Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt

stang8689

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
I recently replaced the drive belt on my 25hp 54in cut Troy bilt. I spent alot of time trying to get the springs and the tension right. I have 1 acre of land, the mower was driving perfect then toward the end it started acting funny. I would have to let of the gas pedal and keep pushing it, I finished the cut and when I was washing the deck I saw 1 of the springs were hanging so I assumed that was the problem. I pulled the deck off replaced the spring crimping the end a little tighter and started cutting grass and not long after starting acting up again. I tried the springs in several positions and adjusted the tension several different ways. Everything seams to be tight when the pedal is pushed, tranny pullies and everything are turning. When I push the pedal it will move slow then stop, tried H and L gear and reverse all the same, Any idea's? Thanks
 

BKBrown

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
Not familiar with this machine, Are you sure the belt is routed properly and the tensioner is on the proper side of the belt ?

Is it possible that a shear pin in one of the drive pulleys has sheared off and a pulley is slipping on a shaft ?
 

stang8689

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
The belt is routed correctly and I don't see any broken pins, when im under the mower and I push the pedal both belts are tight and when I pull the belt by hand all the pulleys turn and seam to function normal.
 

BKBrown

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
Are you looking at the pulleys where they are on the shafts - they may turn fairly normally until they are under load and then slip. I don't know your level of experience and don't want to state too much that would be obvious to someone with a great deal of experience. Shear pins are usually in a keyway or can also be a bolt holding a shaft. They are designed to shear off rather than damage the equipment. It is not always necessary to have hit anything for one to break.
 

stang8689

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
I am not that experienced with mowers but I do mechanical work almost everyday. I am not familiar with the sheer pins you are talking about. Should I take each pulley of 1 by 1 and check? Thanks for your input
 

Lawnranger

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
First, what model Troy-Bilt do you have? It sounds like a tractor style mower and if it is, I have a few areas for you to check. My father-in-law has a Horse model Troy-Bilt and on his mower the bearing for the variable speed pulley locked up and was causing a similar problem. Remove both belts from the variable speed pulley and check the bearing to make sure it spins freely and doesn't grind or move when you rock the pulley from side to side. I'd check all the pulleys in the entire system, including the deck while you have it off, to make sure they are turning freely and that none of the pulleys have spun on their shaft i.e. sheared key as previously mentioned.

Did you use an O.E.M. belt or an aftermarket belt? Sometimes the aftermarket belts don't work as well as O.E.M. and that could be your problem. The new belt could have stretched and now is too long to work properly so you could remove it and match it up to the old belt. You mentioned that you spent a lot of time getting the springs and tension right. Usually you don't have to remove any springs or loosen the tension on the adjuster to remove the belt so maybe the tension adjuster is still at the wrong setting.

Does the mower roll easily when you push it by hand or is there a lot of resistance? Make sure the brake is not hanging up or that some foreign object is stuck in the brake mechanism causing extra drag.

These are just a few ideas to check and hopefully one of them will help.
 

stang8689

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
It's an 02 54in cut 25 horse, it pushes fine so nothing with the break. The belt is fine it worked fine until the spring popped of and is same size as old one. I actually replaced the belt last year but then had engine problems so I didn't put the springs back and didn't remember how they went which was why I spent a lot of time on it. As for the tension I tried all the way loose to all the way tight and does same thing. Thanks for all the help
 

Lawnranger

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
It's an 02 54in cut 25 horse, it pushes fine so nothing with the break. The belt is fine it worked fine until the spring popped of and is same size as old one. I actually replaced the belt last year but then had engine problems so I didn't put the springs back and didn't remember how they went which was why I spent a lot of time on it. As for the tension I tried all the way loose to all the way tight and does same thing. Thanks for all the help

Tell me the model name which is usually found on the hood. Some examples are: Bronco, Super Bronco, Horse. I saw that you said 25 horse but is that the engine horse power or model name? You can go to troybilt dot com and in the upper right corner of the screen is the "owner's center" tab. Click on it and input your model & serial number to get an owner's manual which has an illustrated parts list that shows how every part on your mower fits together. The model & serial number is usually under the seat on the mower. That is if you don't have your original owner's manual.

Perhaps you have a spring installed incorrectly and the IPL should help you. I'd sure like to know what ultimately fixes your mower so please keep me informed and I'll do everything I can to help.

One thing you didn't mention is the bearing(s) in the variable speed mechanism. My father-in-law's mower was only two years old when his bearing went bad so don't rule anything out until you verify that it is either good or bad.
 

stang8689

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
It's an 02 and back then they didn't name the models, I know what you are saying they make Mustang and bronco, etc. but the difference is just the cut size and hp. I have not had a chance to check that bearing that is my next thing to check tomorrow.
 

stang8689

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  • / Mower does not want to drive anymore after 1 cut since replacing drive belt
Also on the springs I did find a pick on troy bilts website in the owners manual it doesn't show exactly where they hook but how they are routed, there is only maybe 4 ways it could go and I've tried everyone
 
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