It's a lawnmower, but I thought I'd ask here

[kerrfunk]

Hi y'all
My Craftsman riding mower (a hand-me-down) stopped gear selecting, and now it only goes forward and in one speed which is neither super fast nor super slow.

I don't know much, but I poked around and looked at this and that
and I discerned that part A (towards bottom of picture) has a socket that would tell the motor via part B (a shoulder ball) what gear to be in.

And it seems to me that there's probably a part that secures ball B into socket A.

Any tips?

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Kerry, there's a black plastic slider/lock on shaft "A" that should lock the ball into the socket when you slide it up to lock it around the ball. Looks like the slider may be worn to the point that it won't keep the two components locked together. But that's just a guess.

[kerrfunk]

Nothing a little torch wouldn't take care of, amiright?

And fear not, I'm not going to go this thing entirely alone.

[RichDesmond]

Hi y'all
My Craftsman riding mower (a hand-me-down) stopped gear selecting, and now it only goes forward and in one speed which is neither super fast nor super slow.

I don't know much, but I poked around and looked at this and that
and I discerned that part A (towards bottom of picture) has a socket that would tell the motor via part B (a shoulder ball) what gear to be in.

And it seems to me that there's probably a part that secures ball B into socket A.

Any tips?

Enjoy your "Goldilocks" lawnmower and call it a day?

Nothing a little torch wouldn't take care of, amiright?

And fear not, I'm not going to go this thing entirely alone.

Torch, gasoline close by, what could possibly go wrong??

[kerrfunk]

Enjoy your "Goldilocks" lawnmower and call it a day?

I am amazed at how much I use Reverse.
Tight corners. Getting out of the shed. That kind of stuff.

[kerrfunk]

Yknow as I look at replacement parts online, I don't see anything with a rod as long as my A.
I wonder if the long A rod is somebody else's jerryrigged solution to a previous problem, and that rod A is supposed to be shorter. Which might explain why I've only had one forward speed.

[rphillips]

I'm thinking the worn out ball was made in the worn out hole in the rod. Probably the ball & rod come as one complete part, replace entire thing with nut on ball & the nut on opposite end of rod.

[rphillips]

May want to look at craftsman shift link part # 597079401... Good luck. Seems same part may be used on husqvarna's

[kerrfunk]

Amazing. I got the piece off, and it's got that number printed right on it. Well done.

Funny thing, the same part number shows several different shaft lengths.
The one I removed from the mower was 3 5/8 inches in length.
The one the parts store has is 5 inches in length.

I think the 5-inch one would be better, actually.
I may have to fiddle some.

[rphillips]

That's up to you, If you think the 5" would work better than the 3 1/2" one go for it, you'll always be able to go back to the 3 1/2" if needed. Good luck

[kerrfunk]

Hot diggity dog, the 5" part works better than the 3 1/2". Now I have six speeds and reverse, instead of one speed (slowish) and reverse.

Yee ha.

[RichDesmond]

...the 5" part works better than the 3 1/2"...

That's often the case.

[rphillips]

Oh no Rich, are you saying you've BTDT?? I mean owned a mower like his.

[RichDesmond]

Oh no Rich, are you saying you've BTDT?? I mean owned a mower like his.

Just relaying the "word on the street".