t pulley was loose, however, this one seems to be tight. It is also making a lot of noise like something is loose. The clutch is grabbing when you drive it, by that I mean it is a constant grab & release. My son used the mower about 2 weeks ago & it seemed to be working alright.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
John
42-Inch Steel Deck 17.5 HP Briggs & Stratton I/C Engine With…

Experienced gardeners share their insights in answering this question :
If the Engine is running fine and you are still not getting power to the hydrostatic drive, you probably have a loose belt or a pulley that is starting to seize up on it’s shaft, by the sounds of it I would guess the latter, a squealing belt is caused by the coefficient drag of the belt against the pulleys it operates on. Check all the pulleys for free movement and make sure the routing of the drive belt is correct. Check the wear of the belt itself if it is cracked or burnt in spots this will cause slippage also.Good Luck.

How to Identify and Fix Common Gardening Problems ?

We provide a variety of viewpoints on how to identify and fix common gardening problems. Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced gardeners :

You Lose Power in the Middle of Mowing:

Here`s why this happens and what you can do: Dirty Air Filter on Your Lawn Mower: Clean or replace. Dirty Spark Plug: Clean or replace. Build Up of Clippings & Debris: Clean underside of your lawn mower deck as noted above.

A: Your mower has two belts. Both play a role in making the blades turn. The “Deck Belt” goes around the pulleys right above the blades on the deck and then to a double pulley. The “Drive Belt” on your mower goes from the transmission, around an Idler pulley then over to the double pulley I mentioned before.
We can repair broken lawn mower belts faster than if you took your mower into a regular repair shop! There are many things you can do to ensure that your lawn mower is running properly. Replacing belts on your lawn mower will keep your lawn mower drive system operating at optimal speed.
A good starting point for a medium-sized yard – an acre to an acre and a half — is a 42” mower. With a larger mower, you`ll spend a lot of time maneuvering into position and around tight corners. For homeowners with one and a half to three acres to mow, a mower with a cutting deck between 42” to 48” is a good size.
Bigger is NOT better when it comes to mower size

But they are also very heavy and can cause soil compaction and severe tracking in your lawn if you are unable to change up the mowing patterns. Lawns are also much more succeptible to scalping and tire scuffs with larger mowers.

While corporate executives who preside over failure often find someone else to blame, Briggs` demise has, in reality, directly resulted from its executives` mismanagement, greed and pathological animosity towards the unionized workers who had made them rich. Reprinted with permission of Wisconsin Examiner.
Loosen the tension on the belt.

Most tensioners are installed using only one bolt. Start by inserting a half inch drive breaker bar or ratchet into the hole in the center of the pulley. Twist the breaker bar clockwise to reduce the tension in the belt.

Are Belt Drive Bikes Faster Than Chain Drive? No. Belt drive bikes are actually slower than chain driven bikes when the same amount of power is used by the rider, as chain driven bikes actually provide less friction which can slow you down.
Unlike chain drive, which requires very frequent cleaning, tightening and maintenance, belt drives are relative maintenance free. They run clean as they don`t have to be lubricated with sticky lubes and don`t require cleaning either.
A common cause of belt breakage is excessive grass clippings on the deck. Grass clippings can work their way under pulleys and deck covers, causing series problems. Make sure to clean off your deck after every mower use and follow manufacturer recommendations.
There is no specific time length that mower belts need to be replaced. Some belts may last longer than others due to different operating conditions. One thing is for certain though, the more the mower is used, the sooner you will need to consider replacing the mower belt.
If a belt is not tensioned properly, it will ride too loose or too tight on the pulley. A belt that`s too loose on a pulley will cause slippage, which leads to heat build up from friction. This heat will damage your rubber belts and cause the belts to crack and break.
Gas Engine, 17.5HP, 3300 RPM, Vertcl Shaft.
Riding mowers are best suited for yards measuring one acre or larger. A model with a 42-inch cutting deck is great for mowing up to two acres, so if you have more land than that, you`ll want to spring for a 46, 54, 60, or 72-inch cutting deck.
What is this? As a rough rule of thumb, a single-cylinder mower with 500-750 hours would be considered a high miler, but that`s not to say it`s all worn out. A well-maintained mower will go on and on, as said earlier, my own ride-on mower has about 1000 hours and still pulls its weight around here.
Mowing Pattern

When all things are equal, a zero turn mower will allow you to cut a property more efficiently due to the ability to turn 180 degrees at the end of a mowing row. The wider turning radius of a tractor leaves strips of uncut grass that requires awkward maneuvering to reach.

