Thank you for this tutorial. This video enabled me to replace the lower transmission belt on a Craftsman T110. Using a modified paint can opener to restore the spring was very helpful.
I beat my head against the wall trying to jury rig a way to remove the drive belt on the T140. Your video is awesome! 15 minutes later, I disconnected the pully tensioner spring and removed and reinstalled the drive belt. You R the Man! Thanks!
Excellent video and thanks. I read a lot of posts asking about the rear double pulley and getting the drive belt around the guards etc. The quick answer (for me) was when you remove the large rear pulley, at about 1 O’Clock under it is a gray/silver bolt with a nut on it (9/16 on mine), you need to loosen it up some. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REMOVE IT. I did use an air gun on it. Once you loosen that bolt, you can manipulate the double pulley to get the belt on. Another way of identifying this bolt, is the tension pulley bracket is held in place by the bolt.
@@JLPicard440 As well as a couple other comments have said, the only thing that could have been included would be how to get the belt around the 2 center pullys. I dont see a tensioner and ended up just removing the pully itself, but nevertheless, real helpful
You should have done it with tractor together the average person. Would not take the tractor apart. I enjoyed watching the video vary informative and probably watch it when I have to remove the belt on my T110 tractor.
I took it apart to make it so I could film it easier. Very difficult to get the camera and light where I needed it. It shouldn't affect someone doing this job without taking it apart since you can get to everything from underneath or through the battery compartment. Thank you for the feedback.
Excellent video! Well done. Is there a way to remove the belt without removing the engine pulley? This is the difficult one. A short video on bending those belt guards would help a lot of folks who do not have an impact wrench. Again thank you for the video.
HI, I don't have access to that mower anymore, but yes you could bend those guards out of the way. Not a great solution, but it'll work. You could also remove the top cover on the engine and find a way to lock the flywheel. Being careful not to break off any of the cooling fins. I think they're plastic.
Thank you so much for the advice and guidance. Greatly appreciated. Older equipment were easier to repair and lasted longer. I had a 29 year old Craftsman and the owners manual stated that you can replace the drive belt with no tools. What happened in between. Take care.
So I had this funny thing happen. My lower transmission belt had a tear or something in it, and the upper belt caught it and pulled the lower belt off of its pulley and onto its own. I don't know how to really do it besides trying to take the front pulley off, without an impact wrench. So this video was super helpful to me to fix my craftsman. Thank you! Edit: Well, I don't know how to get that front pulley from turning and I don't have a big enough socket to keep it from spinning up top. Another problem for tomorrow i guess.
Yes without an impact you need a way to lock the engine. I've used a piece of rope in one of the cylinders. Make sure it's a good heavy duty rope so it doesn't break off and part of it gets stuck in the cylinder, of course it has to be small enough to get through the spark plug hole!.. 😂
I ended up using vise grips large enough to hold the spindle with the locking handle grip “caught” on the frame. Lots of grip needed near but still below the wrench’s limit when clamping! The ThreadLock makes it *really* challenging to *slowly* muscle past the enormous resistance. This lower belt getting pulled underneath the upper belt and shredding has happened to me after only 5-7 hours of use since new/clearance at Lowes months ago but just being put into service over the last two weeks.
Yea that thread lock isn't a great idea. I've worked on so many of these mowers and this style is probably the only one I can remember that did that. But those must be some hefty vice grips! Great idea, keeps you from having to remove the top of the engine and go through all that. Not sure what would cause those belts to do that. I'd be curious since it seems to be a common issue.
U don't have to remove the bolt on the red belt guard on the front motor pulley. Just pull the side with out the bolt til it comes out of the hole in the frame that it rest in and u can move it out of the way. It's kinda spring loaded and is easy to put back once the belts are on the front pulley
He missed removing the pulley that connects the lower drive belt in the back with the smaller upper drive belt. You have to go underneath and remove a bolt, which allows you to remove the pulley from the top. You have to do this because there are guards around the pulley preventing belt removal. Very helpful video though, thanks.
Hi, my dad is replacing belts on this mower and we cannot tell what a particular part is. His clutch is not working now- I have the diagram- can you help us identify a circled part on the diagram?
HI, I have a FB page for Take a bath productions. You can send a picture there. It might be more helpful however if you take your model number that is usually on a sticker under the seat. You can go to www.partstree.com and plug in that model number. From there you can get the parts breakdown and that will identify every part that's there...
I’m attempting to replace the upper drive belt on a t1400. When I attempt to remove the front pulley the motor turns when I try to unscrew it. How do I stop that from happening so I can remove the bolt?
