Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

An Ariens machine has a two inch section of the friction disk worn down to the metal. The rest of the friction disk looks good with almost full rubber. How can that happen?
The tractor drive parts look ok. The hex shaft support bearings are ok. The friction disk carrier is not look and seems fine. There’s nothing in there to keep the wheels from turning freely so no backup stopping or holding the friction disk in one place.

If the clutch was very tight and first gear super slow, too close to the center of the drive plate, then usually the drive wheels turn so slow the person uses second to move. To make all the rubber wear in one spot you’d have to stand there with the wheels not turning for quite some time to wear away all of the rubber in a two inch section.
Also, the drive plate is now scored badly. It’s probably due to hitting the exposed metal on the friction disk. The owner claims it worked ok but I don’t see how that’s possible. There quite a difference in height between the not rubber section and the part with rubber.
How do you get a two inch bald stop in a friction disk with scoring on the drive plate?