Riding Lawn Mower Won’t Move When I Press the Pedal

Are you all ready to get your yard cut and you press the old go pedal and there is no go in the pedal?

This does happen on occasion and let’s check the easy stuff first. Some mowers have a parking brake, so check to be sure that it is not on. If it is on, disengage it and then try to go pedal once more.

If the parking brake checks out, move to the rear of the lawnmower and make sure that the tow bar rod is pushed in. It is normally at the bottom of the metal plate that is between the rear wheels.

If the tow bar rod is functioning correctly and you still have no go in your go pedal, then take a look under the mower and see if the drive belt has either broken or has come off of the drive pulleys. If it has come off the pulleys, reinstall it and then test the mower to be sure that everything is working correctly.

If the belt is broken, replace it with a new one and an OEM is preferred as aftermarket belts tend to be sized a little differently depending on who makes it.

If you need a riding lawn mower repair shop in your area, visit our Locations page.

I Press The Go Pedal and Riding Lawn Mower Does Not Move

On many riding lawn mowers, the pedal on the right side is called the “go pedal”. When you press it the riding lawn mower simply goes. Depending on how hard you press it will determine the speed that the lawn mower should go.

When your right foot presses the pedal, the linkage tightens the belt on the pulleys or moves a valve on the transmission to make the riding lawn mower move. In many cases if the lawn mower does not move, it is a belt that has come off of a pulley or has worn out. The linkage could also be sticking or the transmission itself could be experiencing a problem.

It is best to remove the deck to check out this problem so you can have access to the belts and linkages. Remove the deck and that should give you enough clearance to look under the deck. Visually inspect the belt for wear and ensure that the springs and pulleys are all working as they should.

Depress the go pedal and see if the belt becomes tight and if not, you have most likely found your problem. Replace that belt and test the machine to see if it works as it should.

If you need professional assistance, visit our Locations page for a riding lawn mower shop near you.