Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): lawnmower, craftsman lawn tractor, spindle shaft

Question
I have a 42" 17.5hp Craftsman Lawn tractor.  After running over an object, which my blade hit, the cutting deck dropped down and will not stay up.  The blade stopped spinning and the the tractor started smoking.  How do I repair this?  Do you suspect it will be an expensive repair?

Answer
The first thing to do is remove the cutting deck.  With the deck off start the tractor and see if it operates normally..  Then go to the deck and inspect the damage if the deck fell down that means that the weldments holding it somehow either broke or just came out of adjusment.  move the lever That raises and lowers the deck on the tractor and look underneath to see how the linkage operates.  If that is in order.  Next go to the deck I would remove the belt covers and the belt's and find out why that blade is not operating.   it could be bent or you could of  been the spindle shaft.  At that point you would make repairs to the deck and reinstall it using a new belt .  If needed.  just because the belt is not broken doesn't mean that it doesn't need a new belt.  You  Will see if the belt was burning from friction and that's where your smoke came from.  You will see an area that has a lot of black dust more so than other areas under to tractor or on top of the deck that's from the belt not turning spindles are then go to www.Searspartsdirect.com on the right-hand side of the page enter your model number exactly.  That will take you to the parts drawings for your tractor and you can even order parts from them at that point.  I hope you find your problem and I hope this information has been helpful.