Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Lawn tractor slows and stops., manual tranny, forward speed

Question
OK, 7 year old MTD/K-Mart tractor, 12.5hp, 38" cut belt drive 5 speed manual tranny, still has original belts. Can be cutting the grass, the  tractor will slow down and come to a stop...engine is still running, tranny still in gear. If I move the tranny from forward to reverse and back, or move speed control up to high and then back to preferred forward speed (usually 3rd)it will move again for a while at the desired setting. Any ideas before I go and spend my tax refund on a new tractor?

Answer
Hi Jon,

Remove the access cover so you can check the belts.  Make sure that a slipping belt isn't the problem.  Use a helper if needed to check operation while moving.  If the belts are turning the transaxle pulley but the tractor doesn't move, then there probably is damage in the transaxle.  That would most likely not be worth fixing.

Let me know what you find,
Michael