26
Drive Belts (Upper and Lower)
NOTE:
The engine pulley must be removed from the
engine’s crankshaft in order to change the tractor’s
drive belts. Doing so requires an air/impact wrench.
It is recommended that both belts be changed at the
same time.
•
Place the deck engagement/lift lever in the
engaged (all the way forward) position.
•
Unthread the shift knob and remove the two flange
screws which secure the shift cover panel in place.
Refer to Figure 15. Remove the shift cover panel.
NOTE:
There is a small yellow wire connected to a
spring switch on the underside of the shift cover panel.
Be careful not to damage it when removing the panel
•
Using a spring puller (MTD Part No. 732-0571)or
other suitable tool, disconnect the spring which is
attached to a small hook found on the left, rear
portion of the transmission. Refer to Figure 24.
•
Using a spring puller (MTD Part No. 732-0571)or
other suitable tool, disconnect the two springs
which are attached to the rear portion of the tractor
frame. See to Figure 32.
•
Place the deck engagement/lift lever in the
BLADES STOP position.
•
Locate the two belt keeper pins, found on either
side of the engine pulley, and use a 1/4-inch socket
wrench to remove them from the lower frame. Refer
to Figure 25.
NOTE:
When reassembling, make certain belt keeper
pins are assembled in the same locations from which
they were removed.
•
Using an impact gun with a 5/8-inch socket, remove
the hex screw with secures the engine pulley to the
engine crankshaft.
•
Carefully lower the pulley off of the crankshaft and
remove the belt from around it.
•
Disconnect the battery cables from the terminals
(disconnect the NEGATIVE (Black) wire from it’s
terminal first, followed by the POSITIVE (Red)
wire).
•
Detach the battery hold-down rod and remove both
the battery and battery tray from the tractor.
•
Locate the transmission pulley though the battery
tray opening. See Figure 33.
•
Using an impact gun with a 13/16-inch socket,
remove the pulley from the transmission’s input
shaft by removing the flange nut which secures it
•
Carefully lift the pulley off of the transmission’s
input shaft and remove the upper drive belt from
around it and the variable speed.
Figure 32
Figure 33
NOTE:
A spacer is located beneath the transmission
pulley. Be careful not to lose the spacer and be certain
NOT reinstall the spacer upside down.
•
Remove the lower drive belt from around the lower
portion of the variable speed pulley and feed it
toward the shift cover panel opening.
•
Remove the lower drive belt by lifting it through the
cover panel opening.
•
Reassemble new belts, following the previous
instructions in reverse order.
IMPORTANT:
When remounting the engine pulley,
torque the hex bolt to between 38 foot-pounds and 50
foot-pounds.
IMPORTANT:
When remounting the transmission pulley,
torque the flange nut to between 25 foot-pounds and 33
foot-pounds.
Springs
Transmission Pulley
Flange Nut
