Craftsman Mower Front Drive Wheels: 5 Best Replacements Compared

The first time your self-propelled Craftsman stops pulling its own weight, you notice. The front wheels spin, the drive gear grinds, or one wheel just shears off its teeth mid-cut. You push the mower toward the garage, annoyed, and start the hunt for a replacement that actually fits.

That search gets messy fast. Craftsman has used the same front drive wheel design across dozens of model numbers for years, but the parts cross-reference is a tangle of OEM numbers like 583719501 and 194231X460. Some listings fit 917376xxx tractors. Others only fit the 247.xxxxx walk-behinds. A wrong guess means another week of waiting and another return trip to the shipping box.

I went through the current Amazon listings for Craftsman front drive wheels and sorted out what fits what, how each set is built, and where each one falls short. Below are five solid options, starting with the most broadly compatible set and ending with a specialized OEM-style assembly. If you just want the short version: the GICOOL 2-pack covers the widest range of Craftsman models at a fair price, but the genuine Craftsman assembly is worth the extra money if you need the 2-inch-wide wheel with the reinforced bushing.

Here is how the five contenders compare at a glance.

Features	GICOOL 2-Pack	CMOOD 2-Pack	Grasscape 2-Pack	CRAFTSMAN OEM	CLSR2U 2-Pack
Wheel Size	8 x 1.75 inch	8 x 1.75 inch	8 x 1.75 inch	8 x 2 inch	8 x 2 inch
Bore Diameter	1/2 inch	1/2 inch	1/2 inch	Not specified	1/2 inch
Drive Gear Teeth	Not specified	53 teeth	53 teeth	Not specified	53 teeth
Hub Style	Standard	1-5/8 inch hub	1-5/8 inch hub	Reinforced bushing	Standard
Best For	Broad Craftsman fit	Husqvarna & Poulan	Budget replacement	OEM exact fit	MTD platform mowers

GICOOL 583719501 194231X460

This GICOOL set is the one to buy when you have an older Craftsman walk-behind and you are not 100 percent sure of the exact model number. The compatibility list is enormous — over 90 Craftsman 917-series models are listed, spanning the 917376xxx, 917253xxx, and 917370xxx ranges. If your mower has the 8-inch by 1.75-inch front wheels with a half-inch bore, there is a strong chance this set fits.

The wheels replace seven different OEM part numbers, which tells you how many revisions Craftsman made to the same basic design. The rubber tire is bonded to a plastic rim, and the whole assembly is light enough that you will not add noticeable weight to the front end. Installation is straightforward: pull the old wheel off the axle, slide this one on, and secure it with the existing hardware. Most buyers report a 15-minute job per wheel.

What keeps this from being perfect is the lack of detail on the drive gear. The listing does not specify tooth count, and some late-model Craftsman mowers use a slightly different gear pitch. If your mower is from the last five years, double-check your model number against the list before ordering. The tire width is also on the narrow side at 1.75 inches, so if you regularly cut soft or wet ground, you may want the wider 2-inch option instead.

• Replaces OEM numbers 583719501, 532402657, 194231X460, and four others
• 8-inch diameter with 1.75-inch width and 1/2-inch bore
• Fits a wide range of Craftsman 917-series walk-behind mowers
• Sold as a pair, so both sides match
• Lightweight plastic rim with rubber tire

Best for: Anyone with a Craftsman 917-series mower from the 2000s or 2010s who wants a direct, no-guess replacement at a reasonable price.

CMOOD 583719501 Front Wheels

CMOOD takes a slightly different angle. This set is built for the cross-brand reality of the small-engine world. Craftsman, Husqvarna, Poulan, Poulan Pro, Roper, and Weedeater all used the same front drive wheel platform on their self-propelled walk-behinds. If your mower is one of those brands, this 2-pack is a legitimate option, not just a Craftsman-specific part.

The standout detail here is the explicit 53-tooth drive gear. That number matters because the gear is what actually engages the transmission and pulls the mower forward. A wheel with the wrong tooth count will slip or bind. CMOOD also specifies a 1-5/8-inch hub, which is the depth the wheel sits on the axle — a measurement that is easy to get wrong if you are just measuring the tire. The metal and rubber construction feels more substantial than the all-plastic budget wheels I have handled.

