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

[2muchgrass2mow]

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 . . .

P.S. You’ll never sell it if a potential buyer gives it a tryout! I’d forget about that option.

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.

I had a Craftsman 12.5 hp version of the RE mower. It lasted 12 yrs. Until the shifter handle actually broke in my hand. I decided after replacing the shifter to gift it to my neice, but it was a trooper!

 

[Gord Baker]

Hello. I hope that you are well and enjoying life in general.
I've had this Rear Engine Relic for more than a month now, and I finally got around to putting in a battery and oil and climbing aboard.

I'd never rode a rider before, and I was horrified at how fast it was. On Speed Number One. On Speed Number Six I probably could have taken it out onto the highway.

Between that and not really knowing how steep a hill it would take to tip it over, and I got hills, I'm kind of ascaired to get back on it. I know that there's a throttle, but Briggs and Stratton says that their engine really wants to run at a high speed, and my experience with throttles has not been good. These things really want to run full out. And or course if the engine slows down the blade slows down, and that can't be good.

Does anyone have any nonobvious suggestions regarding slowing this baby down?

 

[Dwayne Oxford]

I run 2 old Snappers, have since '89. One's set up for mowing, other for pick up. Am on 3rd engine for mower, currently a Honda 390GXV. The pick up has 2nd engine, 11HP B&S. I adjust throttle to do whatever I need to do. At full throttle they are too fast so I don't run full throttle unless I'm in TALL grass. I'm old and beat up, setting them on their butts is out, I hoist from shed rafters till it's about 3/4 up then finish by hand.

 

[HoustonDave]

Back on modifications - was a Kansas banker in the '70s who raced SCCA - his mechanic modified his mower so that it would literally hit 50mph. Unfortunately he didn't mention it to the banker - first time he tried to mow the lawn, the banker took out his wife's rose bushes.

 

[SamB]

Hello. I hope that you are well and enjoying life in general.
I've had this Rear Engine Relic for more than a month now, and I finally got around to putting in a battery and oil and climbing aboard.

I'd never rode a rider before, and I was horrified at how fast it was. On Speed Number One. On Speed Number Six I probably could have taken it out onto the highway.

Between that and not really knowing how steep a hill it would take to tip it over, and I got hills, I'm kind of ascaired to get back on it. I know that there's a throttle, but Briggs and Stratton says that their engine really wants to run at a high speed, and my experience with throttles has not been good. These things really want to run full out. And or course if the engine slows down the blade slows down, and that can't be good.

Does anyone have any nonobvious suggestions regarding slowing this baby down?

First off, just what mower do you have? Did I miss that info, perhaps? But on with the show! Disregard anyone's advice about 'gears. If what you have is the classic Snapper Rear Engine Rider, RER for short, the only gears in it are the sun gears inside the chaincase.not changeable. If you have an RER,the first thing to check is your shifter plate, the one with the notchs,1,2,3,etc. That plate is adjustable, fore and aft. Loosening the 2 bolts holding it on will allow it to slide. This shifts the top forward speed up or down and moves that speed to reverse. Simple terms, lose forward,gain reverse speed. Note that mine are in the middle of the slots. Give that a look first

 

[SamB]

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.

Uh Oddjob, "remove the transmission cover and inspect the gears"? Did you open the chain case, perhaps? Not a good idea to open that 'banjo' looking chain case if one isn't well-versed on Snapper drivetrains. Nothing I can think of in the chain case that would change ground speed. Just politely asking.

 

[My Hoe]

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

Wow...that attitude is sure to get you the help you seek! /s

And FYI: Did I miss where you EVER named the brand and model of RER you have? Everyone is making the (good) educated GUESS that it's a Snapper, but Sears/Craftsman and other companies had similar designs back in the day as well.

What did you expect to get from such a low-effort post? NO pics (to reveal any possible modifications made by a previous owner), no mention of brand, model, horsepower. Us "boomers" say the "kids" are entitled, but you, Sir, seem to fit that definition to a "T."