Belt begins to smoke and squel when I go to engage the deck

[cookdi]

I have a Bolens 15.5 HP lawn tractor. When I go to engage the deck I get a high pitched squealing sound then smoke. Is this a bad pulley or belt? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Rookie here.

 

[Rd05lly]

I have a Bolens 15.5 HP lawn tractor. When I go to engage the deck I get a high pitched squealing sound then smoke. Is this a bad pulley or belt? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Rookie here.

Take belt off and see if pulleys turn free. I am sure one is locked up

 

[fuzzman]

yep that's what mine sounded like when my pulley was locked up!

 

[cookdi]

OK thanks for the help. Any idea if the pulley is a quick fix and if it is expensive?

 

[Rd05lly]

I call it easy but I was a diesel tech. Won't know the cost until you find out what pulley (bearing) it is. Could just be idler pulley. Take belt loose and try to turn them by hand.