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My Craftsman mower is rear wheel drive and has a Honda engine. It's about 6 or so years old. There are two metal gears that are supposed to mesh together to drive the wheels. One is a larger gear attached to the wheel hub. The other is a smaller one that is attached to the drive axle. The drive gear spins but is not engaging the wheel gear. The rear wheels are fairly new.

Again, these are both metal gears. This is not the typical problem people have where the metal drive gear wears out the plastic teeth that line the inner wheel rim. Mine doesn't have that type of system.

Does anyone know how I can get these two gears to engage?

have you disassembled & inspected other parts for wear or tried lubing or greasing assemblies? post your sears model number beginning with 917.

https://www.searspartsdirect.com/mo...aftsman-917374910-gas-walk-behind-mower-parts

mechanic mark said:

have you disassembled & inspected other parts for wear or tried lubing or greasing assemblies? post your sears model number beginning with 917.

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I looked it over, including underneath, but didn't notice anything right off. I haven't greased anything as I don't see anything that could be.
The model # is 917.374910

Did you check to see if the pin behind the gear is still there or has fallen out? Pin drives the gear.

Rivets said:

Did you check to see if the pin behind the gear is still there or has fallen out? Pin drives the gear.

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You mean the drive shaft gear, correct? I'll check it, but wouldn't that make the gear not turn? Or does it keep it in place, which is why it might not be turning the wheel gear?

I guess I'll order new drive gears. I doubt they'll last very long though. The problem is they're too far from the wheel gear, which is how they ended up worn out to begin with, as there isn't enough contact area, and they're just riding on the the peaks of the gear. Then once it slips, it ends up grinding the gear down and making it even worse. I guess it's just a very poor design.

Maybe a worn bushing or shaft that is allowing extra clearance between the gears? Or a slipped mounting point? Maybe flip that drive gear over and wear the other side? Looks like decent components with a poor setup.

The axle/drive gear sure is worn with that lower shelf. Only $6.32 on the sears site. https://www.searspartsdirect.com/mo...-917374910-gas-walk-behind-mower-parts?page=2
If the gear was the same on both sides, you could flip if over and wear down the high side.

Just out of curiousity move the height adjustment up and down, see if the gears mesh improves?

dougand3 said:

The axle/drive gear sure is worn with that lower shelf. Only $6.32 on the sears site. https://www.searspartsdirect.com/mo...-917374910-gas-walk-behind-mower-parts?page=2
If the gear was the same on both sides, you could flip if over and wear down the high side.

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I'm just afraid it will quickly happen again to the new gear.

You can't flip the drive gear because it has notches on one side that two pins that the drive shaft fit in that enables it to turn the gear.

tom3 said:

Maybe a worn bushing or shaft that is allowing extra clearance between the gears? Or a slipped mounting point? Maybe flip that drive gear over and wear the other side? Looks like decent components with a poor setup.

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I don't see anything that's worn but maybe I'm missing where to look. I was hoping someone here had experience with this type of setup.

Just out of curiousity move the height adjustment up and down, see if the gears mesh improves?

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I've tried that.

Look at mower8.jpg you posted. Big difference in tooth length - R side is tall, L side is short. L side is where upper gear should mate. Gotta buy and install a new gear or just have a push mower.

I meant to reply to this earlier, but I replaced both gears awhile back and it didn't fix the problem. I'm guessing the only way to fix it would be to remove everything and heat the bracket that holds the drive gear so I can bend it towards the wheel gear a little.

BTW, the gears I received were Husqvarna parts, so I assume the mower is made by them.

Just took another look at the pictures you posted and can easily see that the drive gears there are seriously worn. Cause for this is mainly due to dirt acting as an abrasive wearing the softer drive gear. A few different manufacturers use this system and it is cheaper to replace the drive gears than the wheel assembly.

Rivets said:

Just took another look at the pictures you posted and can easily see that the drive gears there are seriously worn. Cause for this is mainly due to dirt acting as an abrasive wearing the softer drive gear. A few different manufacturers use this system and it is cheaper to replace the drive gears than the wheel assembly.

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Please read the previous post.

I guess I must be the village idiot when you said you replaced the drive gears awhile back. I assumed you replaced those gears back in October 2019 and you now have the same problem, a worn out gear. I should have know better!!?? As the village idiot I would say bend the bracket (also known as the height adjuster with a bearing pressed in it) so the axle will not true, but tight and cause the drive gear to wobble, That should fix your problem. I’m out of this one, as my 50 years of experience has taught me If your are the village idiot, you can fix stupid.

But sometimes being the village idiot takes off a lot of pressure.........

Rivets said:

I guess I must be the village idiot when you said you replaced the drive gears awhile back. I assumed you replaced those gears back in October 2019 and you now have the same problem, a worn out gear. I should have know better!!?? As the village idiot I would say bend the bracket (also known as the height adjuster with a bearing pressed in it) so the axle will not true, but tight and cause the drive gear to wobble, That should fix your problem. I’m out of this one, as my 50 years of experience has taught me If your are the village idiot, you can fix stupid.

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Simmer down Rivets. You are a solid valuable member here. This guy is not listening to anything. Thinks this bottom of everyones line cheap azz mower should last 40 years like a Snapper. Don't let a simple mower forum ruffle your feathers buddy. You are much bigger than this.

slomo

Jack9 said:

I meant to reply to this earlier, but I replaced both gears awhile back and it didn't fix the problem. I'm guessing the only way to fix it would be to remove everything and heat the bracket that holds the drive gear so I can bend it towards the wheel gear a little.

BTW, the gears I received were Husqvarna parts, so I assume the mower is made by them.

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If you just replaced the gears then something else supporting is worn out also. Like the guys have already said, these machines are in a harsh environment with every mowing. Dry dusty days are hell on a mower. All the sand and grit eating away at those pot metal gears.

Do your wheels roll like normal? Can you spin a wheel like when you were a kid with your bike upside down? Is this for a normal yard or some farm pasture?

slomo

I see some serious surface rust. Something in that axle or whatever on that mower is probably rusted up nicely causing excess friction creating excess load on the gears. I'm not familiar with that mower as you can tell. Take the rear axle if it has one and or drive assembly apart. Clean and de-rust everything. Something has to be rusted together or have fallen off by now. Something is causing new gears to fail prematurely. Check your self propel parts schematic and see if everything is there.

slomo

Me being the village idiot is why I’m leaving this thread, but as the village idiot I still think that bending the bracket will help adjust the caster and camber on those drive wheels. Don’t they adjust them on today’s car???