Tractor Repair: craftsman 19.5 HP lawn tractor, model 917.270920, tractor model, tractor mower

Question
My tractor/mower has ben sitting for two weeks and worked fine when I parked.  It will crank up fine but the motion lever in forward or revers won't engage and let it move.  This happened last year and I repaired it myself by replacing the seat switch...I have purged the transmission as the manual says but to no avail.  I don't believe the seat switch is bad but I may be wrong.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Jim could you tell me if the motion lever eg forward reverse is operated on a rod or is it electrical with a veriable resistor.
As I am not up on the craftsman mower if you could let me know this.
If it is a rod going to the transmission it could be a seal problem on the shaft allowing it to suck air and not oil inside the tramsmission have a look at this area.

Hope this helps with our problem if the forward reverse is electrical it could be any number of things.



                   Kind Regards Danny Last