1997 mtd front drive belt removal

[StarTech]

Should been able to access the top CVT pulley through the battery box area.

Well one question did you even tried removing the snap ring and nylon washer on top of the CVT pulley?

 

[seattlepioneer]

Here goes .The old one was worn down enough to remove and not so bad. THis is wintout have the center console panel to remove. Insturtions were vague with the mowere as usual. This is just for the lower front drive belt only but the rear has to be removed also and its easy as the instructions with the mower say to do. Front driove belt apply brakes remove guard around engine pulley 4 screws two each side of frame and remove belt from pulley. To remove from swivel variable speed pulley. i too off the nut 9/16 holding the pulley on . Instructions say to loosen but that does not work or didnt for me I took it off nothing will fall off.Pull the pulley assembly down as far as needed to rmeove past belt guide The outide belt guide is stationary and cannot be moved. Remove the belt from the right side of pulley to give more room to remove the belt and gives more slack. To finish removing the the belt this is the hard part or was for me. Push the pully up left hand and same time push up the top half of the pulley to get more room to barely slide between the top part of of the bolt holding the pulley on you will see that when removing the belt. Taking off was not that bad after getting the hang of it. Push the belt over the top of the pulley the tae it off from the front no need to remove engine pulley at all. Install in reverse and just put the side on where the pulley is first to get that slack. Hope this helps it was a pain but lessons learned.It would be 10 times easier had they put that access panel from above. I did not post anyhtin gabout removing the rear belt but it is pretty simplified.

Sounds like someone needs to make a You Tube video of this procedure....

This is a lot more than I can imagine, and as a DIYer, I don't have that equipment anyway.

How did you soldier your way through to solving this problem, which was apparently complicated and unintuitive? Strategies for solving problems seem to me to be especially valuable to learn.

 

[tk1251k]

Should been able to access the top CVT pulley through the battery box area.

Well one question did you even tried removing the snap ring and nylon washer on top of the CVT pulley?

 

[tk1251k]

You cannot access the top of the middle swivel pulley that the rear and front belt attact to from above no way there is no cut out panel to remove. Has to be done from below both rear and front belts.I have removed and replaced the rear pulley several times but never the front it is something else but like I said now that I have done it with much anguish and frustration its about a ten minute job,

 

[tk1251k]

Sounds like someone needs to make a You Tube video of this procedure....

This is a lot more than I can imagine, and as a DIYer, I don't have that equipment anyway.

How did you soldier your way through to solving this problem, which was apparently complicated and unintuitive? Strategies for solving problems seem to me to be especially valuable to learn.

A bunch of frustration and trial and error and finally giving it all I had lol but it really looks almost impossible by looking wiht smallest amount of room to deal with.

 

[seattlepioneer]

A bunch of frustration and trial and error and finally giving it all I had lol but it really looks almost impossible by looking wiht smallest amount of room to deal with.

If all it took was a lot of frustration, I would have more success with repairs....

You didn't mention the often key role of bad language. Perhaps you should be put up for sainthood as well.

 

[tk1251k]

If all it took was a lot of frustration, I would have more success with repairs....

You didn't mention the often key role of bad language. Perhaps you should be put up for sainthood as well.

There was enough of that to last awhie and then my shoulder. A lot of searching language and frustration but you know it paid off.