Outdoor Power Equipment, Small Engine, Lawn Mower Repairs, Troubleshooting and Safety

Overall view (#1) of the drive belt. Transmission is at the left, engine pulley at right.

Disconnect the tie rods (#2, red) from the steering bellcrank. Bring the front loop of the belt over the brake shaft (#2, yellow), around both arms of the steering bellcrank, straddling the bellcrank shaft (#2, white), and over the engine stack pulley.

Route the belt as shown past the belt guide (#3, white) near the engine pulley.

Disengage parking brake to lessen spring tension. Remove the rear hook (#4, blue) of the idler tensioning spring where it attaches to the idler pivot arm. The front end of the spring is attached at the front v-idler (#4, red).

Loosen v-idler near engine pulley (#5, green) to fit belt between frame and pulley. Front of belt tensioning spring is attached at this location (#5, yellow).

Actuate the deck lift pedal to give clearance between the arm (#6, blue) of the deck lift rockshaft (#6, red) and the height adjustment stop. Bring the rear loop of the belt over the deck lift rockshaft and arm, then over the idler arm (#6, white) so that the belt straddles each.

Run the belt back to the transmission pulley so that it is between the belt guides (#7) at the tranny.

Set the parking brake to allow slack in the belt. Loosen the tensioning idlers and their belt guides to install belt on the pulleys. V-idler (#8, white). Flat idler (#8, pink). Belt must be within all belt guides (#8, yellow).

Belt routing for 42 inch deck (#9).