Snappers use a rubber friction wheel as a transmission.. The engine drives the friction disc wheel, and the shifter positions it either farther in, or out, or on the oposite side of the drive wheel which is driven off the engine.. It's a clever system that is very common in snowblowers but I think Snapper may have been the first one to use it.

Either your friction disc needs replacement, adjustment or the shifter slider plate is worn

 

Any tips on how to narrow it down between the drive disc or slider plate

 

How old is this Snapper? That will help with determining what to do. Have you checked out any You Tubes videos on the Snapper disk drive system?

 

Mower is probably around 7 yrs old. Will ck and update and also look at some you tube videos. Just kinda looking for some general direction

 

Check the disk for oil/grease (Slipping) would be the first thing to eliminate.

 

Well there is a bunch of things which could cause this. Check as above but having reverse pretty well eliminates oil on metal disc. Is there a little slack in clutch cable so full pressure can be applied to drive? Is distance from face of metal drive disc to underside of mower from correct? Should be 4 inches. Is rubber driven tire worn out? Some Snappers had a slide bar which limited clutch travel but I don't think that new a mower has that. Clutch pressure spring may be weak or some have an adjustment to increase pressure. A worn pressure bar, not sure that is correct name, may have recesses worn in it which would explain reverse and no forward however, that usually only happens in much older mowers. You need to stand mower on rear standard, taking needed precautions with battery and gas tank before doing this, and do a bunch of checking.

Walt Conner

 

Thanks for all replies. Going to be busy for the next couple weeks but will do this as time permits

 

Thanks for all your help. I first replaced the rubber drive disc and it still wouldn't pull in forward gears. Then I set the clearance to 4in like you said and it's like a new machine. Now I know a little more about my machine. You folks are the best