MTD Rider, from 1998. Speed stick goes from 1-6. Lately any setting from 1-5 goes sooo slow, like never before. The difference between 1 and 5 is hardly noticeable, and when going up a slight hill the mower almost stops, until the ground levels out and mower speeds up a bit again. BUT when speed stick is placed on setting #6, the mower takes off like lightning! Sheesh- at 5 so slow, a tad faster than 4, then at 6 , look out! Why does it do that?
Both of them
Vari drive belts must be replaced as a pair.
Get them from a mower shop or a dedicated mower parts retailer, either shop front or on line .
I usually fit Stens or Gates belts that are exact OEM dimensions
MTD superseded the 754 prefixes to 954 prefixes several years ago but many IPLs still haven't been updated to the new numbers. And "A" suffix is a newer revision of the part.
And as said both belts needs to replaced as a set. Just replacing one or the other is just leads to problems later as one that not replaced will give problems. Besides it only take a little longer to replace both at the same time. This way if a shop doing the work you only get charge for labor once not twice.
And it is just physics as I personally have this happen here in the shop too with my personal mower where it would not climb a slight grade except in the top speed setting.
Wow, a year already!! I did install the new engine to variable speed pulley belt, a Stens. And wow, so much better! The other bely had only been replaced recently, so I didnt bother. BUT, Now, where before just about all speeds from 1-5 were sluggish, and 6 speed sent the mower speeding out of control, now all speeds behave nicely! Except 4!! Why is it that speed @#4 is behaving badly, meaning when the mower reached a slight incline, it almost comes to a stop. Sheesh! Then I put it in 5th, and all goes well. Speeds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 react predictably, as in going a bit faster, but #4 forget it! I dont get it, people. It actually comes to a dead stop on approaching a slightest incline.
That is common
It is a sure sign that the belts or pulleys are worn beyond use
Speed 4 is the mid point where the variable speed pulley is smack in the middle of it's travel