Zero-turn mowers are ideal from a maneuverability standpoint and provide greater control for mowing around obstacles. So if your yard is full of trees, flowerbeds, swing sets or anything else that requires tight turning radius, you should consider stepping up to a zero-turn.
Zero turn mowers are designed to cut grass 50% faster than traditional lawn tractors, so your straight line mowing speed is improved. A typical lawn tractor cuts at about 3-4 mph while a typical zero turn cruises along at 5-8 mph.
Briggs and Stratton is a huge company and has a notable presence overseas. Apart from cheap labor costs in China, the Asian market is quite significant for the American manufacturer. However, that`s nothing to worry about — most of its engines sold in the US are actually made in the US.
CEO Steve Andrews puts focus on the future at `the new Briggs & Stratton` after its acquisition by KPS Capital Partners.
Consistent starts: Briggs and Stratton engines have reliable and consistent starts. Wide power range: The company creates small engines for basic riding mowers up to commercial grade equipment.
For optimum performance, you should change the oil in your small engine after the first five hours of use and then annually, or every 50 hours of use (whichever comes first). Use Briggs & Stratton SAE 30W Oil above 40°F (4°C) for all of our engines.
On average, you can expect a heavy-duty riding mower to have a 5-year to an 8-year lifespan for residential use. For professional-grade mowers that see heavy commercial use, that lifespan is between 4 years and 5 years. The closer your mower is to those milestones, the more strongly you need to consider replacing it.
When pulleys are not aligned properly, additional loads are induced. The aim of belt alignment is to align the grooves of the drive and driven pulleys so that the belts run with minimal wear. Proper alignment extends the service life of belts and bearings, reduces vibration and noise levels, and saves energy.

Discover Relevant Questions and Answers for Your Specific Issue

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

The mower has no power & the belt is squeeling., this is the upper drive belt. I had a craftsman mower that did this a few years ago & the front pulley was loose, however, this one seems to be tight. It is also making a lot of noise like something is loose. The clutch is grabbing when you drive it, by that I mean it is a constant grab & release. My son used the mower about 2 weeks ago & it seemed to be working alright.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
John

ANSWER : If the Engine is running fine and you are still not getting power to the hydrostatic drive, you probably have a loose belt or a pulley that is starting to seize up on it’s shaft, by the sounds of it I would guess the latter, a squealing belt is caused by the coefficient drag of the belt against the pulleys it operates on. Check all the pulleys for free movement and make sure the routing of the drive belt is correct. Check the wear of the belt itself if it is cracked or burnt in spots this will cause slippage also.Good Luck.

Need a diagram for craftsman 44″ riding mower drive belt. Mine threw belt and cannot locate original manual.
ANSWER : If you can find the model number of your mower, you should be able to find your manual here. I hope this helps.http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/index.action

Need to replace drive belt.Never replaced. 42′ Craftsman riding lawn mower. How difficult is this. How do you access rear drive pully
ANSWER : Take a look at how the belt is installed. Then you will have to remove the mower deck and belt from the pulley on the engine. There is probably something by the engine pulley that you will have to remove so the belt will come off. It might be a shoulder bold or a rod with a bolt holding it on. Same with the rear pulley. Then you just have to put the belt on one pulley and watch your fingers so you don’t pinch them and turn the other pulley and the belt should go on. reinstall any bolts you removed and install the deck.

Drive belt Have replace drive belt but mower still has no forward movement. Mower is only 2 years old but its already had to have another drive belt installed by the dealer last year. wanted to do it myself but when i install belt theres hardly any tension so mower doesnt move. Checked and rechecked the diagram and is installed correctly. Cant find a tensioner adjustment if it has one.
ANSWER : I don’t have an answer for you, but Do you have a diagram of the Drive Belt?

Craftsman riding mower loose belts need tighting
ANSWER : Http://www.disruptit.com/manuals/L0403195.pdf

Here ya go.

What size for a 611 deutz allis 42 in deck – Mtd Drive Belt 42"
ANSWER : Go to simpletractors.com they may have the answer for you !

ROUTING OF BELT – Mtd Drive Belt 42"
ANSWER : Diagram is on the mowing deckBest regardsCk

I have a Troy built front wheel drive mower made in 5/94, model # 34022 with a 6 speed trnsmission. When I put it in gear the wheels barely turn. How do I fix it?
ANSWER : It sounds like you need a new belt for the front wheels.