Rear Finish Mower Land Pride 1560 help!

[tobypineo]

Hi folks, thanks for reading. I can't figure out what's wrong with my LP 1560...the middle blade is spinning freely. The side blades are turning by the belt, as they are supposed to. The middle one just "freewheels". The nut is TIGHT! Can't budge it. I don't understand why the blade has enough clearance to rotate freely...ideas are welcome. Fwiw, I have no idea how old the mower is, bought used, it's all rusty, nothing pretty about it, but it has been mechanically sound until now. Thanks for any ideas.

 

[RickB]

Loose pulley/broken key at the top of that spindle?

We can't see it. You have to look closer to see what is turning and what isn't.

 

[tobypineo]

Nothing else is turning. The pulley, top nut, grease cup, washer...nothing. I can wiggle the blade a little up and down, seems like it must be loose

 

[RickB]

Blade bolt and washer are tight but blade turns independent of anything else? Blade contact area is worn.