I have a 1996 MTD riding lawn mower that is in pretty rough shape from sitting outside and not used for 4 years. I've got it all cleaned up and tuned-up but still have a problem with the back tires. They seem as if they are stuck in gear or the breaks are locked up. I've tried pushing them, turning them by hand and still nothing. When you press the break/clutch in it does engage the brakes and the gear shifter seems to work and go between forward, neutral, and reverse but still the tires are stuck.
Any ideas.
Thanks,
Eli

Probably has a variable drive pulley, which might be frozen.

Pull the spark plug out then flip it over on it's RH side ( blocks of wood needed to keep the power take off lever off the ground ) , you'll see a pulley on the axle, see if this will turn ( you may need to remove the belt ) , my MTD is 1990 and the only thing I find is that the idler that slides to tension the belt siezes up unless you keep it greased, but that just makes the belt slip, it sounds to me like the brake is stuck on or the axle seized.

Pete

Never flip a mower on its side without draining the gas.. can also drain the oil, just don't forget you did.