Put a belt on a craftsman riding lawnmower: step by step

Confused about how to replace the belt on your Craftsman riding lawnmower?  We have the solution. Our step-by-step guide will make this task straightforward and manageable. You’ll be back to mowing your lawn before you know it.

First, disconnect the spark plug to replace the belt on a Craftsman-riding lawnmower. Lower the mower deck, remove the old belt from the pulleys, and slide on the new belt. Reconnect the spark plug wire and check the new belt is adjusted correctly.

Venture ahead with our step-by-step guide that transforms a daunting task into a manageable one. Learn how to efficiently replace your lawnmower’s belt and return to gardening quickly. Keep going. The solution is just a few scrolls away!

General Guide to replace Craftsman riding lawnmower belt:

The following steps should be followed to make the process as easy as possible. If, at any point, you feel that the job is beyond your level of expertise, consult an expert.

● Step 1. Gather the necessary tools and disconnect the spark plug

Working on your lawnmower is easier if you have the right tools. Replacing the drive belt on the craftsman riding lawnmower is no exception. The first step will be to remove the old belt. When done, you can check the condition of the pulleys and crankshaft.

The most important supply you need is the replacement belt. Make sure that you have the correct one for your craftsman lawnmower type. It needs to have the right length and shape. Ensure that the size is spot on. Slightly shorter or longer will not work.

To start the work, you should have the following tools at hand:

• A pair of safety gloves
• Set of Pliers
• Screwdrivers
• Adjustable wrench
• Woodblocks

● Step 2. Position your lawnmower to a smooth surface.

Place the craftsman riding mower on a smooth and level surface before you start to work. Leave the transmission in gear and apply the lawnmower’s parking brakes so that it does not roll. Disconnect the spark plug cables before putting a new belt on your lawnmower.

This is a safety precaution to ensure that the mower can not unintentionally start while you are working on it. Where needed, protect your hands by wearing work gloves. Also, turn off the ignition switch.

Set your mower deck to the lowest possible setting if you do not want to remove the deck during the process. In some modern versions of the craftsman riding lawnmower, it is easier to remove the cutting deck. It makes your approach to the pulleys much easier.

● Step 3: Remove the mower deck

Removing the lawn mower blade may take some time and patience. Move the deck height adjuster to lower the deck to the lowest possible point. A bolt is on the deck’s rear section near the tire, and bow clips are present above this bolt. Remove these bow clips. After that, disengage the cutting blades.

You can do this by pushing the drive lever towards you, which is present on the side of the steering wheel. A Craftsman riding lawnmower is unique as its drive belt wounds over the mower deck and the crankshaft in a spiral. Now, release the drive belt from the belt keepers by rolling the blade belt off the engine.

Detaching the support from the deck is very necessary from both sides. In this case, you must remove the pin and washer support for the drag links and suspension arms on both sides. Remove the left suspension arm retaining clip and washer and detach it.

– Release the Left Rear Deck Bracket Clip

Now, release the bracket from the deck by removing the left rear deck bracket clip. Similarly, the right suspension arm and rear bracket can be removed by repeating the same process. After removing the right and left suspensions, arms, and rear brackets, pull the deck out and access the blade cable attached to the deck.

If you’re looking to replace a riding lawn mower blade, especially for a Toro model, you’ll need to follow these steps. First, ensure the belt won’t spin on the mower. Then, you’ll need to focus on the blade drive belt on a riding lawn mower.

Once you’ve ensured the belt on a riding lawn mower is positioned correctly, you can proceed with the replacement process. Remember, safety comes first! Always disconnect the spark plug before working on your mower.

● Step 4: Remove the old belt

Release the locking tabs and pull the cable out of the deck bracket. A blade cable spring is present on the idler arm. Disconnect it and move the cable aside. Finally, free the old cable of any connections. Remember the safety precautions while repairing any machine, as safety is essential.

So, you should avoid using the lever until the craftsman mower deck is reinstalled. There are two pulleys on which the belt is being set. One is called an idler pulley, and the other is a mandrel pulley. Now, lose the pulley on which the old belt is already present. Use your hands to slip the belt off the pulley.

