Craftsman riding lawn mower will not go forward or reverse?

Rim = the Metal cylinder that slips on the axel.
Wheel = Rubber either Tubed or Tubeless.

I am not a mechanical engineer, but my Dad is. He said the key is already in place and the Rim and Wheel should pull off the axel after you have removed the C-Lock washer and the washer under the Rubber cap.
Mine was so rusted that we could not get the rim off. You can try hitting the center axel in the middle of the rim with a hammer to get it to move but not too much or too hard because if you mushroom the end you will never get the rim off the axel without some more work. Anyway he was saying that the "KEY" is already in the slot. The Rim is notched and the axel is notched and when you pull the rim and wheel off the key should fall out or be there to be removed. You then put the key in when you put the Rim/Wheel back on. The "KEY" locks the Rim in place with the axel.

Anyway my problem was my Tubeless WHEEL was off the Rim but it was inside the Rim. The funny thing was he just pulled the Wheel toward the lip of the Rim while I added Air and the dang Wheel just POPPED right into place. It was brillant! I had spent hours on that thing and he fixes it in about 15 minutes. I finished mowing with any issues. He suggested getting some "Slime" a brand of hole seelant and use that. I haven't done it yet as I just got done mowing.

I was confused about the "KEY" as well and I hope this helps.

Engineer's Son
October 2008

How do you put the key square on?

ron
August 2008

I am trying to take off the rear wheel. It seems there is no square key on this side but I still can't pull the wheel off- it feels like something is stopping it- the washers and the ring are off. What am I doing wrong?

gerald
July 2008

So we lost the key~ ~! So where do we find a store with a replacement part???

your tractor model. It will show a blow up of all the parts. You need the square key part # 123583x it costs $2.92. It is #77 on the diagram. If you take the one from the other wheel/axle you can probably get a replacement at Ace Hardware. It isn't anything special. Just a square key that no body has!

lost the key
July 2008

The rear wheels need to be 'keyed' onto the back axle - so effectively the wheels and the axle become one unit. If a key is left out (usually a square piece of metal about 1/8th square which engages with a slot machined on the axle and mates with a corresponding slot in the wheel) the axle spins but the wheel does not. Both rear wheels need to have the key in place as the differential gears in the axle won't drive just one of them. Often as you slide the wheel back into place after the repair the key simply pushes itself out from the back.

John
March 2008