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Good morning.
My Craftsman GT6000 (917.288612) doesn't want to move forward with the pedal to the metal. I decided it was the drive belt. It should be here tomorrow, but no garage and it's supposed to rain for days. Ugh
I watched some YouTube videos, and it seems straight forward. You know it never works that way though. Any advance advice? I don't have a cool mower jack or ramps. It's just me the mower and the patio.
Have a great day!

Sounds like a job for a couple of cinder blocks under the front wheels with the deck removed. Take pictures as you go.

The belt can be bad, but I recommend you replace any pullies that have bearings.

Check out: https//www.partstree.com/search/?type=model&term=Craftsman+GT6000+Garden+Tractors&msockid=116a01d897b266133e1614789676672f

Auto Doc's said:

Sounds like a job for a couple of cinder blocks under the front wheels with the deck removed. Take pictures as you go.

The belt can be bad, but I recommend you replace any pullies that have bearings.

Check out: https//www.partstree.com/search/?type=model&term=Craftsman+GT6000+Garden+Tractors&msockid=116a01d897b266133e1614789676672f

Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll check it out.

The idler and tensioner pullies usually fail along with the belt.

The Harbor Freight lawn tractor jack is worth its weight in gold !

Cusser said:

The Harbor Freight lawn tractor jack is worth its weight in gold !

Click to expand...

I will have to check that out. I don't have a garage though, nowhere to put it. But after being stuck under the mower ALL DAY, lol, it would probably be worth it.

Welp, I got it done!! It took all day. It got a deck belt too though. It would rain and I had to drag everything in, then it would stop. I ended up just staying out in the rain. It was dry under the mower. I had it covered. My neighbors think I'm, weird, lol. Of course, in the videos I watched they didn't have to remove the steering column. Or the thing that keep the PTO clutch (?) from spinning and unplug it. Or the battery. BUT, it goes really fast now. haha Thanks for taking the time for your input. I checked all the pullies, and they were perfect. If I would have known sooner I would have gotten some when I ordered the belt. I have cinder blocks but I don't know how you get them up there, lol. A jack? I don't have one. Maybe in my truck, idk I didn't read about the mower jack until after I was done. I might have gone and got one. I am going to go to their website and check it out though. Thanks again.

Hello sheetmetalbab,

Glad to hear you got it done.

A mower jack when working on a rider or zero turn is a life changer for the better. Try to keep it covered when you are not using it. I have to weld the upper handle back on mine because of rust and leaving it in the weather year-round. (I should know better)

The cinder block idea is if you had a person to help lift and place the blocks under the front tires.

Drive belts can be some of the hardest things to change on a rider. Taking it to a shop would be expensive.

Hey Doc,
Yea I keep it covered all the time and on the patio. I ended up using a blow-up kid pool. They work GREAT! They last for years. It completely covers it except about 6" from the ground in back. I had A John Deere and that cover ($80) couldn't beat the kiddie pool. There's a website, an online auction. I don't know if there is one in your area, but I got the pools for A PENNY!! It's called "BidFTA online auctions". If not wait until fall when they are on clearance. Definitely worth it. Some of the stuff on that site is brand new high dollar at unbelievable prices and some is junk.

Yea, I hope I never have to do that again. There's no room to get both arms in there. You can't see in there! LOL The video guy just shoved the new belt in there. Well... I got it under the rod that goes to the gas pedal (I think) and I already had it around the back pully under the fan. THEN on attempt two, I couldn't get it all the way on the front pully where you have to pull the guard down. I tried and tried and after three rains, I got it!!!!! And realized the back had come off and was below the pully. So, third times a charm. And my neighbor was out mowing in the rain. I think he was rubbing it in. They all have two 2 car garages AND sheds AND pools. But I have more land than all of them and a bigger mower. haha life's a trip.

Yea, I got the belt for 20 bucks on Amazon. John Deere USED to want $45 just to come get the mower. And right now, EVERYONES mowers are in the shop and it could take weeks and cost idk, 100's?? And I just had to buy a new water heater. And lay a new hardwood floor. I'm now the proud owner of a 3 in 1 floor nailer. I could put it next to my new mower jack!

Now if I could just get the chain saw carb adjusted so it runs things would be great. Those neighbors watched me cut up 7 80' dead ash trees all by myself (I paid to have them dropped) one summer and never offered to help. That's fine but when the job was done and there was a mountain of wood, they wanted free firewood. I said no.

Thanks again

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Way too many people these days don't understand (or ignore) the age-old rule of "love thy neighbor as thy love thyself' or anything about reciprocating courtesy. They all seem to want something for nothing and not work for anything.

