20 Most Recent Craftsman 20 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor - CA Model - Page 6 Questions & Answers

Sounds like your float is stuck open in your carb bowl

If there is too much play in the drive belt due to belt stretch or linkage wear, the belt will be too loose to drive the tranny but still cause the tranny input shaft to rotate preventing it from being put into gear. Do the gears grind when trying to put into gear? With engine off you should still be able to push the machine if you put it in neutral. Unless, of course it is a hydrostatic transmission, in which case there should be a lever to push/pull which will put the hydrostat in neutral. This is all assuming that it is a hydro and while running the machine won't move when putting the drive lever into forward or reverse.

If a cable operated throttle the far end of the cable may have broken or come off. Linkage between throttle cable and carburetor bent/broken/ missing, spring broken/missing. Shouldn't be too serious.

NOT A EXPERT BUT IT MIGHT HAVE CARBRATOR TROUBLE

change your plugs take the old gas out check your oil make sure its clean and at the right level check the air filter clean it if nesesarry change fuel filter. if not of this works check to see if it is grounding out look over the machine while running it in the dark if you see a spark some were look it over fix it if none of this works you may have do get a carberator kit your highspeed needle is what usually goes just make sure you count the number of turns when you take it out/

Hi Is the other belt still on the machine for the transmission?? Need more info.

I had a similar issue when I first got my tractor. the problem was with the linkage in the transmission just behind the lever you engage or dis-engage to make the mower roll freely ( on mine it is on the lower right, next to the rear axel- brassish in color ) what I noticed was when I changed to position of that lever the linkage in side didnt move all the way ( kinda like how a cars door lock/latch might stick) anyhow I was able to press the linkage forward by using a long-large standard head screwdriver in side of the notch where the lever protrudes thru the transmission ...the slight click in place cured my issue hth
-p

sometimes it could be as simple as lifting your seat and depressing the seat safety switch button a few times.these things tend to stick or get dirty after sitting a while.. or the clutch safety switch could be corroded some. after that its a matter of following your power from starter to key switch which may be a purple wire and see where you lose your power along the way. but my bet is if it was just sitting for a long time its the seat switch ...give it some quick smacks with you hand to jar any corrosion and try starting again. if that works I would purchase a new switch as it will tend to do the same thing more and more.

I would say you have a problem in the hydrastatic transmission itself,and that could be a number of different things and hard for you to fix yourself,it would be best to have professionally checked out.

Sounds like the inlet needle in the carburetor is stuck open. If you are lucky, you can give the carburetor a few taps near the fuel inlet area. (A few taps doesn't mean hitting it with a sledge hammer.) If that doesn't work, remove the fuel supply line from the carburetor and give the fuel inlet on the carburetor a shot of compressed air. If the problem still persists, you need to replace the carburetor inlet needle and seat and be sure the float level is correct. I am assuming that you have not had the carburetor off and have not changed the carburetor float level.

i hate to assume, but if the tractor is newer it has a electric PTO and a switch on the dash, most are a push/pull type knob, with the mower off pull know in and out and see if you can feel a click or step in the switch if not the switch may be bad also with mower off turn the key on and listen for a click from the PTO if you do and the switch is off it is broke and stuck in the on position, if your switch is a toogle switch up/down (flip switch) same theory just an other type, but either way unplus the wire plug from the switch and start up tractor and if blades are off you know you have a bad switch just replace with a new one..