Lawn mower wheels lock up

17 years ago

Hello. I have a Lawn Boy self-propelled mower whose rear wheels intermittently lock when I pull it backward. I've heard this is a "safety feature" but it makes cutting the lawn difficult. Can this feature be disabled? Details on mower: self-propelled, Silver Series model 10335, tecumseh engine, built in 2000.

Thanks.

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Comments (5)

1saxman
17 years ago
This is a malfunction. Remove rear wheels and service the ratchets in each spur gear on the ends of the axle. Clean with spray brake cleaner then grease. There is a hole in the center of the gear for injecting grease. Also make sure you have about 1" of free play in the drive bail - if too tight, drive is 'on' all the time and the ratchets are engaged. Quick test: with engine running at full speed, pick up back end of mower to see if wheels are turning without squeezing the drive bail.
bogman
17 years ago
The rear wheels on my 10323 will not roll when I pull it backwards if I don't allow the mower to roll forward with the self propell disengaged for about 1 or 2 revolutions of the rear wheels. It seems that it's always done this. I don't know if it's a malfunction as Sax says but you could give it a try.
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fordtech
17 years ago
It is normal to have to disengage the wheels by rolling forward a few inches with the bail disengaged. Its in the owners manual.
1saxman
17 years ago
I have never encountered this with 'Variable Speed', only 'Easy Stride' (Personal Pace) which is why I do not like Personal Pace. Variable Speed may drag a little if you don't 'release' it by the forward roll, but the wheels should never lock unless the bail is held down. I still say it's a malf.
percboy64
10 years ago
Hi, I also have a Lawn Boy model number 10335, serial number200000720 where the wheels lock in reverse, but released and free wheeled after I shut the engine down.

The problem was not the cable tension, the drive gears (spurs) or the belt. It was the BELT GUIDE!

The belt guide was not in place and the belt kept grabbing the pulley off of the crank shaft leaving the self propel engaged, not allowing the belt to free up to allow the self propel to disengage.

Long story short, check the belt guide to make certain that the drive belt is being guided onto the pulley off of the crank shaft. If there is a gap between the belt and the pulley or the belt is not being guided onto the pulley, you will need to replace the belt guide with Lawn-Boy part number 92102403 available at Jack's Small Engine, or www.jackssmallengine.com

I hope this helps someone.