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On a Craftsman lawn tractor. It is a 42" cut.
Assuming I have to drop the deck, how hard would this
be to change out say on a scale of 1 to 10
with 1 easy for an idiot and 10 difficult for an experienced mechanic? :ashamed:

YardMonkey said:

On a Craftsman lawn tractor. It is a 42" cut.
Assuming I have to drop the deck, how hard would this
be to change out say on a scale of 1 to 10
with 1 easy for an idiot and 10 difficult for an experienced mechanic? :ashamed:

Click to expand...

That is going to determine by that you have for tools, skills, equipment, and place to work??

The belt is easy I would say a 3. What pulley are you wanting to change? The one on the rear end would be about a 5 the one on the engine would be a 1

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Carscw said:

The belt is easy I would say a 3. What pulley are you wanting to change? The one on the rear end would be about a 5 the one on the engine would be a 1

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Get into the real world. Without tools and skills it is all a 10 and with its a 1or 2. I have some people that come into my shop that changing oil is a number 10.

It's not that hard to look online or pick up a book and if you can read you can do it I bet there is a pic of how the belt goes on on the mower some where. He was smart enough to come on here and ask for help so I think he has a wrench and a pair of pliers. And every one has the skill just some don't take the time or don't have the time to look up how to do things

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Carscw said:

It's not that hard to look online or pick up a book and if you can read you can do it I bet there is a pic of how the belt goes on on the mower some where. He was smart enough to come on here and ask for help so I think he has a wrench and a pair of pliers. And every one has the skill just some don't take the time or don't have the time to look up how to do things

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I personally don't know the person so it is very hard to say one way or the other. No not everyone has the skills just because you do. I have been doing this work for the last 60 years and I don't know about you but I have seen it more then once when someone has made a big mess not knowing what they were doing. One of the worse things is when they start wiring and changing switches. I don't have to look very far in my home because I think my wife could mow the lawn with a flat tire and not know anything is wrong.

reynoldston said:

I personally don't know the person so it is very hard to say one way or the other. No not everyone has the skills just because you do. I have been doing this work for the last 60 years and I don't know about you but I have seen it more then once when someone has made a big mess not knowing what they were doing. One of the worse things is when they start wiring and changing switches. I don't have to look very far in my home because I think my wife could mow the lawn with a flat tire and not know anything is wrong.

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My wife would also mow with a flat tire. I won't work on any ones mower for them I learned to fix my own so I don't have to take them to a shop I don't mind paying the price you all charge but I just can't wait a week or two to get my mower back a lot of times I am 2 hrs from
Home and have to fix things where I am at. Now I guess your right most things are a ten for most people. I can take four mowers all different models and build one and it's a 1 for me now when it comes to getting a small engine to run right I'll give it a 10. So maybe I spoke to soon My wife says that my biggest fault is I think if I can do it than every one can do it

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YardMonkey said:

On a Craftsman lawn tractor. It is a 42" cut.
Assuming I have to drop the deck, how hard would this
be to change out say on a scale of 1 to 10
with 1 easy for an idiot and 10 difficult for an experienced mechanic? :ashamed:

Click to expand...

If you can get it up at a convenient working height it makes it much easier. It's been awhile but I don't recall having to remove the deck on this one.

I've not changed a drive belt on a craftsman but on the one pictured there is a procedure to follow in the manual and without knowing that one step it could drive a person insane. Find the owner's manual if you can as it often has instructions for the homeowner to follow so it must not be a 10 on the difficulty scale. Take pictures if possible to follow on assembly.

since we speak of wife challenges! mine is from Philippines. when she got here, unable to drive, I began teaching on the mower. OMG, she ran over the house, shop, electric service pole,etc,etc:laughing:

the dogs would look at me, like are you crazy:confused2: the leave for the entire time the mower was running:laughing: as time passed she mastered the mower:thumbsup:

now the art of driving an F250 is going about the same she wants a small car, needs a Sherman Tank

oh to the Op, research before you begin, If you have tools and think you can,carry it somewhere!!
It is not too hard...

I would say that i am probably more mechanically inclined than most. i have been able to change the deck belt and a couple of mandrels. Have a floor jack and will be working on the garage floor. Got basic ratchet and socket sets, screw drivers, channel locks, vise grips, etc. So I guess with what I read from above post is...I don't know because answers ranged from 1 - 10 so I guess I will assume about a 5.
I think I can do that...50/50 chance of success :licking::licking::licking::licking:

YardMonkey said:

I would say that i am probably more mechanically inclined than most. i have been able to change the deck belt and a couple of mandrels. Have a floor jack and will be working on the garage floor. Got basic ratchet and socket sets, screw drivers, channel locks, vise grips, etc. So I guess with what I read from above post is...I don't know because answers ranged from 1 - 10 so I guess I will assume about a 5.
I think I can do that...50/50 chance of success :licking::licking::licking::licking:

Click to expand...

Now if that is the case it's not a bad job. Might make it a little easyer to remove the mower deck.

I changed my drive belt on my troy bilt and I found it harder then I thought. I tried with the deck on and hard a hard time, after removing the deck it was much easier. Best advice I would give to take pictures, draw diagrams, just make sure you have something to refer to. I also found it easier on my model to remove the 4 bolts holding the engine to the frame and tilting it up some and looping the belt around the pulley. I kept fighting trying to get it on then finially did that and it went right on

YardMonkey said:

I would say that i am probably more mechanically inclined than most. i have been able to change the deck belt and a couple of mandrels. Have a floor jack and will be working on the garage floor. Got basic ratchet and socket sets, screw drivers, channel locks, vise grips, etc. So I guess with what I read from above post is...I don't know because answers ranged from 1 - 10 so I guess I will assume about a 5.
I think I can do that...50/50 chance of success :licking::licking::licking::licking:

Click to expand...

YardMonkey,
You have the basic tools and mechanical instincts to do the repair no problem, but that is half the battle. What usually happens is it is not as simple as it seems for the unforseen laws of murphy or the monkey wrench that gets throwed in when the bolt or nut is rusted so bad that it gets stripped trying to loosen etc. or something is in the way that has to come off to be able to access the pulley or belt. :mur: You can do it, I am sure. I see you are from the great state of Alabama so you are already ahead of most in the common sense department! :thumbsup: Good Luck!