Snapper riding mower problems

[mrseedsower]

I have a Snapper riding mower with a 11.5 hp motor. We just got the motor running again and now it will only drive in 1st gear. In 2nd gear or higher it just sits there. I thought the rubber drive disk that contacts the drive plate on the engine shaft was worn, but it looks fairly good. However the drive plate on the engine shaft looks rusted. I know I can adjust that plate up and down but how can I clean the rust off of the drive plate without totally disassembling the mower rear end?

Is there an easy adjustment to adjust the drive plate with the rubber drive disk so this will work or do I need to clean the rust and somehow fix the rubber plate. Any help here will be thankful.

Blessings!
Richard

 

[chance123]

I have a Snapper riding mower with a 11.5 hp motor. We just got the motor running again and now it will only drive in 1st gear. In 2nd gear or higher it just sits there. I thought the rubber drive disk that contacts the drive plate on the engine shaft was worn, but it looks fairly good. However the drive plate on the engine shaft looks rusted. I know I can adjust that plate up and down but how can I clean the rust off of the drive plate without totally disassembling the mower rear end?

Is there an easy adjustment to adjust the drive plate with the rubber drive disk so this will work or do I need to clean the rust and somehow fix the rubber plate. Any help here will be thankful.

Blessings!
Richard

I guess this is an older Snapper. There should be a spring that holds the rubber drive wheel to the drive plate. If there is rust there, that is an indication that the rubber wheel is "not" making contact with the drive plate. If it was, the rust would have been erased simply by the rubber disc making contact with the drive plate. The rubber disc might be worn. It is hard to tell just by looking at it unless you had a new one to compare it to.

 

[mullins87]

There should be a spring that holds the clutch disk against the drive disk when the clutch pedal is released. That spring could have lost some of its tension, or the pivot point could be rusted and not allowing the clutch disk assembly to pivot properly. If it is rusted, then the fix is obvious. If it is the spring, there should be a line of holes where the spring attaches to either the assembly or the frame. Just unhook the spring and move it one or two holes farther away to apply more pressure to the disk. If the spring is already in its last hole, then it is time for a new spring.

 

[mrseedsower]

Thanks guys the spring moving did the trick. It took me forever to figure out how to get the spring back on until my father in law saw a slot on the other end. Then either depressing the brakes or releasing them moved the spring very close to the slot, pretty much a breeze after that.

Now the problem I got is the brake is hanging. You have to scoot a few times in first gear then it will move. Then you can go to any gear. Not sure what the cause of that but perhaps just not using it for over a year may be the cause.

Thanks again!
Richard