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Hi... I was wondering if you guys/gals might be kind enough to try and answer a question for me?
I have a 21hp V-Twin Craftsman B&S engine - on a DYT4000, with a go issue.

When you put it into forward, and let off the break, the belt sequels like crazy and it does not want to move.
(sometimes it will move a bit or try to move, most times not)

But if you pull the break petal all the way up by hand, the squealing goes away and the mower takes off. Once you do this, it will go for a bit and have to do it again. Other times you have to hold it continuously or every 30 seconds or so.

I tried putting a spring on the end of the petal linkage, pulling the linkage shaft toward the front of the mower but then it did not move at all, even though the linkage rod was all the way forward like it would seem to be when you pulled the petal all the way up by hand.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you,
Johnny

PS - Brakes are not working. Brake disk has about -1/16 to 1/8 play in it (side to side), so pins are not pushing metal plate into pad. Simple adjustment I can do.

Belts squeal because they are running on something that is not turning with them
Check all of the pulleys
Also check the pivot point for the tension pulley arm they flog out oval
Also check where the clutch/brake pedal comes to rest under the mower
Debris builds up under the frame and stops the pedal moving all the way to the off position.

Hi bertsmobile1, thank you.

Everything is fine when you pull up on brake pedal lever... so pulleys are not the problem.
Don't know what "flog out oval" means. But... tension pulley arm pivot point seems fine.
No debris build up. All is free moving without obstruction.

Thank you,
Johnny

Put up the mower's model number off of the tag under the seat.

Thank you Fish...

Model# 917.274040

J

Fish said:

Put up the mower's model number off of the tag under the seat.

Click to expand...

Don't know what "flog out oval" means.

Click to expand...

Maybe this example will help. The left idler arm is borderline good and the right one is bad. Notice bad out round the large pivot is on the right one when compared to the only slightly out round the left is. This a deck idler arm and the blade brakes on both unit were not working.

StarTech said:

Maybe this example will help. The left idler arm is borderline good and the right one is bad. Notice bad out round the large pivot is on the right one when compared to the only slightly out round the left is. This a deck idler arm and the blade brakes on both unit were not working.
View attachment 56033

Click to expand...

Thanks StarTech, I'll check that out.
But... I'm less concerned about the breaks working than I am about what is causing the loud squealing and the lack of mower movement when brake petal is released.

Are you saying that this is the cause for THAT issue?

Thank you again,
Johnny

Ideas anyone?

I think Star Tech is referring that the idler arm that puts tension on your drive belt may be wore out and you pulling up on the brake some more may take up some of the slack.

That's what I thought too but when I put a spring on the linkage, it made it not want to move at all. Maybe I put the spring in the wrong place.

BiggyJ said:

Thanks StarTech, I'll check that out.
But... I'm less concerned about the breaks working than I am about what is causing the loud squealing and the lack of mower movement when brake petal is released.

Are you saying that this is the cause for THAT issue?

Thank you again,
Johnny

Click to expand...

As suggested previously, determine which pulley is not rotating. Follow logical progression of belt around idlers and work pulleys. Worry about the Brakes later after you determine that they are fully released.

Key # 55 spring will break. Located on the right front under side of the frame close to the side. Easy to miss. 105709x , clutch return spring. Worth a look. Good luck.

I had the same problem with a brand new Husqvarna 16 years ago. After filling it with gas, couldn't get it to move off the trailer without lifting the brake/clutch pedal up with my foot. Figured just stiff linkage on a new mower so I put a bungee cord from the pedal arm up to the engine cover. Ran it about 10 hours then it quit moving at all. Looked at drive belt and thought it looked mighty skinny for a 22hp machine. Bought new belt, and wow, the difference. Apparently, to satisfy a customer looking for a new belt and not having one in stock, the dealer swapped belts on machine I ended up buying. You didn't say how many hours on machine or mention belt age/hours. I suggest check for excessively worn belt.

BiggyJ said:

Hi... I was wondering if you guys/gals might be kind enough to try and answer a question for me?
I have a 21hp V-Twin Craftsman B&S engine - on a DYT4000, with a go issue.

When you put it into forward, and let off the break, the belt sequels like crazy and it does not want to move.
(sometimes it will move a bit or try to move, most times not)

But if you pull the break petal all the way up by hand, the squealing goes away and the mower takes off. Once you do this, it will go for a bit and have to do it again. Other times you have to hold it continuously or every 30 seconds or so.

I tried putting a spring on the end of the petal linkage, pulling the linkage shaft toward the front of the mower but then it did not move at all, even though the linkage rod was all the way forward like it would seem to be when you pulled the petal all the way up by hand.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you,
Johnny

PS - Brakes are not working. Brake disk has about -1/16 to 1/8 play in it (side to side), so pins are not pushing metal plate into pad. Simple adjustment I can do.

Click to expand...

My craftsman was doing the same thing- belt slipping. When I pulled back on the brake it would go. One of the problems I found on mine was that some frame bolts had come out and my frame was bending making the belt lose. I fixed the frame and it helped a lot, but not enough so I purchased a 1 inch smaller sized belt and that did the trick.

Bellcrank said:

Key # 55 spring will break. Located on the right front under side of the frame close to the side. Easy to miss. 105709x , clutch return spring. Worth a look. Good luck.

Click to expand...

Checked spring. It's OK. Thank you for your help!

Hey guys... do all you pro tecs only replace belts with OEM belts or is there another brand that you trust that's less money and can be picked up at like Home Depo, Lowes or Ace?

If so, would you please give me some part number (both belts) for the model number below?

Model # 917.274040

Thank you,
John

MOWER BELT
OEM craftsman Part #174883
or a

5/8 width x 90-3/32 length inch​

belt will work.

DRIVE belt
Craftsman #140294
OR

1/2 width x 82-in length​

belt will work.

Stens, Rotary Corp, and Prime Line are good aftermarket belts.

It is a clutching belt designed to slip so must be fully wrapped and hopefully kevlar™ reinforced.
They are also usually an odd length
So standard V belts will not do the job

Thank you guys. Let you know how it turns out

OK everyone, problem solved. Thank you all for your kind help. As it turned out, the old adage "the simplest solution is usually the correct solution". Replaced both belts, works like new again.

However, I did learn a valuable lesson today. Always read the specs on the belt itself and NEVER go by only the belt holder package specs.
I could not find the 1/2"x82" brand belt (main drive belt) that I wanted so I decided to just pick up any brand belt at Home Depo. Found a package that said 1/2"x82", so paid for it and started back home from this 60 mile (one way) trip.

I go home and put the belt on and it was way, way big. Crap, so thought to read the numbers on belt itself and holy crap... 1/2"x88". Wow, I was pissed, I'm on Disability and paying for gas even to go that distance on the 20th. of the month was a bit tough. So... then I had the pleasure of doing it all again.
So this time I got a Blue Husky Kevlar belt.

Well, seems this day just is not going to end well with this mower venture. My wife just came in and says that now it has no reverse. What in the world could I have done to cause this? My wife says that when you put it in reverse, sometimes it will try to engage and and sometimes it will move a bit and sometimes it just does nothing.