It sounds like one of the pinion gears is backwards. Do you hear clicks from both sides when you pull backwards with the transmission not engaged? The gears go on the axle with the open side facing the same direction. If one is reversed the wheel on the "wrong" side will lock in place and not spin when pulled backwards and you will hear clicks from that side when pushing it forward. Bk bk - the axle springs ca be ordered from www.greenpartsstore.com or through a John Deere dealer.

Maybe it should go back? External leaks that make enough to puddle on the front of a command tend to be the breather cover gasket if it isn't carb related. At least I don't recall seeing an L spec'd with an oil pressure switch, which attaches to that same cover if it is used. The tractor is at the age that you start to see corroded terminals - especially at the ignition, PTO and clutch switches. Maybe you will get lucky. Maybe the PTO switch is still pulled out...

My only intention in my posting is to maybe help the next person along in their search of a lawn tractor or learn a bit about them for myself. Whether it be green, orange, blue, red or black. I don't think anyone disagrees with the fact that quality is not what it used to be, even with the advancements in technology. I wish, like most other americans out there, that we still manufactured everything here in the states. But that is a long distant memory and will probably never be again. But I bought a John Deere because the one I had before it lasted, and the farm I grew up on had plently of them that did their share of breaking, but got the job done everytime. But so did the Case, Internationals, Massey's, and I think a New Holland. Every manufacturer out there has it's share of problems. Nothings perfect! John Deere has been in my blood since childhood when I played with my first little green toy. Everytime I get on my X530, I will be proud to have one. People don't usually buy Harley Davidsons because of their quality (although I feel them to be very well built). They buy them because of the name that sits on them. If John Deere stops making a good product, the brand would eventually suffer and only be found in the history books and a few landscapes maybe. But when I drive anywhere, it is still the brand I see most often, and usually they are moving. So, drafted 72, your opinion is noted and hopefully a few people may benefit from your experience, but a GT235 and a X530 are a bit far apart in the ways they are used. I have no doubts that mine will still be alive and well in 15 years. And if I have any problems, I will be sure to post them, so the next person at least can use the info to decide if the JD brand is right for them.

Tomplum, Thank you for your response. It looks like I may have jinxed things :-( Everything I wrote in the original post was accurate as of when I shut the engine down yesterday. After my mowing session, I had added some oil and ran the engine for a few minutes with no problems (and no smoke). Then, I shut it down for the night. Today, when I went to start up the engine, white smoke (and lots of it) came out of the exhaust. I immediately shut it down. When I checked the oil, the level looked too high. Yesterday, the level looked proper when I completed the addition, so I don't know if the discrepancy can be explained by a difference between a hot engine & a cold engine - or if I just misread something. So, I drained the old oil and added back new oil, thinking that might resolve things. I started the engine again. Lots of white smoke. I thought it might subside after the initial start-up, but it continued instead. Then, I shut the engine down again. I did not allow the engine to warm up because I was afraid of doing permanent damage. Therefore, I don't know if a warm/hot engine would have exhibited any differently. One of the things I noticed as the old oil was draining into the pan is that it seemed to be a little thin - and if I'm not imagining it - it seemed to have lots of small bubbles in it. It was almost foamy. It is an air cooled engine, so it couldn't have been water infusion. The oil definitely did *not* smell of gas. I don't know if this means anything, but the oil was more caramel-colored and not quite as clear as (relatively) new oil normally looks. I don't think it looked this way yesterday, but I was only looking at the dipstick then and not the oil from the drain plug. How bad is this ? Is the engine toast ? Or, do you think it can be repaired with some sort of gasket replacement and/or moderate surgery ? Thanks again,