HI. If you have access to an impact that is the best way to do it. If not try to remove the top cover of the engine and grab hold of the big nut that's on the flywheel... If You wind up breaking that nut loose, I don't recommend a screwdriver against one of the fins of the flywheel. One of them could break, then you might have more problems. The only other way I know to lock the engine is to put a piece of rope in the cylinder. Remove the spark plug and put it in through there. Just make sure it's not too big so you can get it back out! The rope trick is the last resort. I would find a way to lock up the flywheel without grabbing any of the fins.
HI... That would be quite difficult to describe in a sentence or two! However I just did a video on a John Deere drive belt replacement where I showed how I removed the body from the mower. Granted it's a JD and not a Troy-Bilt... the procedure is very similar and should be helpful... IF I remember right on the Troy-Bilt there is a sticker in the middle that you have to either poke holes in or remove. If you feel around for some depressions it'll find the screws for you.
How did you release the lower belt from the back pulley? Did you have to jack the back up? Did you have to dissassemble the back pulley or drop it lower? It's in a super inconvenient spot and I'm at a loss with what to do with mine.
HI, Did I show it in the video? I usually do show that... I seem to remember taking the pulley loose to get the belt out, but it's been a while so without seeing it it's hard to say.
How did you jack up the mower? It is hard to follow when it is taken apart. You also fast forward through the part where you put it back together. It's not very helpful for the average person.
Jacking up the mower is something to make it easier to get the camera in where I need it. It is really not necessary to do the job. If you remove the deck you can get to everything from the ground. I usually take pretty detailed video on taking it apart, putting it back together is exactly the same except in reverse... Sorry if I missed a certain detail you needed...
Great video,only on problem major. Pulley very difficult to remove. Nut extremely too tight. The metal bar is a real pain. I did manage to remove belt on the other pulley without any problems. Please help. 3:28pm
Are you trying to lock the engine ?? Sometimes you can remove the spark plug and put a good size rope in the hole and let it coil a little bit inside the cylinder. Just make sure you are using a good quality rope so that it won't break off inside. Also don't use one so big that it has a hard time going through the spark plug hole or it could get stuck inside..
Hey man, I did find the video helpful on the taking the belts out. But that back pulley that holds the main drive belt to the front with the belt keepers is where I am having the trouble. I can not figure out how to loosen those pulleys to get the belt around it. My main drive belt slipped off and I just needed to put it back on. Is there a way to just loosen it from the bottom to release that pulley. I thought you were going to show how to take that off in the video, but you didn't. You did the front instead. Thanks for your help.
@@JLPicard440 .........Hey Rudy. Around the 4:00 min mark you showed the back pulley removal, but you didn't show how to release the bottom main belt. That's the one I need to know how to put back on, on the bottom that goes to the front pulley. There are belt keepers around that bottom pulley. How does that release to get that bottom belt on?
@@ericc3548 OK.. So I removed the pulley from the engine crankshaft and the long belt that was on the bottom just came off the back pulley once it was released from the engine pulley... Around 5:50 or so I mention the rear bottom belt.. Is that what you mean?
Thank you for the video. Can you post the part numbers for the two belts for Craftsman T130 Riding Mower (Model # 13AL78XS093). The reason for my request is I found only one belt CMXGZAM50135 showing in my search however I see two drive belts under the hood. Of course I am not mixing up with Deck belt which is different. Thanks in advance for your help with this question
HI... I looked it up on www.partstree.com and it is showing 2 belts for that model number. You might want to double check to make sure you're seeing the same thing.... Here's what I found 1. 954-04208A Transmission Belt, .656" X 40.90" 2. 954-0467A Variable Speed Drive Belt, .656" X 90.8" Hope that helps..
Great vid. Very helpful. What if the drive belt is just loose and maybe needs tightened? Is that possible or is it best just to change the belts? I have an LT1500 and the belts look ok. Thanks
Thank you!.. The top belt is tensioned by the idler pulley spring.. the bottom one by the clutch spring... I don't think there's any actual adjustment other than spring tension.. As long as the springs are good, then probably replacing is your best bet.. The LT1500 could be a different situation, id have to see it..
@@JLPicard440 You did a great job on your video and yeh, they look very similar. The springs look good so maybe I'll just change the belts and be done with it. Thatnks again and stay sharp. Subscribed
With my mower, it seems to be unable to accelerate, which leads me to believe it is the upper belt having issues anyone knows of a good video that shows what is slipping or lose upper belt. Looks like please let me know.
If you can get to where you can see underneath... You might even have to take the deck off so you can see better look at the belt with the clutch out and see if the belt looks loose. Could be the idler spring isn't tight enough? Not sure without being able to see it..
