sirmopalot wrote:

Hello. I have a Snapper riding lawn mower. Engine is rear mounted.
Recently the mower stopped moving and it is because the differential
slips in forward. (It works in reverse). I can't figure out how to
remove the rear axle. But I need to so I can see what is wrong. Like
if it is a stripped gear etc.. I've taken the cover off the gear boxes
and haven't seen anything obvious.. I think it might be something I
can't get to without dismanteling the whole thing. I've seen a
rebuild kit online for 75 bucks, but I want to make sure I can do it
first! Thanks for any suggestions!



I've had a couple of Snapper riding mowers over the years.

Are you SURE that it's a differential problem?

From what I remember about the last time I was inside one of those it's
sort of hard to see how the differential could "slip" in one direction only.

Are you SURE your problem isn't just a worn or misadjusted rubber tired
drive disk?

To test if the differential is "slipping" or not, with the engine off
and the gas tank less than half full, put the gear selector in neutral
and flip the mower "on it's back". Then have a look at where the rubber
tired drive wheel ends up when you "shift gears".

It should be tight against the engine shaft drive disk when the shift is
in any forward gear or reverse. If it isn't, readjust things until it
is. Once it's tight against the drive disk and you can rotate one wheel
by hand without the other wheel turning in the opposite direction, you
were right, the differential is toast, but I'm hoping that it isn't.

HTH,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.