How Hard To Change Pulley and Drive Belt

YardMonkey · Mar 30, 2012

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:

reynoldston · Mar 30, 2012

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:

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

Carscw · Mar 30, 2012

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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reynoldston · Mar 30, 2012

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.

Carscw · Mar 30, 2012

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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reynoldston · Mar 30, 2012

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.

Carscw · Mar 30, 2012

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.

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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SeniorCitizen · Mar 30, 2012

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:

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.

john higginbotham · Mar 30, 2012

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...

YardMonkey · Mar 30, 2012

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:

How Hard To Change Pulley and Drive Belt

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