This is weird but I have a Sears lawn/garden tractor I've had for almost 3
years.

The other day, I was using it-then I decided I should check the tire
pressure. I stopped it, checked the tire pressure, then started the engine
and it wouldn't move! I could hear the engine trying- it made a sound as if
it's struggling, but can't, as if it were up against a wall.

So, a friend nearby drives his over so I can use it while I get my fixed. I
was going to use his, but didn't have time so I rode his back to his house a
hundred yards down the road. I parked it in his driveway- he got in and
drove it to his shed- parked it- opened the doors of his shed- then got on
the tractor, started it- and IT WON'T MOVE.

So, he's a lot smarter than I am when it comes to mechanics. He said, "when
you parked it- you didn't have the break on- and you're not supposed to turn
the engine off without first engaging the break- you must have done the same
with your mower too- and so it's your incorrect way of parking the mower
that caused some problem with the transmission or break system or clutch on
both machines."

A guy down the road fixes lawn equipment and snow blowers- I asked him and
he said it's unlikely not engaging the break before turning off the engine
could cause the problem. He's too busy to take in the machines at this time
without a long wait- so I called Sears- and they'll send their guy over next
week.

I do notice that my manual suggests engaging the break before turning off
the engine- but I just thought it was for safety reasons, in case the
machine was on a hill- it might roll.

My machine is a fully automatic with a pedal for forward and a pedal for
reverse. My neighbor's is different- no pedals so he has to use a stick to
control speed and direction.

So, was it my incorrectly turning off the engine without the break engaged
that has somehow damaged both machines? My machine only has 73 hours on it
so I doubt that the drive belt is broken.

I suppose that if you turn off the engine without engaging the break and
thus disengaging the clutch- perhaps the clutch can be damaged? Is that like
turning off a car engine with a standard transmission without disengaging
the clutch? I dunno, I don't understand mechanics.

Any suggestion?

Joe

"Joe Zorzin" abc@xyz wrote in message
...
This is weird but I have a Sears lawn/garden tractor I've had for almost 3
years.

The other day, I was using it-then I decided I should check the tire
pressure. I stopped it, checked the tire pressure, then started the engine
and it wouldn't move! I could hear the engine trying- it made a sound as
if
it's struggling, but can't, as if it were up against a wall.

So, a friend nearby drives his over so I can use it while I get my fixed.
I
was going to use his, but didn't have time so I rode his back to his house
a
hundred yards down the road. I parked it in his driveway- he got in and
drove it to his shed- parked it- opened the doors of his shed- then got on
the tractor, started it- and IT WON'T MOVE.

So, he's a lot smarter than I am when it comes to mechanics. He said,
"when
you parked it- you didn't have the break on- and you're not supposed to
turn
the engine off without first engaging the break- you must have done the
same
with your mower too- and so it's your incorrect way of parking the mower
that caused some problem with the transmission or break system or clutch
on
both machines."

A guy down the road fixes lawn equipment and snow blowers- I asked him and
he said it's unlikely not engaging the break before turning off the engine
could cause the problem. He's too busy to take in the machines at this
time
without a long wait- so I called Sears- and they'll send their guy over
next
week.

I do notice that my manual suggests engaging the break before turning off
the engine- but I just thought it was for safety reasons, in case the
machine was on a hill- it might roll.

My machine is a fully automatic with a pedal for forward and a pedal for
reverse. My neighbor's is different- no pedals so he has to use a stick to
control speed and direction.

So, was it my incorrectly turning off the engine without the break engaged
that has somehow damaged both machines? My machine only has 73 hours on it
so I doubt that the drive belt is broken.

I suppose that if you turn off the engine without engaging the break and
thus disengaging the clutch- perhaps the clutch can be damaged? Is that
like
turning off a car engine with a standard transmission without disengaging
the clutch? I dunno, I don't understand mechanics.

Any suggestion?

Joe


Not putting on the brake before shutdown didn't hurt anything. It's like you
said, a safety feature.