I don't remember right off the bat. When that happens to me I try another bolt from another spot and see if it fits, if so, then bring that bolt to hardware store to get a new one..
I use an impact. If you're referring to the pulley on the bottom of the engine, you have to pull the top shroud off the engine and look for a hole in the side of the flywheel. Then you can put a screwdriver or something that'll fit in the hole and wedge the screwdriver against something solid. Then you can remove the bolt in the pulley. Don't be tempted to jam a screwdriver into the fins on the flywheel fan. Those are very important and can be broken easily. There's usually a hole that is safe to do this.
@@JLPicard440 yea they fit tight. I ended up dropping it off to get it looked at. It's only a year old mower, so hoping whatever it is craftsman will cover it under warranty. But we shall see
I used an impact and spinning wasn't a problem.. If u don't have one, u can pull the top of the motor off and find a way to lock the flywheel. careful not to damage any of the cooling fins on the flywheel or you'll have a new problem..
Hello thank you for the video, is there a way to put back the longer drive belt on the pulley just below the engine? My has came off, and if there is a way, it will save me from taking off the rod that holds the two pulleys under the engine
HI, Yes, I think if you loosen the pulley set that's on the bottom of the engine, the pulley will come down enough so you can slip the drive belt back on. I'm not sure how that would come off from around there, there's a belt guard built into the frame that should've prevented that from coming off. The drive belt isn't broken is it?
@@JLPicard440 I bent the belt guard and push the belt in, it was tight but worked. My transmission belt/short drive belt broke and that may have hit this belt near rear end and caused it to slip under the engine??? if the long drive belt come on and off means is it slipping as well? After I put the short drive belt, I have to pull back on my couch to get the mower drive fast in higher gear. Does this rings any bell to you? Thank you for taking time and replying.
So if you're pulling back on the clutch, the tensioner spring may be weak. I don't have a video, but you can bend some of the coils in the spring and kinda re-do the loop at the end to make the spring a little shorter. You might want to google shortening a tensioner spring and see if anything comes up. Of course, I'm just guessing what the problem could be, but that's what it sounds like. You can kinda tell because your long belt will be a little on the loose side when the clutch is out.
This video doesn’t show the two pulleys in the center of the machine. I have put the belt back like the diagram shows, but now the clutch doesn’t work and the mower doesn’t stop until you put the shifter in neutral.
Sorry about that. If I remember right, there wasn't much to show the way it went around the clutch. Is your belt to short? I can't see what you've got going on over there... 😀
So if we are slipping it is likely the belts, even though they may look good, since this is a single speed axle and the variable speed is just the pulley spreading to change ratio? I was ready to pull the body off to do the job.. wire wrapped around spring to a tool then clipped after works too.. was using my dump score older unit to mow, but it needs shift forks. they put in a new axle and for some reason it came dry and they did not know to fill it and they stick now after filling.. they likely mowed for years until it would no longer shift.. I can hit 4th n reverse so it mows fine for me, but just an 11.5hp mower and narrower cut.. thanks for vid..
now to find video on that variable pulley as mine does not seem to be spreading very far apart. the pedal was really nice before put in gear, was all the way up with tension, now in highest gear about 1-1.5 inches from top.. that pulley lifted up when swapped belts, did both anyhow some cracks, so new to this variable, had multi-speed axles before not this single speed with variable pulley... no real power going up hills.. almost think not going to make it.., worried smoke a belt,, so not sure if bushings are involved, burrs to remove, greasing, etc...
Yes it's possible the spring is weak... If you take off both belts, you should be able to move the middle part of the variable pulley with one finger easily. If it's rusty or corroded it won't move very easy... I know it's a lot of trouble to remove the belts, but if you suspect the pulley, its about the only way to test it.
@@JLPicard440 it lifted with ease. after swapping belts if I pull back on pedal she goes faster, tried adjusting linkage, it did allow for more braking action, but think spring that pulls pedal back is need of some looking into... tnx.
If you don't have an impact, one thing you can do is remove the spark plug and put a good heavy rope in through the spark plug hole.. I've done that before and it'll lock up the engine until you get the bolt loose. Make sure it isn't so big you can barely fit it through the hole, it might get stuck inside. Of course do this at your own risk. The other option would be to remove the cover on the top of the engine and look for a hole in the flywheel and find something that'll fit in that hole and slowly turn the engine over wedging it against something very solid...
My engine belt popped off on my craftsman 110. I just need to remove the main engine pulley but i cannot get the bolt off. It turns in both directions. How do get off?
HI, it should turn CCW. I don't think that is left hand thread. You do have to find a way to lock the engine so it won't turn while you're working the bolt loose.
