Transmission won't engage

SOURCE: the blades will not disengage

Usually when this happens, there is grass/dirt buildup on top of the mower deck and the pivot point for the tensioner pulley gets rusted to the point that it won't rotate easily. Clean it off and lubricate the pivot point and get it moving freely. Also, sometimes the blade brake arms get stuck. There are rollers on each blade brake arm towards the center of the deck. They are hard to see just by looking under there. I suggest pulling the deck and get it out where you can see it well. The rollers get rusted up and won't turn and follow the cam on the pivot bracket.

SOURCE: husqvarna yth1842xp 2005 ride on mower won't move in gear

your linkage came apart from the way it sounds. most all these riding lawn mowers are simple machines. you need to fallow the(flopppy lever) and see where it go's it is supposed to attach to a rod or cable and must have came unhooked

SOURCE: Craftsman 42" mower deck won't disengage

Try pulling on the cable coming down to deck. This cable might be your problem. Also check that the spring on the end of this cable is present and functional.

SOURCE: The blade engage lever on my 42

Get a can of penatating oil and spray the pivot point of the idler arm on the deck. That's the one that moves back and forth when you lift the blade engagement lever.

SOURCE: Craftsman 20hp tractor starts with mower engaged.

OK. You have one of two problems, or maybe a combination of the two.lol. Either the clutch cable that runs from the lever to the deck is frozen, or most likely, the pivot point on the idler arm on the deck is rusted up and is not disengaging. Spray some penatrating oil at the base of the bracket the idler pulley is mounted on (pivot point) while working it back an forth until is loosens up. There is also a spring that is hooked to the idler arm and to a slot in the middle toward the front of the deck to pull the arm forward when the blades are disengaged. Make sure that is in place also.