Craftsman 21 hp 42 in. Deck Yard Tractor - CA Model - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

the wording says non serviceable that indicates no parts available, cannot get into it to fix anything talk with a service shop and consider a hydrostatic from another brand that is serviceable

Your PTO safety switch is opening intermittently. Would help if you would always add your model # such as 917.100000 that way I could look up on Sears site and tell you approx. Location of switch.

Using the choke as you did,mentioned in your problem,you have flooded the carburetor. DO NOT USE THE CHOKE,ONCE THE TRACTOR IS RUNNING. Choke is used to start the motor only. When you run with the choke on,the motor gets to much gas and the plug(s) get fowled up and gas comes out of the carburetor. Remember the motor is hot,when gas comes out of the carburetor,the amount of over flow (flooding),could cause a FIRE. Lay off the choke,clean the spark plug(s),they will most likely be fowled up. The filter will be soaked with gas,remove the filter,soak up the gas,using a handy wipe,let filter dry out. Once dry replace filter. You should be good to go. Remember,do not over choke,use when starting a cold motor,usually when motor is hot from running,you may not have to use the choke at all. Hope this helps. Sincerely,Brad Locke

look to see if the linkage rod fell off

Are you pushing in the clutch? If yes, then it might be the clutch switch. Most mowers need the clutch in to start. I have wasted many hours by not knowing that.

The fuel tank should be under the cowling right in front of the steering wheel.

This may be normal. slow in reverse is normal. Up a hill, if you are talking about keeping forward on the lever, this is normal. If you are talking about moving it fore and aft or left and right to get up a hill, needs adjustment.

need the model number

Try the shear key under the flywheel

If you will give me the model number so we can look at the breakdown, it might help.. There are a few things that can cause this to happen, most 2 that I see are gov issues or the butterfly screws backed out or broke off and it is stuck in wide open, if this is the case I would not keep running it, those screws went somewhere inside, they can trach a valve or even bust a piston or even get stuck in the cyclinder wall.. Lets start with the number, I will be more than happy to do what I can to help you figure it out and get it fixed..

Measure your old one.

Is your drive on or didn't break. Top belt on engine pulley. The maybe off transmission pulley.

Put the blade back on the star on the shaft and tighten it down. Now you have some backup for the pulley nut. You may have to wedge a 2x4 between the blade and deck. THe EASIEST way is get an impact and zip it off. :-)

drive belt stretched or too old and worn ????? could also be clutch tension spring broken

Turn your gas off when mower is not in use. Sounds like a stuck/dirty needle or seat in carburetor. If needle isn't seating properly gas can slowly trickle down and seep into crankcase on most engines. Try turning gas valve off when not in use, if you don't have an on/off valve you can add one very easily. Any local auto parts store or hardware store should carry this. You will have to cut the fuel line and insert valve inline. Eventually you will want to clean the carburetor. I hope this helps. I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/layne_0fccff498c319c32

there may not be one

there is a label under the foot reset that has the diagram

take the carb apart and clean the jets and pasages

does it run a little better with the choke on part of the way? did you leave gas in it from last season?gas is only good for about 30 days in a small engine

Sounds like you are burning a lot of oil or you used two cycle fuel instead of regular gasoline. If you used the wrong fuel, drain tank and carburetor and it will clear up pretty quick. If you used the right fuel, did you overfill the oil? If oil level is where it should be, and the right fuel was used, then the alternatives from there fall into the not so good catagory, and they all involve at least some amount of engine disassembly.

Good luck.