Clutch or loose belt?

[ttener]

Toro Z master turbo force 52 with Kawasaki FX691 motor. Older - maybe 10 years old.

I’ve replaced all belts before, but not recently- maybe they are 2-years old now.

stumped… when I engage the blade PTO it’s like it’s struggling to get up to full speed. It doesn’t seem to bog the motor down, just won’t crank the blades up all the way up to cutting speed. Sometimes it will catch, other times not.

I looked for anything in the belt path - clear. I can turn the blades by hand and watch the clutch turn, but it makes a friction sound. Not a grind, just a metallic friction noise. It’s pretty ez to turn the blades tho - so I think spindles are all good. Recently greased idler arm.

Deck is relatively clean, no issues there, although I’ll clean it up for kicks.

I guess I need to get corporate (wife) out to engage PTO in park and watch the clutch, belt action tomorrow.

Any advice much appreciated!

UPDATE: I pulled the blades to sharpen while I was under there. 1 blade was bent! I’m hoping that was just enough to throw it off! I’ll try it tomorrow

 

[5030]

Sounds like the friction plate on your clutch is needing adjustment. Some you can adjust, some you can, some you cannot.