make sure you have the washer or washers in between the axle and wheel you are bottoming out the nut on the axle thread if you back off the nut a little the wheel will turn freely, so you will need the washer.

I have the washer(s) between the wheel and the axle. The left side of the axle (user facing the mower in mowing position) has a square end that fits into a slot at the end of the axle shaft. The axle will not turn at all with no wheels on the saft because the axle shaft is locked via the square on that end of the shaft. IF you force the axle out of that square slot, if turns just fine. The whole thing is that one side of the axle does not have the square slot - the other side does.

the axle on snappers do not spin they are a locked position only the wheels turn , try and back off the nut a little that should help the wheel turn.

Thanks much andybl. That confirms what I have. It just seems like if one wants to push the mower, there is just to much wheel friction - don't want the nut to fall off either. Spread the WD-40 and grease. Have a great day. mvron