How to Change Belt on a Husqvarna Lawnmower, step by step. Belt for Husqvarna mower

How to Replace the Drive Belt on a Husqvarna Zero Turn Mower

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One of the major components on your mower, which requires frequent checks and maintenance, is your drive belt. If you ensure that you pay proper attention and care to this, it will guarantee the long term durability of your mower. It would also improve how efficient your mower’s overall performance is. And we say this from numerous personal experiences.

Husqvarna AWD Push Mower Belt Replacement, Maintenance & Repair

Changing the drive belt may sound difficult. You get easily dissuaded. Reading manuals sometimes feel like reading a lengthy “Terms and Conditions” page, but it is necessary, to say the least.

And if you’re like me with an appetite to get things done, by yourself, or merely under necessity with no other options, then this straightforward, concise how-to guide on replacing and maintaining the drive belt on your zero turn mower is just for you.

Replacing Your Husqvarna Zero Turn Mower Drive Belt: Step by Step Guide

Step 1: Set Parking Brakes

To remove your drive belt; first, you must not only ensure that your parking brake is on, but also that your mower itself is parked on a leveled surface with no inclination that may cause sudden movements.

Step 2: Bolts

The next step is to remove the bolts from the belt shield, which is the casing in which the driving belt is enclosed. Removing the bolts should ensure the casing comes off easily.

Step 3: Belt Configuration

Once the casing comes off, you should see the drive belt and, most importantly, mentally note how it is routed and configured so that you may have a perfect guide once it’s time to replace it.

You may also go a step further from a mental picture by taking an actual picture for better reference.

Step 4: Removing the Belt

To remove the belt, you must first move the idler arm to ensure looseness and then go ahead and remove the belt by gently pushing it over the top of the housing pulleys.

Step 5: Replacing the Belt – Wrapping the Pulleys

Once you’re done with the cleaning, maintenance, or total replacement of the belt, proceed to open the engine shaft again and then wrap the deck belt around the clutch pulley just as it was your earlier and in your picture.

Step 6: Idler Arms

Push in on the idler arm that was moved earlier (to ensure looseness) and once you’re done routing the belt, release the idler arm to its natural position to ensure fastening.

Step 7: Final Check

Confirm to see if your final routing configuration is the same as it was earlier in your picture. Make sure there aren’t any knots or hard twists on the belt.

Step 8: Replace Encasing

Carefully replace the encasement removed earlier on the belt housing and make sure the major bolt spaces fall on the right surfaces.

Step 9: Replace Bolts

Replace and fasten the bolts on the drive shield casing.

And You’re Done. Check out this video below for a more in-depth how-to.

How to Change Drive Belt on a Husqvarna Lawnmower, step by step

Husqvarna lawnmowers have been around for quite some time and are one of the more popular brands. If you find that your Husqvarna lawnmower is running sluggish and does not cut the grass like it used to do, there may be a problem with the belt. It may also mean that the mower belt is an issue if your Husqvarna Lawnmower engine is running, but the mower blades are not turning at all. With a step-by-step solution, this blog helps troubleshoot your problem and fix the Husqvarna belt.

How to Change Drive Belt on a Husqvarna Lawnmower, step by step:

• Step 1: Determine whether you have a rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive mower.
• Step 2: Before you tip the mower to its side, empty the gas tank and remove the spark plug cable.
• Step 3: Place the mower upside down. Now, the components are unscrewed to make the belt accessible, such as the baffles, brackets, and mower blade.
• Step 4: Remove the pulley’s belt and replace it with a new, identical belt of the same model.
• Step 5: Connect the removed components back onto the mower, and test it with the new drive belt.

Drive belts are situated underneath the mower. Their job is to pass power out of the engine-transmission to the lawnmower blades. Attached to the blades is an axle that also includes a pulley. The drive belt passes above the pulley. In lawnmowers, Drive belts are commonly composed of Fiberglass and steel-reinforced rubber. They get worn out quite rapidly due to continued rough operation.

Please stay tuned to this post as we explain all the above steps and videos showing a hands-on demonstration of the processes.

