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

I did some work a week or so ago (successfully) refurbishing the brake and replacing belts, and now a new problem has popped up. Engine runs fine and impeller/augers work fine. The tractor drive is temperamental. At first, the machine just wouldn't move even when in gear. I managed to sometimes get it going, but then it would stop for no reason. It was like the drive wheels froze up. So I wiggled it and sorta lifted up the handles when it stopped and dropped it from a few inches. and that got it going. Best way to describe it is to say it was like the drive wheels bound up and then bouncing the machine unstuck them. I leaned the machine up on the box and tried the adjustment in the manual... put it in neutral, and spin the wheels while tightening the adjustment nut and then back it off when it binds. Except that even in neutral, the wheels didn't spin freely. They seemed to bind up after hand turning them a revolution or two. And the wheels never felt smooth turning, kind of luck a cranky wheel bearing feel. Anyway, I tightened the nut and it definitely runs better. What I don't know is if there's something else I ought to do or if the wheels should turn smoothly. I have looked at the owners manual and the service manual and the problem is they basically say to take things apart, check for wear, and replace, blah, blah, blah. But they don't give any troubleshooting or symptoms. Is there any place I can read about troubleshooting/symptoms? I don't want to start tearing things apart if all I have to do is turn an adjustment nut. By the same token, if there's something wrong, I'd like to fix it. Thanks!

when you replaced the belts did you lube the linkage on  the shaft that the clutch (left handle) throws forward and the spring pulls it back out when you disengage the clutch?you access the shaft and linkage by removing the plastic  pulley cover between the chute and the front of the engine on the top side of the machine.operate the left handle while watching the shaft and linkage that the pulleys ride on. the shaft goes foreward and back to contact the rubber friction wheel at the back. i used 30 weight oil in a oil can to free this linkage up because it was bound from 16 yrs of no lube.if it gets bad enough it will either not want to drive in gear but more so apt to not come back out of drive once ingaged because the spring is what pulls the linkage back out.  it's like a throwout bearing on a car.it goes in and out on the shaft to make the drive go. i just looked om my 824 parts schematic and the left rod is attached the the clutch fork.when this fork pivots it moves the clutch lever back and forth on the shaft. if you stop the machine and turn it off in gear with the clutch in the out position does it stay in gear till you rock or move it back and forth or can you push the machine like it's in neutral?.if you can't move the machine and it seems bound the lever could be dragging on the shaft  and the spring that disengages the clutch cant overcome the bind.

I'm having a similar problem on my Ariens 924032.  When pulling the blower back, the wheels lock.  When trying to move forward, it seems to be hit or miss.  I found that pulling the blower while trying to go forward gets me going.  I took the lower cover off and noticed quite a bit of slop in the axle shafts and the pinion shaft causing the spur gears to become disengaged.  I'm thinking a replacement of the axle bearing and pinion shaft bushings will solve this problem for me.  It sounds similar to yours so, I hope this helps

On its bucket with the bottom panel off put it in any gear and try to move the friction disk.  You should be able to rotate the friction disk.  With the drive clutch held down you should not be able to move the friction disk. 

The wheels may or may not turn easily dependant on a few things, grease, cold, diff in or out, slop in movements.  The axle bearings should have been checked and if worn replaced.  I have bags of axle flange bearings and it takes about 20 minutes to change them so not a big deal.  Shake the wheels to see if there's slop. Axle bearings are $4-6 a set.

Hey thanks. Sounds like a project for this weekend. Have a Merry Christmas.

Just an update.  I replaced the axle bushings and everything runs great now.  $6.00 total for the bushings and about an hour of work.

if needed in the future. . .here is a link to the repair manual

http://apache.ariens.com/manuals/RM-924-1983.pdf