probably a loose or streched drive belt. also the drive pulley could be loose. the main thing wrong is that it is a craftsman. my experience with craftsman products has been very unhappy, they are starting to make junk. try a JOHN DEERe product the next time you will be glad you did.
Either the machine does not "know" or the clutch/brake switch is bad. Either way it is a safety switch
The slave cylinder is a hydraulic device that acutuates the clutch. As you depress the clutch pedal it's movement sends hydraulic pressure to the clutch to release it. It's like stepping on the brakes only withe clutch.
Any clutch that starts to move the vehicle at or near the top of the pedal movement (farthest away from the floor) needs to be adjusted.
Your clutch has to be engaged when you start your mower or at least my craftsman mower does. If it dies when you release the clutch pedal, it is due to the engine shutoff relay which is wired to the electric clutch. There are 2 wires on the lower left side of the mower that run along the inside of the frame to the clutch. These wires run just above the mower deck belts and connect to the top of clutch. They are so close that sometimes they get entangled with the deck belts causing them to be torn loose or rub the insulation off and expose the bare wire (which will cause it to ground out if it comes in contact with metal). You need to find and inspect these two wires all the way from the clutch to the point they come up through a hole in the frame floor that the engine is bolted to.
The electric PTO Clutch is Electromagnetic. There is a stator which creates a magnetic field when voltage is applied and this causes the free spun pulley to lock into place with the crankshaft of the engine. When voltage is release, spring pressure forces the pulley away from the stator. This is over simplified but that is about it.
The clutch is wired with a hot from the battery at all times and requires a ground from the switch to engage. Check for a bad ground wire to the clutch or a bad ground connection.
It is necessary to to adjust the the clutch actuation system to set up the correct free movement when replacing any of the clutch components
to release your hold on something
The clutch is probably too used
you have to remove the clutch arm from the top of the trans because there is a stop on the arm stopping the shaft from spinning to release fork inside from bearing.
sounds like maybe a clutch release bearing. what vehicle
to set up the correct free movement when replacing any of the clutch components