the next time the place gets mowed which will be this weekend.

Already, the battery has gone back to being dead, but all it needs is charging and it will start right up.

If the Craftsman gives out like it did last time, am going to make a note of all the symptoms and post them here in an effort to see what can be done to help the poor little old thing.

It has been a wonderful piece of equipment over the years. I inherited it from a best friend who passed away in 2001. Have taken good care of it for all these years, and it has been quite reliable. It is probably just wearing out. Aren't we all?

Anyway, that's an explanation of how come I happened to register here.

Will probably post more this coming week.

JC

TransAxle problems? Why do you say that? Can you remember last fall what happened? Maybe we can prevent problems and not wait for them to happen.

Rivets said:

TransAxle problems? Why do you say that?

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Hey Mr. R,
Because after mowing for about 40 minutes, the mower started slowing down, and pushing the Transmission Lever for more speed didn't give more speed. Rather in order to go at the speed at which it was mowing, the Transmission Lever had to be pushed forward more. Same for reverse.

Can you remember last fall what happened?

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The mower just started slowing down and laboring to move. I immediately disengaged the Blades, and drove the mower to where it is usually parked, and noticed that the Transaxle was hot to the touch.

Maybe we can prevent problems and not wait for them to happen.

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That would be wonderful. Am planning on giving it another chance tomorrow early afternoon.

Thanks for the response.

JC

Hi JC...
WELCOME to LMF...

Look at the drive belt... Is it worn out, loose or is the idler pulley not keeping it tight??
The trans axle will get hot check if the cooling fan is clean of grass build up, it's located around the drive pulley area...
A mower battery will usually need replacing after 2 or 3 years, walmart will have replacements for around $20...

Check the drive belt, and post back with your first mow of the season... :smile:KennyV

KennyV has you going in the right direction. Don't go after the engine or tranie until you have checked the belt and cooling fins. Also, take a real good look at both pulleys, t hey may be worn and causing a lot of friction and building up heat.

Rivets said:

KennyV has you going in the right direction. Don't go after the engine or tranie until you have checked the belt and cooling fins. Also, take a real good look at both pulleys, they may be worn and causing a lot of friction and building up heat.

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Hey Mr. R,
The Craftsman 42" Lawn Tractor was at the Lawnmower Shop here weekend before last. They checked EVERYTHING over and couldn't find anything wrong with it.

Was going to mow the lawn yesterday, but have been in the process of restoring a 1967 Dodge P200 Postal Van for the past two years, and yesterday got the Engine running for the first time since September 3, 1996.

When that was done, it was time for me to call it a day.

Will be getting the Craftsman up and running to mow the lawns, and will let you all know what happens.

Don't have any news to report, but didn't want all you good folks to think that I wasn't around any more.

Hope you are doing well.

JC

KennyV said:

Hi JC...
WELCOME to LMF...

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Hey Kenny,
Thanks for the greeting.

Look at the drive belt... Is it worn out, loose or is the idler pulley not keeping it tight??

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Don't know, but the guys at the Lawnmower Shop would have noticed weekend before last. They would have told me if anything was amiss. Am assuming that everything was alright.

The trans axle will get hot check if the cooling fan is clean of grass build up, it's located around the drive pulley area...

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Will check on that myself.

A mower battery will usually need replacing after 2 or 3 years, walmart will have replacements for around $20...

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The one that is presently in the Craftsman is twelve years old. It's been a GREAT Battery, but it won't hold a charge. It has to be charged right before starting or it won't start the Engine. It holds a charge for about twelve hours.

Check the drive belt, and post back with your first mow of the season... KennyV

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Will do.

Anyway, hang in there.

JC

Hey All,
Well... Don't know what to tell you all.

Just finished mowing the lawns, and Crafty, the Craftsman 42" Lawn Tractor ran perfectly! Not a hint of any Transaxle problem.

And the place was overgrown a LOT more than usual, seeing as to how Spring came REALLY early this year, and I was reticent to mow because of the apparently fraudulent TransAxle problem. Also when finished, Crafty was parked, and her Transaxle was touched. It wasn't hot at all.

Also, remember the bad mouthing of the battery for not holding a charge overnight?

Last week, the Battery Charger was put on it, and charged for eight hours at a 3 AMP "trickle". That was seven days ago. This morning, went out with the Multi-Tester expecting the Battery to be dead, but wonder of wonders, it STILL had 11.98 Volts. So the twelve year old battery is still cooking.

There IS one slight problem though, and this has been around for a while: Crafty turns Left REALLY good. But doesn't turn Right very well. The cogs in the steering mechanism start to jump when the Front Wheels are turned twenty degrees to the Right. Is there an adjustment that can be made to correct that?

So once again, my trepidations were to no avail. Crafty is still able to take care of the lawn cutting duties.

The finished product doesn't look very good right now, but that's because it got overgrown with weeds, and this IS the first cutting of the year. It all got pretty well knocked down though, and next week, will mow a second time, and the place will start looking presentable again.

Want to thank everyone for the cordial welcomes to the LawnMowerForum, and for the GREAT advice. Will be back soon to see if anyone knows about adjusting the Steering Mechanism.

Anyway, hope you all are doing well.

Hang in there.

JC

The steering gear and/or plate is probably worn. There are no adjustments. Look below the fuel tank at the steering shaft and you should be able to see the gear. It may be above or below the chassis. Look to see if the teeth are worn there is a lot of play in the shaft. It may also be a worn bearing at the bottom of the shaft.

WELCOME to LMF

I moved your thread to the Craftsman Forum. :smile:

Rivets said:

The steering gear and/or plate is probably worn. There are no adjustments. Look below the fuel tank at the steering shaft and you should be able to see the gear. It may be above or below the chassis. Look to see if the teeth are worn there is a lot of play in the shaft. It may also be a worn bearing at the bottom of the shaft.

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Hey Rivets,
Alright. Will do that the next time Crafty is out from under her tarp. It seems strange to me that the steering is GREAT when turning Left, but isn't good at all when turning right. Will let you know what I find.

JC