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I have a 2019 Huskee LTD4200 (MTD). A few weeks ago the spring on the retracror arm broke. I ordered a replacement and since then it has been shredding belts.

At first I didn't think anything of it, the one that was on it had been for several years and was already fraying, then I ordered the cheapest one on Amazon, straight from China and it didn't even last one round the yard. That's what I get for being cheap. But when I bought a name brand replacement from Tractor Supply and it had the same result had the same result, I'm wondering what else could be wrong. The only thing I can think as being different is maybe I put the new spring on wrong, but I can't figure any other way it could be. See photo attached.

Lets start with the model and serial number from the tag under the seat. So we can look up your exact model without guessing and check the diagrams.

Never heard of a Huskee LTD4200 but of course I don't see a ton of Huskee brand mowers. As IL said we need the model number from the serial number tag.

But I am pretty sure the connecting link is severely bent as the LH brake is in the wrong place and it is probably what is shredding the belt.

13AN77SS031/13AN77SS231 (LT4200) (2019)

Well neither 2019 LT4200 shows that spring on the deck. Looks like someone just stuck it on it as it may not even belongs on that deck.

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To me it looks like it is a 2015 deck. I’m thinking the spring will go into the slot on the tensioner arm. If you look closely you will see that that slot is worn. The other end of the spring will be attached to the left hand support, looking at the picture, which will push the brake pads against the pulleys. If the OP can provide us with a second picture, backed out to see more of the deck, it would help us help him. I’ve attached a 2015 deck diagram which may help. https://apps.mtdproducts.com/manuals/769-10466.pdf

Yes it is probably the same deck design as what I posted. The spring is item 24 on that diagram but it definitely don't go where the op has it.

I agree, that’s why I wanted a bigger picture. Definitely not a 2019 deck. Good possibility that the deck is not original to the tractor. Once again the OP has to realize that if we were standing next to him the problem would be solved in 5 minutes, but it will take 5 days because we can’t see what he sees.

the deck is not original it was replaced a couple years ago.

Wish you would have said that in your first post. It would have saved us a lot of time trying to figure out what you have. Each of the techs on this forum have worked on hundreds of deck models and trying to figure out what you have with faulty info takes up our time and we start guessing, which we hate to do. Then the model number you posted means nothing. You must realize we can only help you if you provide us with all information you have, not just bits and pieces. You will need to provide us with pictures to all parts of the deck. That is the only way we can best help you.

A belt shreds when it is running against some thing that it should not .
On decks then most of the time it is because the belt is on the wrong side of a belt keeper or even a brake ( on manual PTOs )

Rivets said:

Wish you would have said that in your first post. It would have saved us a lot of time trying to figure out what you have. Each of the techs on this forum have worked on hundreds of deck models and trying to figure out what you have with faulty info takes up our time and we start guessing, which we hate to do. Then the model number you posted means nothing. You must realize we can only help you if you provide us with all information you have, not just bits and pieces. You will need to provide us with pictures to all parts of the deck. That is the only way we can best help you.

Click to expand...

Thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate all you guys do, not just for me on this particular project but all of the good information across the long-closed threads. I only have gotten as far as I have because of what you all have given voluntarily (at least I assume you are voluntarily doing this out of the goodness of your heart).

I appologize for not including the information at the beginning that the deck had been replaced, I was of the understanding that it was still setup the same way as what is in the manual. (Both the user manually included and the much more detailed repair manual I found on-line, Which appears to be the same @StarTech posted earlier). Everything appears to be in the same location. I do find those diagrams difficult to read. There is a seperate diagram on the shell of the deck itself, which appears to be of whatever tractor that particular deck was orginally manufactured for as it shows 6 pullies versus the four I have on my machine. I had thought my inquiry was related only to the spring and the arm, from one of the earlier forum posts I foudn in my internet search I thought perhaps I had the arm in upside down, its coming from the top down into the hole on what I believe is called the deck idler bracket (part labeled 35 to part labeld 47 on the manual posted on partstree which I suspect is the same one from which @StarTech pulled the screen shot they posted above), but I don't see how I could fit it in the other way. The manual appears to indicate that I have it the right direction to me, but I'm old and can't see so well these days. The location of the spring is more difficult to see in the diagrams, but this looked the best i could find. I'm not actually the one who mows, my wife is due to my server grass allergies. Everytime its stopped this summer and she's had me inspect that arm has bounced out of the hole. It sure feels like there should be a cotter pin keeping it in place, but there isn't even a hold in the arm to put a pin.

