Mower won`t go forward

[forrest]

greetings,

I have a 2006 yard machine that won`t go forward it goes backwards just fine and goes into neutral fine but when I put the shifter in forward it won`t move it just makes a loud metallic ratcheting sound that is coming from under the seat.

The drive pulley on the transmission is turning. I removed the transaxle and noticed that the drive pulley is very warped. I turned the pulley by hand and the axles didn`t move, so I removed the pulley and reseated it onto the star shaped hub under it, I tightened the pulley nut and turned the pulley by hand and the axels turned in both forward and reverse.
I thought that I had fixed the problem so I put everything back together, started the mower, put it in forward and,..Nothing, just the same metallic ratcheting sound.
I ordered a new pulley (since this one is very warped) and a new pulley hub with the star pattern to fit the star shaped hole in the pulley.

I don`t think a new pulley is going to fix the problem since the old warped pulley works fine in reverse, so what should I check now?

 

[ILENGINE]

I would be the shifting fork is bent and not allowing it to completely engage the sliding shift collar to engage into the forward input drive gear inside the tranny.

 

[forrest]

I would be the shifting fork is bent and not allowing it to completely engage the sliding shift collar to engage into the forward input drive gear inside the tranny.

I checked the variable pulley and the idle pulley they both seem to be ok.
I removed the top from the transaxle and nothing was broken,bent or worn, no chips on any of the gears,the fork, the clutch collar and everything were in perfect condition.
I put it all back on the tractor and still the same problem.
When I get the new drive pulley I`ll put that on and replace all the belts and see if that fixes the problem,if that doesn`t fix it I guess I`ll just buy a whole new rear end assembly.