hard to push ridding mower in neutral

[cobalt123]

Hi
I have a craftsman ridding lawn mower
15.5 hp model number is 917 271061
problem is the mower is hard to push in neutral

Thank you

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Kind of a stupid question, but I've seen it before, are your tires aired up? Not flat.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Usual reason is brakes full of crud or even rusted engagement pins stuck in the caliper.

 

[StarTech]

Hydro Gear 314-0510 transaxle.

As Bert suggest the pins (circled in red) do stick at time from corrosion in the caliper (circled in orange) . This located on the RH side near the front of the transaxle. Also neutral linkage may have become disconnected in the same area.

 

[cobalt123]

Hi
Thank you all for your great advice

 

[rcleone]

Hi
I have a craftsman ridding lawn mower
15.5 hp model number is 917 271061
problem is the mower is hard to push in neutral

Thank you

Have you released the neutral valve lever in the rear of the tractor

 

[JoeZ]

Hi
I have a craftsman ridding lawn mower
15.5 hp model number is 917 271061
problem is the mower is hard to push in neutral

Thank you

Check for stuck brake as suggested below. If that is not the issue when you released the neutral valve lever in the rear of the tractor it may not be moving the lever or not moving it enough. Check to see that the lever attached to the rod is moving freely.
It may be stuck.