Service Manual

Belt Replacement (Fig. 9, 10, 11)
Signs of a worn belt are: squealing when belt is rotating,
blades slipping when cutting grass, frayed belt edges,
burn marks and cracks. Replace the belt if any of these
conditions are evident.
The blade drive belt is held under tension by a spring
lo
aded idler.
1. Lower cutting unit to shop floor, stop the engine and
engage the parking brake. Remove belt covers from top
of cutting unit.
2. Disconnect spring from idler arm bracket to release
belt te
nsion. Remove cotter pin and clevis pin securing
idler arm bracket to idler arm.
3. Remove capscrews and nuts securing gear box plate
to deck ch
annels. Lift gear box plate and gear box off
deck channels and lay it on top of deck.
4. Remove belt from around spindle pulleys and through
id
ler pulley assembly.
5. Install belt around spindle pulleys and through idler
pulley assembly.
6. Install gear box plate on deck channels while routing
belt around gear box pulley. Mount gear box plate to
deck channels with capscrews and nuts.
7. Install idler arm bracket to idler arm with cotter pin
and cle
vis pin. Hook spring onto idler arm bracket. To
make sure there is proper belt tension on drive belt,
spring should be extended to a length of approximately
7.00 inches. If spring is not extended to this length,
mov
e spring rod to other mounting holes further away
from belt.
8. Install belt covers.
Figure 9
1. Spring 2. Idler arm 3. Idler arm bracket
Figure 10
1. Gear box plate 2. Capscrews and nuts
Figure 11
Groundsmaster
®
300 Series Page 13 - 9 Repairs