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I have a 2016 MTD Yard Machine, I have looked on line and cannot find another one like mine to adjust the deck belt. All the videos I saw show different kinds of adjustments but none are like mine. The brackets where the cable goes through are not adjustable and I don't see any other kind of adjustment on it.

1st post. Welcome. Try model, serial number etc., and why you feel a need to adjust the belts. For example - if the old ones wore out, and you put new ones on, maybe they are the wrong length. Or maybe the pulley brakes are worn and changing the geometry to where belts no longer fit properly.

Hi J. Loyd,

There are thousands of MTD models, being a 2016 does not help us very much at all (It's not like a car or truck).

Locate the product identification label and let us know the exact model and serial information on it.

Help us help you.

Thanks, and welcome to the forum.

Of all the MTD decks I seen none are adjustable when comes belt tension. All have used springs. And if is a manual PTO the spring is usually at the end of the cable. Once the belt is worn out it gets correct replacement.

Now I have one version of the 46" deck that an one inch shorter belt is required.

sgkent said:

1st post. Welcome. Try model, serial number etc., and why you feel a need to adjust the belts. For example - if the old ones wore out, and you put new ones on, maybe they are the wrong length. Or maybe the pulley brakes are worn and changing the geometry to where belts no longer fit properly.

Click to expand...

My deck belt started coming off when I would disengage and I would have to put it back on, I bought a new belt according to model number and belt number I got the correct belt, but when I installed it, it seemed a little long and I had the same problem belt would come off when engaged. I looked on line to see if I could adjust the tension on the belt, I saw many videos and different kinds of adjustments, but none of them works for this MTD Yard Machine. My brackets that holds the cable are stationary they do not move, I have looked carefully and I don't see a way to adjust the tension on the belt. I came to the conclusion that I will need to buy a shorter deck belt.

StarTech said:

Of all the MTD decks I seen none are adjustable when comes belt tension. All have used springs. And if is a manual PTO the spring is usually at the end of the cable. Once the belt is worn out it gets correct replacement.

Now I have one version of the 46" deck that an one inch shorter belt is required.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your response I have been going nuts trying to find some kind of adjustment on this mower finally someone knows more than I do about this. I am going to buy a belt a little shorter than the one it calls for.

StarTech said:

Of all the MTD decks I seen none are adjustable when comes belt tension. All have used springs. And if is a manual PTO the spring is usually at the end of the cable. Once the belt is worn out it gets correct replacement.

Now I have one version of the 46" deck that an one inch shorter belt is required.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your response I believe my only choice is to buy a belt shorter than the one it calls for

sgkent said:

1st post. Welcome. Try model, serial number etc., and why you feel a need to adjust the belts. For example - if the old ones wore out, and you put new ones on, maybe they are the wrong length. Or maybe the pulley brakes are worn and changing the geometry to where belts no longer fit properly.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your response

This problem sounds like one or more of the belt guides have been bent out of place when the deck belt was removed and installed (common problem). The typical upright belt guide pins that are near the spindle pullies practically touch the pulley when installed correctly.

There are also right-angle sheet metal guides that are associated with the tensioner and idler pullies. They should sit close to the pulley as well. Some guides actually have a locating tab that the guide must be aligned with.

Last but not least is the crank pulley belt guide. It sits close to the crank pulley to prevent the belt from slapping around and jumping off.

Any guides that are missing or snapped off will allow the deck belt to jump off the pullies.

J. Lloyd said:

Thank you for your response I have been going nuts trying to find some kind of adjustment on this mower finally someone knows more than I do about this. I am going to buy a belt a little shorter than the one it calls for.

Click to expand...

J. Lloyd said:

I have a 2016 MTD Yard Machine, I have looked on line and cannot find another one like mine to adjust the deck belt. All the videos I saw show different kinds of adjustments but none are like mine. The brackets where the cable goes through are not adjustable and I don't see any other kind of adjustment on it.

Click to expand...

Check and make sure all belt keepers are in place and that you have a pulley cover over the outside deck spindles.

This type of PTO design has the belt loosening when the PTO arm is off and being drwn tight by the spring on the end of the cable. If the belt loosens too much, it will bounce when the PTO is released and try and jump off a pulley. This is why it is very important to have the belt keeps in place and the covers over the spindle pulleys. They act as keepers too. If your belt is too loose, it will probably jump off. If your belt is too short, the blades may continue to run, at some speed, when the PTO is released. There should be brake pads, about 1" square associated with the spindle pulleys. They come in contact when the PTO is off to hold the blades from turning. Also, with the belt loose, or uninstalled, check all idler pulleys to see if they turn freely and are all in level with each other.

On one machine I went 1" shorter on the belt and on on other, I had to go 1.5" longer. This was after checking everything I mentioned above.