@@JLPicard440 hey got one more question. For some reason the lower engine belt is on the other side of the guard. It's a super tight space and i'm not sure i can slide it in. Do i need to take the pulley off?
Can you jam a screwdriver between the pulley and the belt guard and bend it enough to get the belt through without damaging it? OR permanently bending it?
I want to put poor mans power steering on my 2022 ,t110 the left side upper is held on by a pressed on flange,is there an easy way to get it off? And then is it reuseable?
@@JLPicard440 The left side steering knuckle in most cases is held on with an e-clip.but my 2022 t-110 has a pressed on flange or washer,is there an easy way to get it off and be able to reuse it or do i need to find something else? Thank you!
Ohhh... Yea Ive taken those off before if it's what I'm picturing. You have to work them off carefully and then when you finally to get it off of there, I usually take a socket that's perfectly the right size and bang those little fingers down flat. A vise with a flat anvil part works the best. Then you can take another socket that's a little bigger and put it back on. Theyre probably only good for 1 reuse.. after that the fingers start breaking off...
HI, if you have an impact that is by far the best way to get that off. If you don't, then take off the top cover from the motor and there'll be a big nut that is in the center of the flywheel. You should be able to use that to hold the engine still while loosening the bottom pulley. You might need some creative thinking to hold the ratchet in place at the top if you don't have a helper to hold it for you...
No!! Why did you speed through the only part I need help with? My lower belt jumped in the back (i ran over a chunk of wood) so that both belts were on the top half of the pulley. I was able to pry the lower and upper belts apart. Now, i cant get the lower belt back in place. There are guards on both sides preventing me from putting the belt back. When you slipped the belt off in the front, you mentioned that the belt just slid right off in the back (nothing to see). How is that possible? The guards are metal and part of the arm that holds the pulley. How do i get the pulley off so i can get the lower belt back on?
Hello,... When I showed the "removal" part of the belt, I showed everything that is relevant to that... putting the belt back is exactly the same thing in reverse.. I can't see what you're working on over there, but you might have to remove both belts and start from scratch... But of course without seeing it, I'm only guessing.
I don't know the sizes... I usually just order the same part number and it's automatically the right size.. I left links in the description to both belts.
HI, I'm not sure what size bolt that is. You can go to www.partstree.com and get the parts breakdown. The actual model number for your mower should be on a sticker under the seat. With the parts break down you can go to the section where the bolt is located and get the part number from there...
Oh no! without being able to see it I can't tell what's going on. Do the belts fit tightly with the clutch out? IF the transmission is spinning, but no movement, there could be something with the internals of the transmission, but without being able to see it, I can't tell if that's the problem or not.
I’ve heard lots of tensioners seem to be on the loose side. I’m not sure if mine is loose but when I finish changing belts and put the body and seat back on, I will: Make sure the brake is set Transmission in neutral Choke full Start Engine let it idle for 30 secs or so Lower choke a notch (Last visual check for kids, pets or tools left under mower😳) Quickly engage the PTO / cutting blades! *Did it squeal or take too long to spin up to speed? If it didn’t, no problem! If it did, it would seem the tensioner spring may be too loose or belt is worn or both. (Or the belt is not the right size or to specs or is defective in any way…Whew!)
Now that you mention this. I've heard about the tensioner not being tight enough being an issue. I saw another guy and he took the tensioner spring and removed one loop from the end and re-bent a new loop thus shortening the spring by 1 loop. This will tighten the spring without having to buy another one... Thanks for the info!
HI, I don't remember exactly. I usually don't go by size, but the part number. You can get the model number of your particular mower from a sticker under the seat and then go to a website like www.partstree.com and plug in that model number. From there you can get the parts breakdown and get the part number. With the part number you can determine the exact size of the belt. Hope that helps.. thanks.. 😀
@@seaofkindkings5395 HI, that's not something I can describe in a sentence or two.... If you like, take a picture and upload it to my take a bath productions facebook page and I'll try to see if I can help...
First timer. I used your ideas and found your short cutting is very misleading. A person with limited skill could never make this work. Definitely not for beginners
The motor is spinning even with an impact? I've never run into that .... If you need to lock the motor remove the spark plug and push a rope inside. Make sure the rope isn't so big it'll have a hard time coming back out... Just one that fits easily through the spark plug hole and push enough in so it can curl up inside...
This video doesn’t show the two pulleys in the center of the machine. I have put the belt back like the diagram shows, but now the clutch doesn’t work and the mower doesn’t stop until you put the shifter in neutral.
Sorry about that. If I remember right, there wasn't much to show the way it went around the clutch. Is your belt to short? I can't see what you've got going on over there... 😀