Steps by step procedure for changing Husqvarna mower drive belt:

Husqvarna lawnmowers have two key categories when it comes to driving belts. That is front-wheel drive mowers where a belt powers the drive of the front wheels alongside the blades and rear-wheel-drive lawnmowers in which the belt drives the rear wheels of the lawnmower. We have listed the method for each of these categories below:

Rear-wheel drive lawnmower:

Here are the steps for the rear wheel belt drive change:

– Step 1: Make preparations for belt change:

Before you change the drive belt, prepare the surface by placing some plastic sheets or cardboard. The lawnmower has to be positioned upside down on that surface. This step is done to prevent oil spills from spoiling the floor. It is often easier to empty the fuel tank before tilting the mower. Now, incline the lawnmower so that the air filter points upward. This position stops gasoline from pouring into the oil. To prevent the engine from starting accidentally, ensure that the spark plug wire is disengaged.

– Step 2: Detach the following parts:

Belt cover and baffle: You should remove the belt’s cover and baffle for most mower models. When tilting the lawnmowers, turn the screws that support the baffle and belt cover using a socket wrench.

Mower Blades: The belt is placed under the blades on the same shaft. Hence, if you unscrewed the nut that secures the engine blades to meet the belt pulley, it would help. Now, gently dislodge the blades while ensuring that you use gloves while handling them.

Traction spring: Afterwards, you have to detach the traction cable spring with a pair of nose pliers on the rear axle. Now, the transmission bracket can rotate freely.

Belt Guide: There is a belt guide that protects the pulley, and it is mounted on the transmission. You should turn the bolts and dislodge the guide so that the pulley is visible.

–Step 3: Removal of the old belt:

Next, detach the belt from the pulley when it is visible. You should make sure that you have purchased the right kind of belt for your model by going through the owner’s manual.

– Step 4: Assembly of removed parts:

Fix the new belt to the transmission’s pulley. At the same time, wind the other end of the belt onto the pulley below the blade. Place the belt guide back on the transmission bracket and secure the screws. Then, attach the traction cable’s spring back to its original position. Ensure the replacement and assembly of everything you have removed, such as the mower blades, belt cover, and baffle. With the latest belt-mounted now, it might be a good idea to take your mower for a test drive.

Front-wheel drive lawnmower:

The procedure for changing the front-wheel of the belt is much the same as above. Below, for the sake of detail, we shall build on it.

– Step 1: Setting up the mower:

This stage, as mentioned above, is quite the same. Just ensure that the lawnmower is oriented with the air filter pointing up and the spark plug wire disengaged. If you are using an electric lawnmower, you should remove the key from the switch.

– Step 2: Remove the components

Next, parts need to be removed, such as the belt cover and baffle, mower blades, traction spring, and belt guide. You should know that different models have different components, so you should detach them one by one to access the belt drive.

It is also better to take photos of the parts before removal and replacement so that it is easy to know which portion goes where before reassembling them.

– Step 3: Replacing the damaged belt

Replace the old belt with a newly acquired drive belt for your Husqvarna lawnmower model.

– Step 4: Reassembly

Fit all of the removed pieces back into their original places and fix the bolts tightly. Now, turn the lawnmower upside down and take it out for a run. It is appropriate to analyze a renewed belt drive’s performance on the mower’s speed and the cutting quality.

Related Questions:

Why does my drive belt keep slipping off from the lawnmower?

The drive belt may come off your riding lawnmower for various reasons. The necessary interpretation can depend on the make and model of the mower. Before you decide what went wrong, and attempt to fix the problem, perform a safety inspection. Wear gloves and goggles after the engine cools, separate the wire or cables from the spark plug, and ground the wire or cables against the engine. When you are operating, the engine does not operate by accident.

– Defective Components:

Many other mower components repeatedly allow the drive belt to come off. If they are not in working order, drive pulleys and idler pulleys hamper regular belt operation. Without restriction, the movable arm should swing freely, and the blade spindles should also freely move. Test the rake or pitch of the mower. Slightly forward, a correctly adjusted mower deck tilts, making it 1/8 to 1/4 inch lower in front than in the back. And the belt comes off if the angle is too high.

-Debris Buildup:

In a riding mower, an accumulation of debris may interfere with normal belt function. Ensure that no grass, dirt, sticks, saplings, or other sludge is found along the drive belt anywhere. Not only can debris cause the belt to slip or work poorly, but it can also present a fire danger. Clean all of the debris thoroughly, using a firm brush to rub the belt.

