can't push mower.Craftsman 18.5 lawn tractor?

I have a similar issue. I have the exact same tractor. I used it 2 or 3 times this year. Last week I hosed off the tractor and mower deck just o clean it up before I put it away. Today I went to mow and it started but even after releasing the parking brake, it would not move. I lifted it up to see what was going on. I couldnt get a real good idea of what was supposed to happen but I coated the pulleys and other stuff in the area with wd-40. It freed it up and it ran ok for a mnute then the belt started squealing. I turned it off looked at it tuned it back on and the belt started burning. Now it does it consistantly. The belt is pretty much fried and I guess I'll get a new one (Sears part #140294). If that doesnt work I guess it is trash because I will not replace the tranny.

Steve B.
April 2007

I have a craftsman 20hp, 917.251471 that had approximately the same problem....it was still under warranty, they replaced tranny and found the same problem......after a call to another technician they realized that they should have adjusted the brake/clutch/shift mechanism.....then it worked fine

Willis L
April 2007

I have the same problem with my Craftsman 20 hp lawn tractor after having put my mower away over the winter. I've tried to free up the wheels but nothing budges. I called out a Sears repairman and he told me for $800 they'll replace the tranny. It's a two year old mower! I didn't have them replace it and I'm still trying to figure out the problem

Greg W
March 2007