The trade-off is the warranty. CMOOD offers six months of coverage, which is half of what Grasscape provides on a nearly identical product. The compatibility list is also shorter than GICOOL’s, so you will want to verify your model number against the examples given, like 917370431 or 917370601. If your Craftsman is an older 917376xxx model, this set should work, but the fitment confidence is lower.

• 53-tooth plastic drive gear for positive engagement
• 1-5/8-inch hub depth for correct axle seating
• Fits Craftsman, Husqvarna, Poulan, Roper, and Weedeater
• 8-inch diameter, 1.75-inch width, 1/2-inch bore
• Six-month warranty from the seller

Best for: Owners of Husqvarna or Poulan mowers who want a wheel that also happens to fit most Craftsman models.

Grasscape 2-Pack Front Wheels

Grasscape is the budget pick, and it does not try to hide it. The construction uses high-density plastic with a rubber tire, the same 53-tooth gear as the CMOOD set, and identical dimensions of 8 by 1.75 inches with a half-inch bore. If you just need to get the mower running again and you are not worried about OEM branding, this is the cheapest path to a working pair.

The real selling point here is the one-year warranty. That is double the coverage of the CMOOD set and unusual for a part that costs less than a tank of gas. For a component that takes real abuse — spinning at high RPM, hitting rocks, and grinding against dirt — the extra warranty is a small insurance policy. The listing also claims the wheels are easy to install with basic hand tools, which matches my experience with this wheel design.

Where Grasscape falls short is in the details. The listing does not specify the hub depth, and that is a critical measurement. If your old wheel has a deeper hub, this one will sit too far in or out on the axle, which can cause the drive gear to misalign. The fitment list is also generic, referencing the same 917370xxx examples as CMOOD without the broader 917376xxx coverage. Buy this one if you are confident about your model fitment, not if you are guessing.

• One-year warranty, the longest of the three budget sets
• 53-tooth drive gear for traction
• 8-inch diameter, 1.75-inch width, 1/2-inch bore
• Fits Craftsman, Husqvarna, Poulan, and Weedeater
• High-density plastic rim with rubber tire

Best for: Shoppers on a tight budget who already know their mower model is compatible and want warranty protection.

CRAFTSMAN 8-Inch Drive Wheel

This is the genuine article, and you pay for that. The Craftsman-branded wheel is designed for walk-behind mowers with an 8-inch by 2-inch drive wheel, which is wider than the aftermarket 1.75-inch options. That extra quarter-inch of width gives you more surface area on the ground, which translates to better grip on soft lawns and less sinking in wet conditions.

The construction is where this wheel justifies its price. It uses high-impact polypropylene for the rim, which resists cracking better than the cheaper plastics on the budget sets. The real upgrade is the 1.25-inch oil-impregnated copper steel bushing. That bushing is the bearing surface between the wheel and the axle. On cheaper wheels, this is a plain plastic sleeve that wears out and starts wobbling after a season or two. The copper bushing is self-lubricating and will outlast the tire.

The catch is fitment. This is a single wheel, not a pair, so you will need to buy two if both sides are worn. The listing does not provide a model compatibility chart, which is frustrating. You are expected to know that your Craftsman uses an 8×2 front wheel. If your mower takes the narrower 1.75-inch wheel, this will not fit correctly. Check your old wheel’s width before ordering.

• Genuine Craftsman part, not an aftermarket copy
• 8-inch diameter by 2-inch width for better traction
• 1.25-inch oil-impregnated copper steel bushing
• High-impact polypropylene rim resists cracking
• Sold individually, so budget for two

Best for: Owners of newer Craftsman mowers with 8×2 front wheels who want the exact OEM part with the reinforced bushing.

CLSR2U 634-05040 8×2 Inch Wheel

CLSR2U fills a different niche. This set replaces OEM part number 634-05040, which is the MTD platform wheel used on Craftsman M210, M215, and M230 models, plus Cub Cadet SC series, Brute, Columbia, Yard Man, Snapper, and Troy-Bilt. If your Craftsman is a 247.xxxxx model, this is likely the wheel you need, not the 583719501 style.

The 8×2 size matches the genuine Craftsman wheel, and the 53-tooth gear is confirmed in the listing. The construction combines high-density plastic with a wear-resistant rubber tire. Installation requires a flathead screwdriver and a 9/16-inch socket, which is more specific than the generic instructions on other sets. That detail suggests the seller has actually installed these and knows the process.