What is a belt-drive in a lawnmower?

A drive belt is a mechanical instrument that links the engine and the transmission shaft and transfers power from the lawnmower’s engine. Thus, the mower functions are carried out, including advancing the unit forward and spinning its blades.

In lawnmowers, the drive belt primarily links the transmission shaft to the engine shaft. The transmission shaft is then used to drive the lawnmower’s wheels either forward or backward. In most situations, the blades are also connected to the transmission shaft. The drive belt then performs its functions in such a way by both rotating the blades and propelling the mower forward.

What are the main types of drive belts based on design?

V-belts and synchronous belts are the two commonly used design types in transmission applications. The two belts are different from one another depending on the tooth shape and application.

In V-belts, to create the cross-section, a wedge-shaped profile is used. They use friction to create a tight grip on the pulley. Synchronous belts give a toothed or notched profile on the belt. Sometimes referred to as timely belts, they are typically mounted on a pinion or toothed gear.

All kinds of belts are lined with a tensile cord material that carries the load or is identified as the belt’s muscle. Materials including polyester, polyurethane, Fiberglass, steel, or Kevlar are widely used as tensile cord materials in drive belts because of their high stiffness.

Is Kevlar useful for drive belt applications?

Kevlar-reinforced belts have better shock and impact resistance as opposed to steel. Furthermore, Kevlar has a high elastic modulus, suggesting that its percentage of elongation is lower than that of other materials at a given load. However, belts with Kevlar tensile belts are usually expensive.

Replace Drive Belt Husqvarna Yard Tractor

Final Remarks:

The belt drive is among the essential transmission mechanisms. Therefore, one must know the setup to carry out the belt’s ultimate replacement without further issues. The lawnmower is subjected to dusty environments, and constant usage deteriorates the belt’s output overtime in harsh circumstances. If you have all the mechanical instruments and expertise at your disposal, removing the belt is not challenging. Before the belt is visible, the screws and brackets under your mower need to be dismantled. Also, make sure you follow the safety procedures and don’t start your machine accidentally.

Your Belt Keeps Coming Off Your Husqvarna Mower (Solved!)

Having to stop mowing, get off your mower, and replace your Husqvarna belt because it keeps falling off can get very frustrating. The only way to prevent it from continuing to happen is to find the root cause of the problem.

A Husqvarna mower belt can keep coming off your mower when the deck belt is worn, stretched, or shredded. Excessive vibration can cause a belt to come off your pulleys when a bearing, tensioner bracket, or tensioner spring is worn.

There are additional factors that can cause a mower belt to come off. I have prepared a list of reasons so you can get identify your belt problem.

Reasons Your Belt Keeps Coming Off Your Husqvarna

Loose or Worn Belt

A Husqvarna belt will wear from normal use and it can become loose causing it to come off your pulleys. Inspect your belt and check it for wearing, cracking, or a shiny glazed appearance. It’s time to replace your belt when your belt has any of these conditions.

Belt Keeper Damage

Belt keepers are installed around your pulleys to do just want the name indicates. It helps keep the belt in place. A belt keeper is a rod that sits between 1/8” and ¼” away from the pulley.

Your belt doesn’t touch the keepers. The keepers are rods added as a prevention to keep your belt from slipping off your pulleys.

The keepers can become damaged when slack in the belt hits a keeper and bends it out of place. The belt can then slip off the pulley when your belt keeper is damaged. To fix the keeper, you can attempt to bend the rods into place using vice grips and a hammer.

Shredded Belt

A belt can become shredded and break or come off your Husqvarna’s deck. Most of the time, shredding of the belt occurs when a belt rubs against an object like a belt keeper or bracket on your mower deck. Another reason why your belt may shred is when it isn’t installed correctly.

If your belt is shredded, make sure you have it routed around your pulleys correctly.

Your mower may have a decal on it with a diagram showing the direction in which your belt is to be routed or you can find it in your owner’s manual. Next, check for any brackets or keepers your belt is rubbing against.

When the belt rubs on a metal component, you may find a shiny smooth spot on the metal. Fix the bracket so it no longer rubs.

You may have to replace a bushing on some brackets or need to replace a bracket assembly when the manufacturer doesn’t allow only the bushing to be replaced.

