The MTD riding mower is an essential tool to deal with your yard. It helps you a lot. As a return, it just asks you for routine maintenance. Replacing your mowers drive belt is among them. You should make the maintenance properly.
You should change your mowers drive belt every two years. You may need to replace it anytime for accidental issues though. In a word, what I am trying to convince is that you will need to replace your MTD riding mowers drive belt and you should know how to do it.
Today, I will be providing you the detailed process that following which you can replace the drive belt of your MTD riding mower. So, stay with me till the finish.
Things that you will require:
- SAE socket set
- Clean rags
- Pliers (regular and needle-nose)
- Screwdriver
Step-1:
Your first step towards replacing your mower drive belt will be parking your mower on a surface. Obviously, the surface needed to be plane. So, simply set the parking brake, turn off the ignition key, remove the spark plug and then park your mower on a plane surface. Then, use the deck lift lever for lowering the mowing deck to the low position.
Step-2:
After parking your mower, now you have to disconnect the rear and front deck supports of your mower. You have to use pliers, pins and sliding onwards for removing them. Then, your next task is removing the PTO drive belt shield. You can do this by your hand with the help of a screwdriver.
After that, your final task in this step is to remove the mower deck from below of your mower. In this case, you have to slide the mower deck out on the left side of your tractor.
Step-3:
Now, you have to remove the battery first. For that, lift the seat of your mower and then remove the battery. You are supposed to find a transaxle below the battery box is secured using the 7/16-inch nut. You have to loosen the transaxle with the help of your 7/16-inch socket at first. Then, use the needle-nose pliers for taking off your transaxle pulley spring from the anchor bolt which you will find on the left side of your mower.
Step-4:
Finding this task difficult? Not actually. You have finished most of your steps. However, you will see a PTO belt on your transaxle. You have to remove it now. Then, use the screwdriver and remove the screws using which the belt guide is secured on the variable speed pulley bracket. You should slice the belt very carefully. Then use a 1/4-inch socket for removing the belt guard you will see around your mowers engine pulley.
Step-5:
Now, you have to take off the crankshaft pulley. You will find the crankshaft is secured using the bolt, flat washer and lock shower. You have to remove them with the help of a 1/2-inch socket. After removing them, you will be able to take off the crankshaft. Once you will take off the crankshaft, then you can take off the drive belt now. You have to take off the drive belt from your mower by twisting and then easing it in the direction of the engine.
Step-6:
Now, the steps you are waiting for. After removing the drive belt, now you can install the new drive belt on your riding mower. So, place the drive belt into its position. Then, you have to reinstall everything. Follow the reverse procedure for installing them as you have uninstalled them. After installing everything, now you are ready to go with your mower.
Safety Tip: Don’t forget to wear a pair of safety hand gloves.