Okay, this is going to be weird. Rear-engine goes too fast.

[Very Fine Person]

I told you that this was going to get weird. What did I say that wasn't true?

 

[2muchgrass2mow]

I think that you should read the post that you respond to.

You've come here asking for advice from any/all of us, so here's mine: Go to a Husqvarna, John Deere, Cub Cadet or any other reputable DEALER (not Lowe's) and get yourself a new lawn tractor with whatever size deck and accessories you need - something that will mow your hills safely (I too have steep hills which I address with my JD X-370 and 90lbs. of weights on the rear) and has foot pedals for forward and reverse - which also control your speed according to how far they're depressed. There will also be a brake, which when depressed will stop the motion of the mower - forward or rear.

Sounds like what you have now is truly a "relic" needing work and dangerous. Get rid of it! In the long run, you'll be glad you did . . .

 

[2muchgrass2mow]

I told you that this was going to get weird. What did I say that wasn't true?

P.S. If you have hills that are fairly steep, as I do, I advise avoiding a zero turn. Then you're into rear engine again with all the weight pretty much in the rear, not to mention more$$.

 

[Honest Abe]

So, you have a "Rear Engine Relic" do you, that really defines things.....

 

[Auto Doc's]

While we are on the subject of rear engine riders, has anyone watched Forrest Gump lately? That was a great movie... Still is.

 

[Oddjob]

We all make mistakes. Except me. Just kidding. We should all graciously accept that mistakes happen, make the necessary correction, and move on. But if you come asking for help you should not even think about cracking wise. Auto Doc is an extremely knowledgeable and generous poster who has helped lots of amateurs, including me. Ok, he missed that you said the brakes work. Your response was uncalled for. You need to apologize.

I own a Snapper RER and love it. It is a supremely basic machine that is reliable and easy to work on. If your machine goes too fast in first gear it is possible that someone changed out a gear in the transmission box but I think the more likely reason is that your shifter is not moving the driven disc toward the center when you put it in first gear. If that is the case, I’d suspect a broken or disconnected piece of the linkage. But the only way to figure out the cause and to fix it is to put the machine on its butt and visually inspect how the shifter is moving the driven disc; and if that’s ok, then remove the transmission cover and inspect the gears. If you can’t lift 90 pounds you’ll have to get someone to help you or invest in a jack or hoist or the like. Otherwise, sell the Snapper.

BTW, the owners manual says that the best way to slow the mower down is to use the shift lever, not the brake/clutch. I didn’t know that you don’t use the clutch to shift this mower into gear except for the initial shift on start-up until I read the manual. After it is moving you don’t use the clutch/brake except to hold it on hills, shift into reverse, or make an emergency stop. I hope you get this mower working. I know you’ll like it.

 

[Oddjob]

While we are on the subject of rear engine riders, has anyone watched Forrest Gump lately? That was a great movie... Still is.

One of my all time favorites. Posters here are just like Forrest’s mom said about that box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hi Oddjob,

Snapper was unique (way back) when they developed the friction disc drive design for their riders and other self-propelled equipment. They were literally "shift on the fly" using a sliding friction disc design that would simply walk across a spinning crankshaft mounted aluminum disc.

These friction drives were very popular in the (early) days before hydrostatic transmissions became the norm.

Unlike other designs at the time there were no toothed gears and clutch belt operations to contend with like other designs of the time had.

 

[Very Fine Person]

Thank you for your kind responses. Apologize Hell. We're supposed to be grown men here.
If you don't like me, get me thrown out.

A quip that I heard:
In the South, when they say "Have a Nice Day", it means "Bleep You".
In New York, when they say "Bleep you", it means "Have a Nice Day".
(I have actually experienced this)

I'm not going to think about this over the holiday weekend. I'd like to salvage the situation if I can. I was thinking that the wheel doesn't get to the center of the other wheel. I might do something daffy like get a pile of two-by-fours and screw together something like a swing set frame and put a small hoist on it to stand it up for a peek.

Or get a pressure washer, pretty it up, and sell it.

Anyway, I'm gonna unsubscribe now. If people are gonna get all emotional you can do it without me.

 

[2muchgrass2mow]

Thank you for your kind responses. Apologize Hell. We're supposed to be grown men here.
If you don't like me, get me thrown out.

A quip that I heard:
In the South, when they say "Have a Nice Day", it means "Bleep You".
In New York, when they say "Bleep you", it means "Have a Nice Day".
(I have actually experienced this)

I'm not going to think about this over the holiday weekend. I'd like to salvage the situation if I can. I was thinking that the wheel doesn't get to the center of the other wheel. I might do something daffy like get a pile of two-by-fours and screw together something like a swing set frame and put a small hoist on it to stand it up for a peek.

Or get a pressure washer, pretty it up, and sell it.

Anyway, I'm gonna unsubscribe now. If people are gonna get all emotional you can do it without me.

VFP:
There is a mechanical lift called a “Mojack” that allows you to raise the front of your mower up about 45 degrees. I have had one for a decade. However, as I posted before, especially if you have > an acre to mow, you just need a new mower. That one will drive you batty . . .