QuestionQUESTION: Craftsman 17.5hp 42" LT1000 Lawn Tractor. I changed the deck belt and the first time I used it the blades engaged fine. The second time I cut the grass, it took about 30 seconds for the blades to engage. Now the blades will not engage at all. I checked to see if any springs or parts were missing or bad. I do not see any. The cable moves the pulley and puts it in the engage position, but nothing happens. Also the new belt seems to loose to me. I don't know if it is suppose to be that way or not. I bought the right belt from Sears.
ANSWER: The belt should be fairly tight when you engage the blades. Is the idler pulley loose?
Did you re-check the belt routing? The flat part of the belt (back) rides on flat pulleys and the V part of the belt rides in pulleys with a V.
Are the quill assemblies in good shape, no loose bearings?
What is the Sears model number on the product ID sticker?
Eric
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I took a photo of the deck so I remember how the belt goes. I looked at photos in the manual. I have the belts on right. What is the quill. The mandrel assembly? I changed one of them because it was cracked. The model number is 917272673
AnswerQuill = mandrel. How is the other mandrel? Did you use the V belt PART NUMBER: 144959?
http://c.searspartsdirect.com/lis_png/PLDM/P0309116-00010.png
With the mower off, spark plug removed, when you engage the blades does the belt tighten at all?
Did you download the manual? Page 21.
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/Craftsman-Parts/Riding-mo
Eric