Bad Bearings in Your Pulleys

When your pulleys don’t sit flat and parallel to your mower deck, they can cause a vibration when your belt runs around your pulleys. Bad bearings in your pulleys can be the reason your pulleys don’t sit correctly on your deck.

One side of the pulley may have one side higher off the deck than the other. To check for a bad or failing bearing, spin each pulley by hand.

A good pulley will spin smoothly. You will feel a restriction when you spin a pulley that has a bad bearing. You may also hear a sound coming from the bearing indicating your pulley must be changed.

Idler pulleys have sealed bearings so you will have to replace the whole pulley assembly with the bearing already in place.

Bad Bearing in Your Spindle Housings

Check your spindle housings next as the bearings can go bad causing a vibration when you engage your mower deck. The vibration can knock a belt off your pulley.

Confirm you have removed your ignition key and unplugged your spark plug boot(s) to keep your mower from starting while working under your Husqvarna’s deck.

Wearing a good pair of work gloves to protect your hands from the sharp mower blades, grab each end of the blade. Rock the blade up and down to check for play or movement in the blade.

Movement or a knocking sound suggests a problem in your spindle housings. Remove your spindle housings and inspect for a bad bearing or bad spindle.

You may find you can replace a bearing in the spindle assembly, however some models will require you to replace the whole spindle assembly.

Idler Tensioner Bracket or Spring is Worn

Check out the idler tensioner bracket and spring. This is the bracket that holds the idler pulleys in line. You will typically find a pulley on one side of the bracket and a spring on the other side.

The spring can become weak causing your Husqvarna belt to come off your mower.

The hole in the tensioner bracket where the spring attaches can wear and become larger. This can cause additional vibration in your mower. When you find either a worn bracket or spring, you must replace the worn part.

Debris Interfering with Proper Tension

Debris can collect on top of your deck around your pulleys and tensioner. It is possible for the debris to keep your tensioner pulley from being able to move as designed.

Your belt can become loose when sufficient tension is not kept on your belt causing it to vibrate. It isn’t only important to keep the belt area of your mower deck clean and free of debris for performance reasons, it is also important for safety reasons as well.

Dry debris collected on the top side of your mower deck can catch on fire from the heat of the belt.

Find out more details on cleaning your mower deck in my articles on cleaning your lawn mower and finding and fixing mower deck problems. A clean mower will not only improve performance, but it can also extend your mower’s lifespan.

Debris in the Grooves of Your Pulleys

A Husqvarna mower belt can snap and come off your mower when stress is put on the belt from stretching around additional material.

This can be from mud or small debris stuck in the grooves of a pulley. Check the grooves of your pulleys and clean them if necessary.

Oil or Rust on Your Belt

When your Husqvarna develops an oil leak, oil can get onto the belt and cause it to swell when it is covered in oil for a significant period of time. An oil-covered belt can cause your belt to slip on the pulleys and come off your deck.

Your belt can also be covered in rust from old rusty pulleys. Rust prematurely causes your belt to dry out and crack causing your belt to be more susceptible to breaking.

To fix an oil or rust coverage problem, repair the oil leak and clean any oil or rust off your deck and pulleys. If your pulleys are covered in a lot of rust, replace the pulleys.

Once you have taken care of items contributing to oil and rust on your Husqvarna deck, you should replace your mower deck with a new Husqvarna belt.

In Summary

Husqvarna deck belts can be pricey so the longer you can make them last, the better. Here are a few items that can extend the life of your Husqvarna mower belt to keep it from prematurely wearing or breaking and coming off your mower:

• Clean your mower deck after each mowing to remove debris
• Check for rubbing on deck components
• Keep oil and rust from forming on your belt
• Periodically check your pulleys and spindle housings for bearing failure
• Fix or replace any damaged brackets or belt keepers

Still Having Problems with Your Husqvarna Lawn Mower?

If you are still having problems with your mower, check out my guide on common problems owners encounter with their lawn mowers.

I put together a chart to identify causes and solutions to problems including starting, smoking, cutting, vibrating, dying, and more.

If you don’t feel comfortable troubleshooting and performing repairs on your lawn mower, it’s best to contact your local Husqvarna dealership or lawn mower repair shop for assistance.

You must remain safe and only perform repairs you are mechanically able to perform to avoid injury or further damage to the mower.

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