Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): RX--73 john deere riding mower, briggs and stratton, drive belts

Question
QUESTION: We have a john Deere rx-73 riding mower and my question is why is it running so slow. At the fastest speed it is only going about 1 or 2 MPH is that normal. If not how fast should it go and how can I get it to go faster. I saw someone had asked a similar question and you guys had answered with adjusting an air mixture screw and cleaning the carb. It has not worked the air filter is clean and the engine seems to run fine it does not sputter or smoke just runs really slow Please help it will take me forever to mow the lawn at this rate

ANSWER: Hi Annie,
Is this something that happened recently, or has it been like this since you've had it? It sounds like the RPM of the engine needs increasing. I'll need to know what brand engine it has. Numbers off the engine would also be very helpful.

Keith

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QUESTION: We bought it used so we do not know if has done it the whole time or not but we know it is not the Briggs and Stratton so it must be the Kawasaki fc 290 like the other persons do you think it could possibly be the drive belts

Answer
Annie,
Without being able to hear it run, I can't say. Does the engine seem like it's revving up like it should? Without using a tachometer, we can't really say how fast it's running. If it's revving like it should (about 3200 RPM), it could be something to do with the belts. I just replaced the belts on a RX 73 for our parts manager. Can you find out if the former owner replaced the belts? They are specially shaped "vee" and just any belt won't let the drive system work right.

Keith