Help me diagnosis a mower problem?

[Flintstone]

A year ago, I bought a 1996 Agway (MTD) 42", 14.5 hp B&S for a new 5 acre property. The land, once beautifully landscaped, had been quite neglected. I put this poor, old mower through hell hitting rocks. One time, I hit a big rock and one of the belt guards actually FLEW off. Ever since that incident, every time I DISENGAGE the blades, it makes a God awful whining/screaming sound. This whining/screaming happened only as the blades slowed. Once fully stopped, the sound went away. It creates no sound when the blades are reingaged.

So, this spring I decided the belt had stretched and needed to be replaced. Today, I replaced it. While I had the deck off, I also replaced the blades.

The sound still occurs. But it's worse. It makes a whining/screaming sound constantly, however less severe, when the blades are DISENGAGED - and only disengaged. It's as if nothing is wrong when the blades are engaged.

Bottom line: I have a moderate whining/screaming sound constantly when the blades are disengaged. I have a severe whining/screaming when disengaging the blades till they wind down and then it settles in to it's moderate whining/screaming. When the blades are engaged, you wouldn't know anything was wrong. Belt is new. Blades are new.

On what should I focus next?

Thanks!

 

[reynoldston]

sound to me like you might have a bent something and a pulley is hitting a whatever? It is very hard to diagnosis something like that without seeing it or hearing it.

 

[Flintstone]

sound to me like you might have a bent something and a pulley is hitting a whatever? It is very hard to diagnosis something like that without seeing it or hearing it.

That would be something I could probably see with the deck still attached, right? Thanks for the help!

 

[joeschmoe]

I would look at the mechanism that applies tension to the blade drive belt. Seems like something may be rubbing against the drive pulley (on the engine shaft) when it's disengaged, then when you engage the blades (move the lever/mechanism), whatever is rubbing moves away from whatever it's rubbing against. Do the blades come to a complete stop when disengaged? (don't check by putting your hands or face near them). If not it could be the belt tensioner pulley bearings.

 

[Carscw]

A year ago, I bought a 1996 Agway (MTD) 42", 14.5 hp B&S for a new 5 acre property. The land, once beautifully landscaped, had been quite neglected. I put this poor, old mower through hell hitting rocks. One time, I hit a big rock and one of the belt guards actually FLEW off. Ever since that incident, every time I DISENGAGE the blades, it makes a God awful whining/screaming sound. This whining/screaming happened only as the blades slowed. Once fully stopped, the sound went away. It creates no sound when the blades are reingaged.

So, this spring I decided the belt had stretched and needed to be replaced. Today, I replaced it. While I had the deck off, I also replaced the blades.

The sound still occurs. But it's worse. It makes a whining/screaming sound constantly, however less severe, when the blades are DISENGAGED - and only disengaged. It's as if nothing is wrong when the blades are engaged.

Bottom line: I have a moderate whining/screaming sound constantly when the blades are disengaged. I have a severe whining/screaming when disengaging the blades till they wind down and then it settles in to it's moderate whining/screaming. When the blades are engaged, you wouldn't know anything was wrong. Belt is new. Blades are new.

On what should I focus next?

Thanks!

There is a pulley on the deck that moves when you engage or disengage the blades. You have bent the arm that the pulley sits on this arm also runs the blade brakes. The sound you hear is that pulley and or the brakes or brake arm rubbing on the deck.
Take the deck off and you can see where it is rubbing. Do not clean the deck before you look.

With the deck off move the arm and you will see how it works. Should be able to bend it back up.

Did you put the belt guards back on?

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[Flintstone]

There is a pulley on the deck that moves when you engage or disengage the blades. You have bent the arm that the pulley sits on this arm also runs the blade brakes. The sound you hear is that pulley and or the brakes or brake arm rubbing on the deck.
Take the deck off and you can see where it is rubbing. Do not clean the deck before you look.

With the deck off move the arm and you will see how it works. Should be able to bend it back up.

Did you put the belt guards back on?

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Thanks to everyone who responded. Especially if you were among the few to mention the blade brakes. They were the culprit. She's quiet as a church mouse now... A church mouse... With a 14.5 hp small engine strapped to it's a-$-$. Thanks again!