Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Mower Operators Manual, engine model type, true value hardware

Question
Hi Eric:

I bought an old Lawn Chief (400cc 11HP B&S, 36" deck) and it runs great but as I was driving across the back yard the deck dropped and the belt popped off. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to wind it as it seems to have considerably more slack than it should. It was running perfect before this happened so I find it hard to believe that it stretched that much instantly. I thought I lost a pulley at first but it has a pulley for each of the two blades and one tensioner pulley for deck engagement/disengagement. Any Ideas on how to figure this out? I would also love to locate a manual for this but I am having no luck. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Did you try your local True Value Hardware store for a manual?

Send me the mower numbers, located on the rear of the mower under the seat/fender metal.  I should be able to tell who made the mower.  Also, send me the engine model, type and code number located on the engine.

For the belt, it comes off the crankshaft stack pulley, the to the blade pulley on the left hand side, if your sitting on the mower, to the next blade pulley, to the idler/tension pulley and back the the crank.

NOTE:  If the middle of the idler pulley is flat, most are, then the back of the pulley rides on the flat idler pulley.  Any V shaped pulleys you see should have the V part of the belt riding in them.

Does this help?
Let me know.
Eric