Mower smokes/burns like crazy

[rigoletto]

People,

1998 MTD rider mower, last month it cut grass nicely. Now, I start it up, it starts up nicely, and lower the mowing deck to 1st notch and mower starts smoking like crazy from underneath. I figured belts. The smell is of burned rubber. Blueish white dense smoke. Blades never even turn.

So I jacked it up, tried to inspect for obvious mechanicals, by raising/lowering the deck and noticed the deck does not lower evenly but lowers on the left side almost all the way but the right only lowers say, only up to the 1st notch (highest grass cutting height position). I cant see why this is happening. Also, 1st time ever that I had this smoking incident.

Thanks, people.

 

[sgkent]

you have to figure out why the pulleys are not moving. The smoke is the belt slipping. Could be a pulley rusted solid. Could be a branch stuck in it, a rat built a nest in there, a spring broke, or oil dripped down on the belt, lots of things.

 

[rigoletto]

Thanks, Kent. I did check out the pulleys and they are good. I turned them by hand before starting the engine. Then I started the mower, and dropped the deck and BAM- the spindle/pulley assembly on the right collapsed!! The deck mounding area was totally rusted out. Not worth spending 400-500 $$ on a new deck! Finally the 27 year old mower has called it quits. Too bad as the reliable legendary Tucumseh engine starts like a race horse still. Will have to giveaway on Craigslist.

BUT, now to evaluate a new mower, opinions appreciated as to a good choice, at least 42" cutting width. Which should I buy? John Deer WITHOUT the easy change oil filter feature? Has a twin cylinder engine, I heard.........

 

[slomo]

Stay away from Deere. Unless you like spending a ton on parts and repairs. They break just as often as others.

Why not weld up the deck? Take it to your local vo-tech or high school welding shop. Or have a welder repair it for you. $400-500 is cheaper than a new mower.

Remember those older machines are built way heavier slash better than these new ones by far. Your money.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Stay away from Deere. Unless you like spending a ton on parts and repairs. They break just as often as others.

Why not weld up the deck? Take it to your local vo-tech or high school welding shop. Or have a welder repair it for you. $400-500 is cheaper than a new mower.

Remember those older machines are built way heavier slash better than these new ones by far. Your money.

I do deck repairs all the time. Just repaired a spindle mount on deck that had rotted/rusted out, along with two other issues welded back on deck. Check with a local shop and see if they can help you.

 

[rigoletto]

Wow, you guys are great! Always there to inspire, and advise intelligently! Maybe I should repair this old mower, engine still going strong! Tecumseh never quits, at least those made 27 years ago!

 

[rigoletto]

Just thought, the worst thing about removing the deck is dealing with that awful spring from the back- it is a brutal task. Removing not so bad but putting it back- for Paul Bunyan. Anyone have an easier way, maybe using some type of lever action?