The self-propelled MTD lawnmower is a well-designed, sturdy machine with a reasonable price. The lawnmower is equipped with a powerful motor and an efficient mulching blade, and it works at three forward speeds to cope with different grass and density heights. Although the machine is designed to operate for prolonged periods with minimal maintenance, the drive belt must be periodically replaced to maintain efficiency. Although replacing the V-belt is a rather complicated process, the right approach can be done in less than an hour.
Instructions
Removing the Belt
1 Unplug the spark plug and secure the mains cord away from the spark plug to prevent accidental contact during work.
2 Remove the fuel tank cap. Place a piece of thin plastic sheet while filling the tank. Screw the lid back and tighten it to prevent fuel leakage through the vent hole.
3 Move the mower shift lever to the first position. Tilt the mower on its side with the carburetor facing up.
4 Jam a thick wood wedge between mower blade and housing to prevent blade from rotating. Remove the center bolt that attaches the blade to the crankshaft with a socket wrench. Lift the blade adapter, corrugated washer, spacer, and lawn mower blade and put them on one side.
5 Scrape the compacted grass layer from the bottom of the mower case with a spatula. Spray the clean house with a garden hose. Move the mower on a flat, clean surface like the driveway. Lower the rear height adjustment lever of the sixth position before tipping the mower on its side.
6 Remove the three hex screws that the grass catcher round on the bottom of the lawn mower with a 3/8 wrench. Pivot the deflector toward the rear of the mower to reveal the drive frame of the bolting square to the underside of the lawnmower.
7 Locate the transmission clamp bolt to the mower housing on the outside left side of the housing. Remove the screw with a socket wrench.
8 Tilt The square front drive assembly to facilitate slack on the drive belt and to reveal the drive pulley.
9 Locate the small tension pulley on the lower left side of the drive pulley. Undo idler Pulley Nut Center bolt with two opposite 7/16 wrenches, and undo the bolt tensioning pulley half-turn.
10 Pull the strap holder attached to the side of the idler pulley of the idler groove with a pair of pliers. Turn the bracket to the left so that it enters the tensioning pulley and the belt.
11 Slide the V-belt between the belt clamp and the tensioning pulley.
12 Tighten the two sides of the tape together and push the tape forward. Hold the light strap together with a pair of pliers.
13 Push the large tapered-speed control arm that covers the bottom of the mower toward the deck. Slide the three-speed control cable attached to the upper end of the control arm of your slot.
14 Pivot The idler pulley distance control arm and push it down to clear the crankshaft pulley and belt. Remove the clamping pliers to release the tension on the belt.
15 grasp the outside of the belt surrounding the Split crankshaft pulley and pull it up to separate the two halves of the split pulley. Lift the lower half of the split crankshaft pulley assembly with your fingers. Remove worn belt from all split crankshaft pulley, idler pulley, and drive pulley.
Belt Change
16 Pass a new MTD drive belt onto the drive pulley so that the V-side of the belt sits in the groove of the pulley.
17 Feed the flat part of the new strap on the idler pulley so that the section of the V-belt faces outward. Thread the belt between the tensioning pulley and the previously displaced belt fixing bracket.
18 Turn the belt-locking bracket in place with a pair of pliers until it snaps into the slot of the middle bracket attached to the idler pulley.
19 Tighten the center-bolt tensioner Pulley half a turn and then tighten the locknut with an opposite pair of 7/16 keys.
20 Place The belt between the two halves of the crankshaft pulley divided with the routing belt on the inside of the belt guard pin on the idler bracket.
21 Tighten the two halves of the belt together and push the lower half of the split crankshaft pulley toward the motor.
22 lift the control arm and turn inward so that it returns to its original position covering the bottom of the lawnmower; This will cover the upper half of the split crankshaft pulley and the force downward by tightening the two halves of the crankshaft pulley together.
23 Re-install the three-speed cable at the end of the control arm. Tilt the new transmission assembly in place. Insert the previously removed bolt and tighten securely with a socket wrench.
24 Pivot of the grass catcher Deflector in place and secure with the three 3/8 hex-head screws previously removed.
25 Lubricate the blade adapter with a thin layer of lawn mower motor oil and replace the cutting blade by reversing the steps previously carried out. Blade Wedge with a block of wood and tighten the setscrew with a torque wrench set to 600 inch/lbs.
26 Lower the mower back on its wheels. Remove the plastic from under the filter cover and replace the spark plug wire to complete the installation.