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Repair guides and support for riding, or ride-on, mowers, also known as lawn tractors, of all types used in tending large tracts of land.

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Why is my CVT lawn tractor sticking in gear?

My Poulan Pro PB22VA48 lawn tractor is sticking in gear instead of stopping when I release the pedal. I have to press the brake pedal to stop or to shift from forward to reverse. The mower just started doing this yesterday--it had been fine all summer. I bought it new in May 2015.

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I have the same problem on my 2017 Sears lawn mower. Someone needs to video the fix and post it on Youtube so we can avoid costly service calls.

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These transmissions are General Transmissions Rs-800. There are videos already on YouTube. On the General Transmission web site there is a support tab that is also helpful. I personally have just installed my fourth replacement transmission in a 2014 Craftsman mower. These transmissions have not stood the test of time, in my experience. They Need too much TLC to be on a mower.

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https://youtu.be/-VFcajP1Hsk This shows how to fix it.

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My mower is a Craftsman with the plastic CVT . I had the same problem. It was from debris building up under the linkage cover on the transmission. I had to pull the transmission and remove the cover to clean it the first time it happened. When it happened again I strategically sprayed a strong stream of water in and under the linkage cover where ever i could and it seamed to fix it.

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Do you have any pics of where you sprayed. I have a 2017 craftsman 18.5 hp cvt transmission with less than 20 hrs and it sticks or can't even push the pedal to get it to move. Even using clutch pedal doesn't even help. I have spent 45 mins blowing and spraying the cvt tranny still under tractor with no change. I am calling sears tomorrow for a service call since 2 year warranty is on it. But if it's going to keep recurring I would like photos or video to show me where you sprayed please

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bought the 2017 Craftsman 19 HP 46inch deck and we are on our 3rd transmission we also keep it very clean and only cut the manicured lawn so thing has been well taken care of and no matter what debris keeps finding its way into transmission technician told me it is a design flaw on the transmission cover or lack of and that all they can do is replace it, any clarification or pictures of where to spray would be much appreciated.

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1) Remove the debris cover kit if you have one - because over time debris will get packed in there so hard there is NO way to get it out except to remove transmission because the dang gas tank is above the transaxel - wish it was like the Husqvarna!

2) Remove part of the plastic cover that extends down around where the end of the transmission freewheel linkage connects - enough to expose the little springs in that area.

3) Fill those dang cavities around the aforementioned little springs and linkage areas with caulk so debris can no longer cake up hard in these areas.

4) Cut 2"x3" hole in back of the metal frame on tractor about an inch directly above trailer hitch. Then fabricate a bolt on metal plate to cover hole which you will remove when cleaning.

Now when you reinstall you will have access to use a air hose/long nozzle to blow away all the debris around the top of the transaxel where the little springs are and where linkage is. I usually blow it out after every mow of 1.5 acres - it does work!

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You can also use a strong jet of water to clean the area above the transaxel - your preference. All these mfgs just need to spend more time on solid engineering for a reliable mower - gee whiz...

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Spraying streams of water from a garden hose does not fix transaxle’s or CVT drive’s in lawn & garden tractor’s!

Very silly to say the least! lol

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I removed the gas tank on my Craftsman and added a spun aluminum fuel tank mounted on the back. Now I just blow out the CVT after mowing and have NO problems. That CVT will go up a 40 degree hill easily.

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