I grew up out in the mountains of Virginia back in the 70's and often times bartering and helping neighbors was a way that everyone was able to get by in life. Much of the time a simple "thank you" and genuine appreciation was all that was needed. I call it payment to the soul.

It was a culture shock when I came to South Texas in the late 80's with the military. Many the civilian local people were outwardly suspicious of everything and everybody. It took years in some cases to build community relationships with some people. It helped when they started teaching me some basic Spanish and some of the cultural differences.

There are still a lot of good people in the world of every ethnic culture, but way too many have just become self-serving and only interested in their own self gain.

Modern (distorted) 24/7 news and smart phones are the demise of genuine human communications.

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Way too many people these days don't understand (or ignore) the age-old rule of "love thy neighbor as thy love thyself' or anything about reciprocating courtesy. They all seem to want something for nothing and not work for anything.

I grew up out in the mountains of Virginia back in the 70's and often times bartering and helping neighbors was a way that everyone was able to get by in life. Much of the time a simple "thank you" and genuine appreciation was all that was needed. I call it payment to the soul.

It was a culture shock when I came to South Texas in the late 80's with the military. Many the civilian local people were outwardly suspicious of everything and everybody. It took years in some cases to build community relationships with some people. It helped when they started teaching me some basic Spanish and some of the cultural differences.

There are still a lot of good people in the world of every ethnic culture, but way too many have just become self-serving and only interested in their own self gain.

Modern (distorted) 24/7 news and smart phones are the demise of genuine human communications.

I did not read all of your post, but if you will get the EXACT model number from your mower, usually from under the seat and download a free owners manual it usually has all the exact steps for replacing belts and adjustments for the GT series of tractors.
Instead of using a jack for lifting mowers I have a 1 ton chain hoist, that way none of the jack is in the working area, but always use a addition safety stand underneath so if the main lifting fails you will not get smashed.

Shade tree mechanics (I also use such) use the hoist method underneath a large shade tree. (but also use safety stands)

Auto Doc's said:

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Way too many people these days don't understand (or ignore) the age-old rule of "love thy neighbor as thy love thyself' or anything about reciprocating courtesy. They all seem to want something for nothing and not work for anything.

I grew up out in the mountains of Virginia back in the 70's and often times bartering and helping neighbors was a way that everyone was able to get by in life. Much of the time a simple "thank you" and genuine appreciation was all that was needed. I call it payment to the soul.

It was a culture shock when I came to South Texas in the late 80's with the military. Many the civilian local people were outwardly suspicious of everything and everybody. It took years in some cases to build community relationships with some people. It helped when they started teaching me some basic Spanish and some of the cultural differences.

There are still a lot of good people in the world of every ethnic culture, but way too many have just become self-serving and only interested in their own self gain.

Modern (distorted) 24/7 news and smart phones are the demise of genuine human communications.

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Forest#2 said:

I did not read all of your post, but if you will get the EXACT model number from your mower, usually from under the seat and download a free owners manual it usually has all the exact steps for replacing belts and adjustments for the GT series of tractors.
Instead of using a jack for lifting mowers I have a 1 ton chain hoist, that way none of the jack is in the working area, but always use a addition safety stand underneath so if the main lifting fails you will not get smashed.

Click to expand...

Forest#2 said:

I did not read all of your post, but if you will get the EXACT model number from your mower, usually from under the seat and download a free owners manual it usually has all the exact steps for replacing belts and adjustments for the GT series of tractors.
Instead of using a jack for lifting mowers I have a 1 ton chain hoist, that way none of the jack is in the working area, but always use a addition safety stand underneath so if the main lifting fails you will not get smashed.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I got it done though. No lift, no blocks. I don't even have a garage. It ran great but now it's leaking oil, lots of oil. 1/2 a quart per acre. Any hot tips there? I think that might be over my head. I already did the rocker arm covers. Not there.

sheetmetalbabe said:

Thanks. I got it done though. No lift, no blocks. I don't even have a garage. It ran great but now it's leaking oil, lots of oil. 1/2 a quart per acre. Any hot tips there? I think that might be over my head. I already did the rocker arm covers. Not there.

Click to expand...

The likely possibility is the oil cooler O-ring if it has an oil cooler where the oil filter mounts.
Second possibility is the bottom case/sump gasket if it has oil all around the platform where the engine mounts.
Third would be the crankshaft seal if it has oil all around the bottom side of the engine and electric PTO.
Does it smoke badly? If so, the cylinders and pistons are likely bad.
1/2 quart per acre is pretty serious.

sheetmetalbabe said:

Thanks. I got it done though. No lift, no blocks. I don't even have a garage. It ran great but now it's leaking oil, lots of oil. 1/2 a quart per acre. Any hot tips there? I think that might be over my head. I already did the rocker arm covers. Not there.

