Operator's Manual

Maintenance
16
Replacing the Drive Belt
Squealing when the belt is rotating, blades slipping when
cutting grass, frayed belt edges, burn marks and cracks are
signs of a worn drive belt. Replace the drive belt if any of
these conditions are evident.
1. Stop the engine, remove the key and disconnect the
spark plug wire(s) from the spark plug(s).
2. Remove the hand knobs holding the deck cover to the
top of the cutting unit and remove the deck cover.
3. Loosen the jam nuts on each adjusting shaft to loosen
the tension on the drive belt.
m–2541
1
2
Figure 24
1. Jam nuts 2. Adjusting shaft
4. Remove the worn drive belt (Fig. 25).
5. Install the new drive belt onto the traction unit drive
pulley and the top groove of the center spindle pulley
(Fig. 25).
1
2
3
m–7759
4
Figure 25
1. Belt guide
2. Traction unit drive pulley
3. Drive belt
4. Center spindle pulley
6. Tighten the jam nuts on the adjusting shafts until the
springs are compressed to a length of 5 inch (12.7 cm)
(Fig 26).
1
2
m–2541
Figure 26
1. 5 inches (12.7 cm)
between the spacer and
bushing
2. Jam nuts
7. Reinstall the deck cover onto the cutting unit, then
reinstall and tighten the hand knobs.