snapper rp21600 drive issues?

[woodtick007]

I have a mid 90's 21inch self propelled mower. My question is should both rear wheels drive? It appears that only the left or long shaft side drives most or all the time. Is this nomal? If not what what would cause this?
Thank you for your help

 

[cashman]

There is a differential drive on the rear axle. Depending on the angle that the mower is being used you might only have one wheel pulling at a time. If you raise both rear wheels off the ground and turn both wheels in the same direction it should cause the drive pulley on the gear box to turn by both wheels. If one side of the differential is stripped, or one of the wheels are cracked in the center where it fits over the axle, you might have one wheel that will cause the drive pulley not to turn or the mower will stop pulling during certain angles across the yard.

 

[JRusche]

Nice mower, mines a 2000 year model.

I believe that when in the air you would turn one wheel forward and if working correctly the other wheel should turn backwards, just like on a rear axle of a pickup truck.

I installed the commercial steel wheels on my deck a couple years ago and if I remember right they engage the axle better than the stock wheels. May look into that option too.