A small belt guide is also current on the pulley. To remove the belt, shake the guide and the pulley. Similarly, remove the belt from the second pulley as well.

● Step 5: Putting on a new belt

We can start putting on the new belt when you finish the previous step. The Craftsman riding lawn mower has two pulleys over which the belt has to be mounted. The belt size can differ according to the model of the lawnmower. It ranges from 42 to 50 inches long.

First, take the new belt and slide it up and around the engine pulley. Install the new belt between the pulley and the guide, and install it on the mandrel pulley with the extensive belt guide. Carefully use your hands to work it down onto the pulley.

Ensure the belt fits entirely on the pulley grooves and has no lag. Now, wrap the belt around the idler pulley in the same way. Move the pulleys by hand; they should move without any restriction.

● Step 6: Reinstall the mower deck

Reinstalling the mower deck after successfully replacing a blade drive belt on a riding lawn mower would be best. First of all, push the deck near the craftsman lawn tractor frame and connect the blade clutch cable spring to the idler arm.

Now engage the locking tabs by pushing the blade clutch retainer into the deck bracket. Repair the front link support in the same way you disconnected it. It will be the reverse of the above process. Now, carefully reconnect the right and left suspension arms and deck brackets.

– Checking the Connections and Lubrication of the Blade Belt

Take the blade drive belt through the belt keepers and then roll it onto the engine’s pulley. This will be the third pulley. Always check the connections and lubrication of the blade belt. If adjustment is needed, adjust it properly so the blade belt is routed well overall pulleys and through all belt keepers.

Finally, reconnect the spark plug wire and lower the hood. Push the drive lever to engage the blades. Turn the mower on and check if the engine sound is typical and the blades move freely.

If the blades don’t spin, it might be a part issue. Always ensure that you check if the blades spin freely. If they don’t, it could mean that the blade drive belt won’t turn the blades properly.

Additional concerns:

Always keep in mind the safety precautions. They will keep you safe. Some of the precautions you need to follow are given below:

• Use safety gloves: You do not want your hands all oily and greasy while fixing the lawnmower. So it would be best to wear safety gloves to avoid this issue.
• Remove the spark plug first: You do not want to get an electric shock while fixing your lawnmower. So, for that, you need to ensure the plug is removed.
• Have a first aid box nearby: You should keep the first aid box with you to treat any injury promptly instead of rushing here and there at the moment of need.

Frequently asked questions

1. The belt comes off whenever I engage the blades. What to do?

If you engage the blades and the belt comes off, the belt installed is not correctly adjusted. The belt’s size ranges from 42-50 inches, depending upon the model, so if you don’t use the correct belt, the problem may occur.

So, the only solution to this problem is using the right size belt with the proper and tight connections. If you observe that your pulleys have gotten loose or that the fasteners are corroded, get them replaced by the machine’s expert.

2. I have bought a new belt, but it does not fit on the pulleys. What to do?

You may have brought the wrong belt for your lawnmower. Check the model of your lawnmower from the user manual, and always buy the belt using specific instructions. Its size ranges from 42-50 inches. Avoid purchasing the belts of other machines like automobiles. Where possible, try to use genuine parts.

3. When should we replace the lawnmower belt?

A lawnmower belt needs immediate replacement if it is broken or worn out. If it is not replaced, your mower won’t run properly. Faults in the belts make the belt break randomly. Increased mower use shortens the period in which belts need to be replaced.

If your belt gets loose, it needs an immediate adjustment or replacement. There is no fixed time to replace lawnmower belts, but you should check the belt condition at least once a season.

Remarks

To conclude, we can say that a lawnmower is a machine that should be adequately maintained. If not, it always will cause issues and will not work well at some point. The drive belt is an essential part that keeps the blade rotating.

Mower issues like cutting power loss and jerks are indicators of belt issues. This article provides the simple, easy-to-follow steps to put on a new drive belt on your Craftsman riding lawnmower. If at any point you feel that the issue is beyond your comprehension level, ask a professional for help.