Here's a new one for you

ByronBob · Jul 11, 2005

Here\'s a new one for you

I'm trying to mow with my Craftsman. I engage the deck and neither of the blades move. The belt is routed the correct way but the belt just spins in place. Could the belt be stretched out too far to work.
Another question. Could the pulleys engage but possibly not far enough to put enough tension on the belt to spin the blades?

Dozernut · Jul 11, 2005

Re: Here\'s a new one for you

You might look under the deck and see if something is wedged between the blades and the deck. Check the spindles to see if a bearing is seized. Maybe the belt is simply worn and stretched. One other possibility is that you sheared a key on the drive pulley.

ByronBob · Jul 11, 2005

Re: Here\'s a new one for you

The blades are free and I didn't think of the key. Belt could be stretched but wanted to rule all other things out first.

Where would the key be?

cphilip · Jul 11, 2005

Re: Here\'s a new one for you

Not certain on this particular model or anything so take this with a grain of salt....

Most times there is an idler pully tension spring and its end fastens somewhere on the frame or deck. It could not be fastend and therefore the belt is not staying tight. Often its a loop of chain that hooks into a notch. This has to be pulled into its notch to keep that idler pully tensioned.