My 2017 Troy-bilt Horse is Hydrostatic. The other day the deck belt disintegrated and roughed up the drive belt enough to pull it up off the rear pulley to where the belt was between the pulley and the fan. Melted the bottom of the fan off of the pulley, and then the belt jumped off completely. Fan blades still intact. Ordered a new fan blade today. Sucks that it will be 4 days before I get it. New belts and new blades while I am at it. Lucky for me, the battery is right above it all right there. Take out the battery, take out the metal battery holding straps, and there is great access to the fan and pulley. Gas tank is up under the steering wheel assembly and dash on mine. I just recently did the Thrust bearing trick to make my steering oh so smooth now.
What are the symptoms for bad fan under there? I don't think my cub cadet lawnmower have one but I could be wrong. I have a lawnmower with a hot engine and planned on drilling the sides to put a small radiator fan to keep it cool.
On my 2005 LT 160 the fan sits under the pulley with the snap ring on top of the pulley. My fan is half broken due to a branch getting stuck and haven’t had overheat but still may replace the pulley and fan.
They make pliers that have a 90 degree bend tips. Many if the old KD snap ring pliers had replacement tips you changed to do angles. Auto parts stores used to stock them. I own a few.