Given what photo I provided previously, I had cropped it down to only show the portion that I thought was relevant after the website gave me an error that the image was too large. I can take it again after first making sure my camera is set to a lower resolution so that the file doesn't reach the file size limit. Is that all that I need is the same photo of the deck that has been disconnected from the rider, basically whats there just including the wider portions of the photo to include all of the parts in the photo, or is there more you need?

StarTech said:

Never heard of a Huskee LTD4200 but of course I don't see a ton of Huskee brand mowers. As IL said we need the model number from the serial number tag.

Click to expand...

You are correct, It's an LT4200, not LTD, my memory has failed me again.

But I am pretty sure the connecting link is severely bent as the LH brake is in the wrong place and it is probably what is shredding the belt.

Click to expand...

Thank you so much for this insight. By chance would you mind pointing out which parts you are reffering to?Maybe by downloading my original photo and editing it such to circle what you are talking about? I don't see anything with those names when I look at the manual posted on partstree (or the numbers referenced there)?

Well neither 2019 LT4200 shows that spring on the deck. Looks like someone just stuck it on it as it may not even belongs on that deck.

Click to expand...

Well I put the spring there. The part I ordered was:

MTD 732-04629​

EXTENSION SPRING

Which I believe is the part that broke, and I attempted to put it where I thought the diagram was describing in the link above. It is certainly possible that I am way off.

Thank you so much for you giving your time to help the less mechanically inclined like myself. I've already learned so much on this forum and working on this silly lawnmower so often this year that this computer nerd is starting to see the appeal of doing mechanical work oneself and the affection my grease monkey father had had for it. I really wish he were still with us, as @Rivets had said it would be so much quicker with you standing right next to me and being able to see what I see rather than days of asynchronous back and forth.

Edit: Well, now that I compare that photo with my receipt, it looks like I may have actually got the

MTD 932-0384 Extension Spring, .62" X 6.12"​

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  Yeah, this diagram also looks familiar https://www.partstree.com/models/13a2775s000-yard-machines-lawn-tractor-2013/mower-deck-16/ and is probably what I referenced when putting it on, but that's clearly not my deck as it has 2 pullies and mine has 4. :-(
  
  I guess if there is a spring there pulling on the arm, and there isn't supposed to be, that could why the arm is out of the hole every time I look at it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

bertsmobile1 said:

A belt shreds when it is running against some thing that it should not .
On decks then most of the time it is because the belt is on the wrong side of a belt keeper or even a brake ( on manual PTOs )

Click to expand...

I believe mine has a manual PTO, a spring tightens and releases from a cable (similar to those connected to bike hand-brakes) that is driven by the enage/dissengage lever.

I when I put the new belt on, I had felt like it shouldn't be going around the square piece

But there is near 0 room between that and the pulley and no matter how I tried I couldn't squeeze the belt in there.

To install the belt you need to loosen the bolt that holds the pulley on so you can insert the belt between the belt guide, square piece, and the pulley. Then tighten the bolt back down. Next remove the spring in your picture and move the tensioner arm until both brake pads are in contact with the pulleys. If you notice there is a slot on the tensioner arm, nest to the belt guide. One end of the spring will go in that slot. You will then have to find where the other end of the spring goes to keep the brake pads tight to the pulleys. When everything is installed correctly the PTO lever will move the tensioner arm, moving the pads away from the pulleys. The springs pulls the brake pads back against the pulleys when the PTO is disengaged.

And that "square bit is called a "belt keeper" it's job as you have found out is prevent the ble passing between it and the pully so when the deck is turned off and the belt goes slack it does not jump off the pulley
And if you ran the belt over the outside that will shred the belt in almost no time
Same story for brake pads, the belt has to go between the pad & the pulley

So now its time to get a new belt, again. Is ordering the cheap ass one on Amazon straight from China again, or does it really make a difference to get a genuine MTD one?

well a year later and I am no better off, but to amswer my own question above, a legit MTD was definitely tge right choice. I've had the belt smoking a couple times, and it still functions.