Mower help - self prop/drive belt issue

[Ryanbabz71]

Hey guys

I have a craftsman 33” wide cut mower. I love this thing. I’ll get to it..... I changed the drive belt about a month ago (wore out kept slipping off) then the issue started. No matter if the mower is in gear or not it will drive itself. Real pain in the *** so much so I have injured my arm trying to fight it while mowing, used to be able to left off the drive handle control and turn now that doesn’t work and it keeps going. Any ideas? This is the third time I have changed it the last two time I had no issues

Thanks!

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[DieselNut88]

Is the belt installed correctly? Is it the correct length? Is the tensioner working correctly. Im not familier with that mower so i dont know how the drive system works. I looked at a diagram and i think you need to adjust the tensioning linkage. There should be a factory spec. It sounds like the belt is engage all the time.

 

[SGKent]

Just a guess but many belt systems allow the belt to slip when it in neutral. Then to make it go the belt pulley gets tension. My guess would be the belt is too short and you never get enough play for it to slip when it is supposed to be in neutral.

Just to help others answer the question why not post the model number so people who want to look at the manual can. Also did you take a before replacing the belt photo so people can compare before and after?

 

[Rickster55]

Just a guess but many belt systems allow the belt to slip when it in neutral. Then to make it go the belt pulley gets tension. My guess would be the belt is too short and you never get enough play for it to slip when it is supposed to be in neutral.

Just to help others answer the question why not post the model number so people who want to look at the manual can. Also did you take a before replacing the belt photo so people can compare before and after?

Bold print ^

 

[Ryanbabz71]

The belt is installed correctly. Like I said I have replaced it 2 other times over the last 5-7 years. I first thought the belt was incorrect as it was oem and the. bought a second oem one same length.

I believe when in neutral the belt slips, now it’s not slipping at all. I have made a few adjustments but it hasn’t changed ged anything.

Thanks for the suggestions anything I can check and double check will be helpful

I’ll get the model shortly


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[Ryanbabz71]

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[James-W]

Where did you buy the belt from? I know you said it was OEM but did it come from the Sears parts place or from someplace else?

The reason I am asking is because I had a similar problem with my Craftsman rider mower. I replaced the drive belt and had problems. I bought the belt locally from a small engine repair shop. The belt was too short, not by very much, but enough to cause problems.

 

[Ryanbabz71]

First one was on amazon second was through sears parts direct. Over laying them they look identical. Maybe try a third [emoji2373]


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[Show7d3]

Since it seems like you have the proper belt, I would check the pulley alignment and make sure all of the belt keepers/ guides are in place.

 

[Radio Flyer]

Make sure the pulleys don't have a groove worn in them from age/old belt. This can also keep the new belt from dropping free when the handle is released.

i used to see it a lot on Bobcat mowers.

 

[Rickster55]

In the second picture of your original post, the belt def looks loose enough not to engage the drive. Have you checked the width of the belt? If all else is okay, is the shifter fully taking it out of gear? Looking at it again, is it driven by holding down the levers on the handles? Maybe the cable needs adjusting.

 

[The Cobbler]

In the second picture of your original post, the belt def looks loose enough not to engage the drive. ....

the black belt is for the blades, the blue belt is for the drive, and we really can't see it all that well.

 

[Rickster55]

the black belt is for the blades, the blue belt is for the drive, and we really can't see it all that well.

Good point - so that leads me back to the cables

 

[oldmxracer]

Is there any way that, In step 5 idler pulley.

Something might have been over tightened on reassembly ?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Just a guess but many belt systems allow the belt to slip when it in neutral. Then to make it go the belt pulley gets tension. My guess would be the belt is too short and you never get enough play for it to slip when it is supposed to be in neutral.


Sounds likely to me, too. That "blue" belt is almost defininitely not OEM.

Tommy

 

[matt_i]

Also good to check is that the idler sheave (i'm going to guess "B" in the diagram) and its mechanism is able to make the full travel to "slack position" via hand controls, that allows the belt to disengage belt tension so it simply slips on the other sheaves. I'm going to guess that its spring-tensioned when "drive forward" is selected.