Click to expand...

The likely possibility is the oil cooler O-ring if it has an oil cooler where the oil filter mounts.
Second possibility is the bottom case/sump gasket if it has oil all around the platform where the engine mounts.
Third would be the crankshaft seal if it has oil all around the bottom side of the engine and electric PTO.
Does it smoke badly? If so, the cylinders and pistons are likely bad.
1/2 quart per acre is pretty serious.

Auto Doc's said:

The likely possibility is the oil cooler O-ring if it has an oil cooler where the oil filter mounts.
Second possibility is the bottom case/sump gasket if it has oil all around the platform where the engine mounts.
Third would be the crankshaft seal if it has oil all around the bottom side of the engine and electric PTO.
Does it smoke badly? If so, the cylinders and pistons are likely bad.
1/2 quart per acre is pretty serious.

Click to expand...

Well.... it's been leaking for a long time. It would smoke on occasion when I would first start it. Just the oil that had leaked while it sat there burning off the motor I thought. It leaks while just sitting, does that mean it's not in the motor? I just had wiped it all down and had it cleaned to put two new belts on. When I started mowing it started leaking real bad. It smoked so bad cars were slowing down to look. But the grass was so tall I just kept mowing. I think it was dripping on the new belt because sometimes it didn't want to move forward so well and then it would get its power back. But it would smoke real bad first like oil dripped on something hot. There's oil all over everything. I used to think it might be where you let the oil out. There is a little puddle there too on both sides. It went from a slow leak to an emergency, Idk if I can mow the whole yard again. Does that mean anything? Get a new mower?

sheetmetalbabe said:

Well.... it's been leaking for a long time. It would smoke on occasion when I would first start it. Just the oil that had leaked while it sat there burning off the motor I thought. It leaks while just sitting, does that mean it's not in the motor? I just had wiped it all down and had it cleaned to put two new belts on. When I started mowing it started leaking real bad. It smoked so bad cars were slowing down to look. But the grass was so tall I just kept mowing. I think it was dripping on the new belt because sometimes it didn't want to move forward so well and then it would get its power back. But it would smoke real bad first like oil dripped on something hot. There's oil all over everything. I used to think it might be where you let the oil out. There is a little puddle there too on both sides. It went from a slow leak to an emergency, Idk if I can mow the whole yard again. Does that mean anything? Get a new mower?

Click to expand...

You need to wash it down good (while cooled down) with a good soap like Dawn and get as much oil of as you can. A stiff paint brush and a rag to scrub it well will help a lot. Rinse and then let it dry. From there, run the engine at idle and watch for oil drips. It will be much easier to see where the oil is coming from the most. You may have more than one leak.

If you are not smoking out of the exhaust badly, there is oil leaking onto hot engine parts.

Auto Doc's said:

You need to wash it down good (while cooled down) with a good soap like Dawn and get as much oil of as you can. A stiff paint brush and a rag to scrub it well will help a lot. Rinse and then let it dry. From there, run the engine at idle and watch for oil drips. It will be much easier to see where the oil is coming from the most. You may have more than one leak.

If you are not smoking out of the exhaust badly, there is oil leaking onto hot engine parts.

Click to expand...

Good morning.
So we meet again, lol. I thought after the new belts I would be set for the summer. NOT. I've cleaned it off and tried to see where the leak is many times. But I guess I'll give it one more shot. I'm wondering if it's worth fixing at 11 years old if I have to pay someone to fix it. I think they should last 30 or 40 years with good maintenance, but I guess they are mass produced, and they just don't. Other than the oil leak and two bald front tires, it runs and still looks good. No rust, hahahaaa. The oil keeps it nice and new looking when you wipe it off. It's always had a problem with random bolts falling off. MAYBE the oil filter wiggled loose. 3 bolts fell out of the exhaust, and I had to Loctite them in. A bolt fell out of the plate where the tie rod hooks too, lucky I found it in the grass. So, I'll wipe it off and fill it up and mow again tomorrow. It took probably 5 hours to mow the other day because I had to keep going over the same areas because the grass was so tall. If I pray hard enough a chunk of dirt might get wedged in there and stop the leak!! Happy Mother's Day!! LOL

You say it also leaks oil when the engine IS NOT RUNNING.
If so this should be easier to locate the leak.

Might could use a dye in the oil to locate the leak.
Use about 1/4 oz of motor oil dye. You can review such on-line.

Yes, it leaks when it is just parked. I have a little mess after winter to clean up.
I will check that out on YouTube. Thanks for the tip.