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!

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