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In this video I will be showing you how to replace the self-propelled drive belt on your walk-behind lawnmower. This is a Cub Cadet 997ES model, there are other manufacturers which use the same body with a different color and others may even use a similar drive system too.
Drive belts will eventually wear out, stretch, or crack causing drive issues so you may notice the self-propelled system not working properly. Make sure the engine is cold and there isn’t an excessive amount of fuel in the tank, otherwise it can spill out.
Whenever working around the blade area, always remove the spark plug wire and move it off to the side. Flip the lawnmower on its side, carburetor side up.
Wearing gloves is certainly recommend for the next step, remove the blade. Use the appropriate sized socket with a 1/2” drive ratchet or johnson bar for extra leverage. You can use a block of wood to jam the blade if needed. To reduce the chance of your hand slipping and hitting the blade, I would recommend having the ratchet handle aligned with the blade, but slightly lower than the edge, pushing away from that section of the blade.
Remove the bolt with the retaining plate and blade.
You may need a scraper to remove any built-up grass.
Next is removing the 5 retaining bolts holding on the plastic cover. Cover designs may vary, there will be 3 in the center around the engine base. A socket, extension, and ratchet are best here.
2 more will be located behind the wheels, a wrench is best here.
Remove the plastic cover.
Due to the design of the cover, these tend to trap in debris so you’ll most likely need to clean up behind. A scraper can be used for this.
Open up the pulley on the engine, this is done by pulling your gear selector to the lowest setting. Now you’ll have the most movement in the cable. Ensure the belt is not around the shaft base, push in the lever plate for the pulley, and disconnect the cable. The cable fits into a slot as you can see, there is an enlarged hole to pop out the end.
Remove the belt from around the engagement pulley, you should be able to slip it past the retraining bracket.
Remove the belt from around the drive system pulley.
To get the belt from around the engine shaft, feed the belt through the lever plate center hole, once almost all the way through, push the lever plate in, then feed it around the top and remove it.
As you can see the belt is worn and cracked.
Compare the old and new belts to ensure they are the same. I purchase this belt from my local lawn equipment supplier. Simply provide them with the model number and they’ll provide you with the belt required for your mower. This does take a thinner style v belt than what is typically found on other yard equipment.
Install the new belt in reverse of removal. Loop it around the shaft, then feed it through the center hole on the lever plate. Push the remaining portion past the plate on the bottom side.
Place the belt around the engine pulley, make sure it’s fully opened.
Pull the belt over and feed it around the drive system pulley.
And finally push it along the engagement pulley.
Again make sure the belt isn’t at the center of the engine pulley so it can be fully closed. Push the lever plate towards the engine base, then reinstall the speed selector cable.
Clean away any dirt or grass build-up if needed, then install the plastic cover with the bolts.
Reinstall the blade and tighten the bolt. It’s always a good idea to clean the threads up on the bolt with a wire brush, then apply a medium-grade thread locker. Torque the bolt to the factory specifications, this will vary between models and engines.
With a new belt, it will be tighter and depending on the age of your mower, the cables may be stretched so adjustments will be required. There are two adjustments, one for the speed selector and the other for the drive engagement. At the base of the deck will be speed selector adjustment. Put the gear selector in the highest setting. Loosen the nut at the base of the deck, it has an elongated hole. Push the bracket back to the handlebars, then tighten the nut.
As for the drive engagement, this is located on the underside of the handlebars. There is an adjustment nut that is turned by the handle. If you find there’s a hesitation in the drive when the handle is pulled, the cable will need to be tightened. If the drive is working fine, but the handle has excessive tension when pulled back, then the cable may need to be loosened.
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17 мар 2021
