Change Drive Belt on a Husqvarna Lawnmower, step by step

Husqvarna lawnmowers have been around for quite some time and are one of the more popular brands. If you find that your Husqvarna lawnmower is running sluggish and does not cut the grass like it used to do, there may be a problem with the belt. It may also mean that the mower belt is an issue if your Husqvarna Lawnmower engine is running, but the mower blades are not turning at all. With a step-by-step solution, this blog helps troubleshoot your problem and fix the Husqvarna belt.

How to Change Drive Belt on a Husqvarna Lawnmower, step by step:

• Step 1: Determine whether you have a rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive mower.
• Step 2: Before you tip the mower to its side, empty the gas tank and remove the spark plug cable.
• Step 3: Place the mower upside down. Now, the components are unscrewed to make the belt accessible, such as the baffles, brackets, and mower blade.
• Step 4: Remove the pulley’s belt and replace it with a new, identical belt of the same model.
• Step 5: Connect the removed components back onto the mower, and test it with the new drive belt.

Drive belts are situated underneath the mower. Their job is to pass power out of the engine-transmission to the lawnmower blades. Attached to the blades is an axle that also includes a pulley. The drive belt passes above the pulley. In lawnmowers, Drive belts are commonly composed of Fiberglass and steel-reinforced rubber. They get worn out quite rapidly due to continued rough operation.

Please stay tuned to this post as we explain all the above steps and videos showing a hands-on demonstration of the processes.

Steps by step procedure for changing Husqvarna mower drive belt:

Husqvarna lawnmowers have two key categories when it comes to driving belts. That is front-wheel drive mowers where a belt powers the drive of the front wheels alongside the blades and rear-wheel-drive lawnmowers in which the belt drives the rear wheels of the lawnmower. We have listed the method for each of these categories below:

● Rear-wheel drive lawnmower:

Here are the steps for the rear wheel belt drive change:

– Step 1: Make preparations for belt change:

Before you change the drive belt, prepare the surface by placing some plastic sheets or cardboard. The lawnmower has to be positioned upside down on that surface. This step is done to prevent oil spills from spoiling the floor. It is often easier to empty the fuel tank before tilting the mower. Now, incline the lawnmower so that the air filter points upward. This position stops gasoline from pouring into the oil. To prevent the engine from starting accidentally, ensure that the spark plug wire is disengaged.

– Step 2: Detach the following parts:

Belt cover and baffle: You should remove the belt’s cover and baffle for most mower models. When tilting the lawnmowers, turn the screws that support the baffle and belt cover using a socket wrench.

Mower Blades: The belt is placed under the blades on the same shaft. Hence, if you unscrewed the nut that secures the engine blades to meet the belt pulley, it would help. Now, gently dislodge the blades while ensuring that you use gloves while handling them.

Traction spring: Afterwards, you have to detach the traction cable spring with a pair of nose pliers on the rear axle. Now, the transmission bracket can rotate freely.

Belt Guide: There is a belt guide that protects the pulley, and it is mounted on the transmission. You should turn the bolts and dislodge the guide so that the pulley is visible.

-Step 3: Removal of the old belt:

Next, detach the belt from the pulley when it is visible. You should make sure that you have purchased the right kind of belt for your model by going through the owner’s manual.

– Step 4: Assembly of removed parts:

Fix the new belt to the transmission’s pulley. At the same time, wind the other end of the belt onto the pulley below the blade. Place the belt guide back on the transmission bracket and secure the screws. Then, attach the traction cable’s spring back to its original position. Ensure the replacement and assembly of everything you have removed, such as the mower blades, belt cover, and baffle. With the latest belt-mounted now, it might be a good idea to take your mower for a test drive.

● Front-wheel drive lawnmower:

The procedure for changing the front-wheel of the belt is much the same as above. Below, for the sake of detail, we shall build on it.

– Step 1: Setting up the mower:

This stage, as mentioned above, is quite the same. Just ensure that the lawnmower is oriented with the air filter pointing up and the spark plug wire disengaged. If you are using an electric lawnmower, you should remove the key from the switch.

