I can not get my craftsman riding mower rearend. to engage back into lock position with the lever

With the mower turned off and the deck at its lowest setting, check the top of the deck for any debris like rocks or sticks. Then watch the top of the deck while you move the engage lever. If nothing is moving, you either need to adjust the cable, reattach the cable, or install a new cable. If you see the lever with the pulley on it moving, when the engage lever is locked on, check the tightness of the belt. If it's loose, that is your problem and it could be a stretched belt.

Lock out lever on the back side of the mower, push it back in. Or worst case is it's out of adjustment.

somehow did the little freewheel lever get pulled in the rear of the tractor to disengage transmission?..usually out is disengage and in is engaged. look around the back panel behind the rear axle for a small lever you can pull or push in.

get the tires off the ground and try to engage again while going forward

broken drive belt...to the shop...can't walk ya thru that one

Hi there, On the Craftsman 3000 there is a pin on the back end of the mower that when pulled outward disengages the transmission so it can be moved without it running. Sometimes this pin will stick. It is connected to a lever on the transmission try to push and pull the pin in and out a few times to see if it will free and engage again. You might have to reach under where the lever is connected to the pin rod and try to move it back into position that way. DO NOT REACH IN TO THE TRANSMISSION AREA WITH THE MOWER RUNNING!!! But the pin must be pushed inward for ingagement. This pin will let the mower just sit there like its in nutral and not go anywhere. Try it!!

My craftsman riding mower has a lever on the rearend witch on occassion pops out of place and I have to reset it. The lever is on the back just above the little trailer hitch. It is there to put your rear end in neautral in case you need to push it. On mine you have to pull it to put it in neautral and push it in to put it back in gear, it varys from model to model though.

the hydrostat rearend or the belts to loose

With the engine off, reach under your deck and pull on the belt. This will force the idler arm back into disengaged position so you can start it. You can probably free the mechanism up with penatrating oil by spraying the pivot point on the idler arm ( the bracket the idler is mounted to that moves back and forth) while alternatly engaging the lever and pulling the belt till it frees up and returns by itself.

Cody,
Yes, I am sitting when I do engage the blades on my craftsman zts 7500. All you do is pull/push the engaged button to your left well you are seated.