 

[Charlie51]

I had the same issue after replacing the mower drive belt on an old Simplicity garden tractor. The drive belt was too short by probably 1/4 to 3/8 inch. I took it back to the auto parts store where I bought it and had them bring out another one for comparison. (I had bought that p/n Gates belt from them in the past.) Sure enough. What a difference.

 

[SGKent]

can't see the top 3 pulleys in the drawing so it is hard to say if there is an issue there.

 

[Larryjones]

Put the old belt back on and see if it still goes in neutral, compare the new and old belt, new should be just a bit shorter. You did save the old one didn't you?

 

[Ryanbabz71]

Put the old belt back on and see if it still goes in neutral, compare the new and old belt, new should be just a bit shorter. You did save the old one didn't you?

No it was stretched out and would slip off the pulley. Same this happened previously when I had to change over the years. It would not have been a good comparison. Gonna tear back into it soon


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[kbs2244]

If you threw the old belt away did you happen to keep the recipit?
With the PN on it?
(I keep mine in the filed away copy of the instruction book.)

 

[Ryanbabz71]

If you threw the old belt away did you happen to keep the recipit?
With the PN on it?
(I keep mine in the filed away copy of the instruction book.)

It’s the same part number that’s in the manual.


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[laser3kw]

Sounds likely to me, too. That "blue" belt is almost defininitely not OEM.

I by no means have seen it all, but I can't remember (?) an OEM belt being blue either.

 

[Ryanbabz71]

I by no means have seen it all, but I can't remember (?) an OEM belt being blue either.

Guess no one reads, bought that one tried it didnt work so I bought the Oem one which is black and same issue. I didn’t take a photo of that since it looks the same.

Took the belt off and reinstalled to make sure everything was properly installed. Reinstalled, same issue. In neutral the mower won’t move but when place in gear it takes off without pressing the drive lever on the handle.


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[LS6 Tommy]

Guess no one reads, bought that one tried it didnt work so I bought the Oem one which is black and same issue. I didn’t take a photo of that since it looks the same.

Took the belt off and reinstalled to make sure everything was properly installed. Reinstalled, same issue. In neutral the mower won’t move but when place in gear it takes off without pressing the drive lever on the handle.


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I must be losing it. I'm missing more details every time I log on...

Tommy

 

[laser3kw]

I must be losing it. I'm missing more details every time I log on...

Tommy

ditto
I was to busy concentrating on photos & manual pages I guess

 

[66cj225]

You have a lot of wrap on the drive pulley, in this case I bet it's the small one. When the tensioner slackens, the belt needs to lie away from this drive pulley, usually not much. It can be a carefully placed pin, a guard, likely something that was in the way when you replaced the belt. If not that, something is bent worn or misaligned. A Sears part number isn't going to tell you much about top width, v angle and length to go it on your own.

 

[SGKent]

photos don't let us see the parts that engage the drive belt. There is a lot a slack in the blade belt but none in the drive belt. It is like that silver drive pulley is too far forward (towards camera / blades and front of mower) but without having better photos of the area around the drive belt one can't say what is wrong. Sorry.

 

[66cj225]

My bet is either the small drive pulley loosened on its shaft and dropped towards the ground or the idler pulley's range is inhibited by cable malfunction.

 

[Ryanbabz71]

Well here is the verdict. It was the belt. I ordered a new one direct from MTD. There is a “new” a version that is 0.2” longer. I can tell you this belt is for much better. Getting an exact measurement on the other belts is tough but they both seem to be under 64 which what they are supposed to be. Mower is running again thanks for the help


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[Rickster55]

Well here is the verdict. It was the belt. I ordered a new one direct from MTD. There is a “new” a version that is 0.2” longer. I can tell you this belt is for much better. Getting an exact measurement on the other belts is tough but they both seem to be under 64 which what they are supposed to be. Mower is running again thanks for the help


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Love a happy ending!

 

[SGKent]

good job

 

[gayler]

Glad you got it going!