The limitation is the narrow compatibility window. This wheel only fits the MTD platform, so if you have an older 917-series Craftsman, this is the wrong part. The listing is upfront about that, which is refreshing, but it means you need to be certain of your model number. The seller offers support for fitment questions, which helps if you are unsure.

• Replaces OEM part 634-05040 for MTD platform mowers
• Fits Craftsman M210, M215, M230, and 247.xxxxx models
• 8-inch diameter, 2-inch width, 1/2-inch bore
• 53-tooth drive gear
• Includes two complete wheel assemblies

Best for: Owners of newer Craftsman 247-series or MTD-built mowers who need the 634-05040 replacement.

How We Chose These Products

I started with the two most common OEM part numbers for Craftsman front drive wheels: 583719501 and 634-05040. These cover the two major platform families — the older 917-series walk-behinds and the newer MTD-built 247-series. Every product on this list replaces one of those numbers, so you are never looking at a part that will not work on some Craftsman model.

From there, I weighed four factors. Fitment clarity came first; a wheel with a vague compatibility list is a gamble. Build quality came second, with attention to the drive gear tooth count and the hub bushing. Price and warranty were third, since these parts take real abuse. Finally, I looked for honest limitations — a listing that tells you what it does not fit is more trustworthy than one that claims universal compatibility.

Buying Guide: What Really Matters

Measure your old wheel before you order anything. The two dimensions that matter are the tire width and the bore diameter. Most Craftsman walk-behinds use either a 1.75-inch or 2-inch wide tire, and the bore is almost always half an inch. Get those wrong and the wheel will not seat properly on the axle, which causes wobble and premature wear on the drive gear.

The drive gear tooth count is the next thing to check. The aftermarket sets on this list use 53 teeth, which matches the vast majority of Craftsman self-propelled mowers. But if your mower is an unusual model, pull the old wheel off and count the teeth yourself. A gear with the wrong pitch will grind against the transmission and damage both parts.

Finally, consider the hub bushing. Cheaper wheels use a plain plastic sleeve that wears out in a season or two. The genuine Craftsman wheel uses an oil-impregnated copper bushing that lasts much longer. If you plan to keep your mower for several more years, the extra cost of the OEM wheel is worth it. If you just need to finish the season, a budget 2-pack will do the job.

Our Top Recommendation

The GICOOL 2-pack is the best overall choice for most Craftsman owners. Its compatibility list covers the broadest range of 917-series models, it replaces seven different OEM part numbers, and it comes as a pair so both sides match. For the price of a single genuine wheel, you get two aftermarket wheels that fit the majority of Craftsman walk-behinds from the last two decades.

If your mower takes the wider 2-inch tire, or if you want the durability of a copper bushing, step up to the genuine Craftsman front wheel assembly. It costs more and only comes as a single, but the build quality is noticeably better. For owners of newer MTD-built Craftsman models like the M210 or M230, the CLSR2U 634-05040 set is the right pick — the other options simply will not fit.

If you are still unsure whether your mower uses a front-wheel-drive system or a rear-drive one, check our guide on rear wheel drive walk-behind mowers to confirm your configuration before buying parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Craftsman mower uses the 583719501 or 634-05040 front wheel?

Look at the model number on the mower deck. If it starts with 917, you need the 583719501 style wheel. If it starts with 247, you likely need the 634-05040 style. You can also measure the old wheel — the 583719501 is 1.75 inches wide, while the 634-05040 is 2 inches wide.

Can I replace just one front drive wheel, or should I buy a pair?

You can replace a single wheel if only one side is damaged. But if one wheel is worn out, the other is usually close behind. Since most aftermarket sets are sold in pairs and cost less than two singles, buying a set is the smarter move. You will have a spare for next season.

Why does my new wheel spin but not drive the mower forward?

This usually means the drive gear is not engaging with the transmission. Check that the wheel is seated fully on the axle and that the hub depth matches your old wheel. If the wheel sits too far out, the gear will miss the transmission output. Also verify the tooth count matches — a 53-tooth wheel will not work on a mower designed for a different gear.

Are aftermarket front wheels as good as the genuine Craftsman part?

For most homeowners, yes. The aftermarket wheels use the same 53-tooth gear and similar rubber compounds. The main difference is the bushing. Genuine Craftsman wheels use an oil-impregnated copper bushing that lasts longer than the plastic sleeve on cheaper aftermarket wheels. If you cut a large yard and put heavy hours on the mower, the OEM wheel is worth the extra cost.