– Step 2: Remove the components

Next, parts need to be removed, such as the belt cover and baffle, mower blades, traction spring, and belt guide. You should know that different models have different components, so you should detach them one by one to access the belt drive.

It is also better to take photos of the parts before removal and replacement so that it is easy to know which portion goes where before reassembling them.

– Step 3: Replacing the damaged belt

Replace the old belt with a newly acquired drive belt for your Husqvarna lawnmower model.

– Step 4: Reassembly

Fit all of the removed pieces back into their original places and fix the bolts tightly. Now, turn the lawnmower upside down and take it out for a run. It is appropriate to analyze a renewed belt drive’s performance on the mower’s speed and the cutting quality.

Related Questions:

1. Why does my drive belt keep slipping off from the lawnmower?

The drive belt may come off your riding lawnmower for various reasons. The necessary interpretation can depend on the make and model of the mower. Before you decide what went wrong, and attempt to fix the problem, perform a safety inspection. Wear gloves and goggles after the engine cools, separate the wire or cables from the spark plug, and ground the wire or cables against the engine. When you are operating, the engine does not operate by accident.

– Defective Components:

Many other mower components repeatedly allow the drive belt to come off. If they are not in working order, drive pulleys and idler pulleys hamper regular belt operation. Without restriction, the movable arm should swing freely, and the blade spindles should also freely move. Test the rake or pitch of the mower. Slightly forward, a correctly adjusted mower deck tilts, making it 1/8 to 1/4 inch lower in front than in the back. And the belt comes off if the angle is too high.

-Debris Buildup:

In a riding mower, an accumulation of debris may interfere with normal belt function. Ensure that no grass, dirt, sticks, saplings, or other sludge is found along the drive belt anywhere. Not only can debris cause the belt to slip or work poorly, but it can also present a fire danger. Clean all of the debris thoroughly, using a firm brush to rub the belt.

2. What is a belt-drive in a lawnmower?

A drive belt is a mechanical instrument that links the engine and the transmission shaft and transfers power from the lawnmower’s engine. Thus, the mower functions are carried out, including advancing the unit forward and spinning its blades.

In lawnmowers, the drive belt primarily links the transmission shaft to the engine shaft. The transmission shaft is then used to drive the lawnmower’s wheels either forward or backward. In most situations, the blades are also connected to the transmission shaft. The drive belt then performs its functions in such a way by both rotating the blades and propelling the mower forward.

3. What are the main types of drive belts based on design?

V-belts and synchronous belts are the two commonly used design types in transmission applications. The two belts are different from one another depending on the tooth shape and application.

In V-belts, to create the cross-section, a wedge-shaped profile is used. They use friction to create a tight grip on the pulley. Synchronous belts give a toothed or notched profile on the belt. Sometimes referred to as timely belts, they are typically mounted on a pinion or toothed gear.

All kinds of belts are lined with a tensile cord material that carries the load or is identified as the belt’s muscle. Materials including polyester, polyurethane, Fiberglass, steel, or Kevlar are widely used as tensile cord materials in drive belts because of their high stiffness.

4. Is Kevlar useful for drive belt applications?

Kevlar-reinforced belts have better shock and impact resistance as opposed to steel. Furthermore, Kevlar has a high elastic modulus, suggesting that its percentage of elongation is lower than that of other materials at a given load. However, belts with Kevlar tensile belts are usually expensive.

Final Remarks:

The belt drive is among the essential transmission mechanisms. Therefore, one must know the setup to carry out the belt’s ultimate replacement without further issues. The lawnmower is subjected to dusty environments, and constant usage deteriorates the belt’s output overtime in harsh circumstances. If you have all the mechanical instruments and expertise at your disposal, removing the belt is not challenging. Before the belt is visible, the screws and brackets under your mower need to be dismantled. Also, make sure you follow the safety procedures and don’t start your machine accidentally.