Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): drive belt replacement, elbow grease, yard tractor


Question
I am installing a new transaxle in a Lawn Boy yard tractor model #52140.  The drive belt is in pretty bad shape so I decided this was a good time to replace that as well, but I can't figure out how to get it around the driveshaft pulley.  It has the electric pto pulley below it & I don't want to remove more stuff than I have to.  Are there any free instructions or drawings available to accomplish this?  Also, the new transaxle is a Peerless #801-020 & where the torque bracket attaches, the holes in the new one are not threaded.  I have a master parts drawing for the unit & it calls the bolts "thread forming screws".  Can I use the old ones & just turn them in?  Thank you.

Answer
Your deck may have a adjustment handle so you can take the tension off,if it doesn't then use a lot of elbow grease. Sometime you need to put the back tires off the ground and use the rear wheels as leverage.Get the belt started and then start moving the pulleys so the belt will slip on.