How to replace the blade belt on a sears craftsman lawn tractor

How to remove and replace the mower deck blade belt on a craftsman riding lawn tractor

[@timothykeefe8234]

Hands Down the best / most well explained how to video I’ve ever seen...and I’ve seen a lot. Described everything in perfect detail as well as taught me a number of additional things as far as the operation of the mower, and causes for potential problems in the future. Thank you for creating and posting this! Even though you chose a 105-year-old customer to be the cameraman ( haha stereotypical senior asking the same redundant questions over and over while having you repeat every step along the way lol) he actually did a very good job with holding the camera steady. It’s funny to joke about it but him asking questions and having you repeat the few quick action steps that he did I think will go a long way with helping others who may have trouble after watching this video ..... I could start to hear the frustration in your voice lol

[@bertsbug]

9:33 I would say more like hand down

[@TheGoosetown]

Chill with the hand jokes Timmy.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Its all good!! 😃I joke about it all the time but thanks for having my back!!

[@shanerogers5152]

From the start of this video until the anti-sway bar pin was all I needed to watch to get the job done. Really glad this was straight to the point and not all over the place with unnecessary talking.

[@mdp991]

I have to say, man you are good! I used one of your videos to remove a Craftsman front tire and now this one to remove the deck and replace the belt (my lawn tractor is 25+ years old and my belt snapped on Tuesday). Many thanks man!!!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Thank you for watching my videos and for the kind comment:) Please share my channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated. Take care.

[@andrewollie6768]

I’ve more or less rebuilt my mower this year thanks to you. From your head gasket and timing videos to this. Good stuff!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Hi Andrew, thank you for watching some of my videos and I’m glad they are helpful to you! Please tell your friends about my channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated:)

[@foreverwood1963]

Pretty good video I've never had issues putting on my belts and I've never taken down my deck. Well finally yesterday I had a huge issue where something was routed outside the brake and damaged my new belt uhhhggg!!! Well I had two anyway and the damaged one can be used it'll just have a shorter life. Anyway my belt kept feeling too tight engaging the blades as soon as I cranked. I found one part outside the brake and decided to just wait until morning to finish the job. I said to myself I need to just lower the deck to see what I'm doing in the morning. I ran across this video which is perfect because I too have a craftsman and my belt is routed the exact same way. Thanks again!

[@LovesSummer100]

Almost exactly my model and best explanation, easiest to see where everything is and the function! Do note that the belt break may be rather difficult to disengage.

[@barbiesawada5916]

Identical to mine , bought mine brand new in 1996. Has been a good mower .

[@michaelallardyce1790]

Its the Briggs Stratton engine. Mine is the previous model and if you do the yearly maintenance on it they will last. Mine is 26 years old and still going strong.

[@djfastfreddy8949]

just a word to compliment both guys in the video! very thorough and helpful. thanks

[@freedomisfromtruth]

Im so glad I dont have that type of deck height adjustment, the stepped height on the right ride is the cats meow. Thanks for a great explanation.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Please give this video a like, subscribe and tell your friends about my channel to help it grow! It would be greatly appreciated:)

[@tommyhooks7767]

Excellent video ! Thank you for sharing .

[@Volvo8Fifty4Life]

Beautiful, just beautiful! Thanks.

[@micmic9410]

👍🏾 Good job - yes this was a belt replacement, pulley inspection or replacement.

[@dalef139]

I know everyone wants to ask but is afraid to point out the elephant I. The room. A lawn mower guy without a hand and not one person asks how it happened? Was it a lawn mower accident? Great video and he works right through it with zero issues.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

A birth defect. Self taught my entire life with one hand.

[@dalef139]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines You my friend are a true man. I didnt even notice until the very end because I was concentrating on the pulleys and you made it.look so seamless. I've removed mine and looked like a monkey f#$%ing a football. Hope I didnt offend, but had to ask. You definitely have overcome the missing hand and seem to be very knowledgeable in your field, hats off to you and thanks for the video in Lehman' terms.

[@atomicdmt8763]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines kudos! im sure we were all afraid it was a (mower accident).....which would have been brutal. good video- 2nd ary lighting might have helped......... this is more complicated than I realized. cheers!

[@MountJoyPa]

Thank You. This video Helped me alot..

[@mahasaesq]

Thanks alot, this saved me a ton of $, and the instruction were helpful to a amateur like myself

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I’m glad it helped you! Thanks for the kind words.

[@TheGoosetown]

Thank you for this video - going to try this when I get home. My blade just stopped going in the middle of my cut last week and I had to finish my huge yard with my push mower :(

[@TheGoosetown]

Turns out mine is slightly different: craftsman lawn mower 917.256522. And I cannot for the life of me get the bar back in

[@bobgwinn5091]

ty for sharing. very well explained

[@PCHerc]

Your fix works for me! Thanks!

[@Declare57]

I was kinda hoping for a secret hack to avoid pulling the pins and extracting the deck!

[@halas7388]

You don't have to remove the deck. Just make sure the belt is inside the brakes and it's a piece of cake.

[@bassinbillRC5300]

@@halas7388 I personally do not remove the deck I just pulled the pin off the the other side of the hangers I also pull one car bin off the PTO lever Emmanuel power take-off lever and then I State the belt through the pulleys with a flat side out I must have bought a cheap ass belt because my belt disintegrated even though I had a property routed through the the pulleys for boat blades both brake police and the motor pulley so it's back to the drawing board

[@mauserwaffen982]

Thanks for uploading!!!!

[@kennethconnors5316]

best explanation yet saved me time and work , thank you!

[@michaelbulow7032]

thanks man very helpful.

[@bassinbillRC5300]

I replace my belt of the same lawn mower with the flat side out and it wore itself out and I can smell smoke coming from the belt that rubbery smell and I noticed that the lower half of the Pulley had a big shiny spot on it that was the brake pulling on the drivers left side

[@aliciagabriel23]

Camera guys is rude af. But your explanation was great! Thank you

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Thank you! It was the customer filming and I agree ! LOL. Thanks for watching:)

[@sergio10ca]

nice video sr. have a question. how many belts that riding mower use?

[@shawnwhitcomb8205]

Should be 2, one to drive the mower deck, one to drive the hydrostatic drive

[@jeffshields7773]

I need to know how to replace the drive belt??

[@bliglum]

Oh PERFECT! This is my exact mower!

[@jeffcaldwell6001]

What was the length of the belt you added, I bought a 95.5 but it was way too big. Any idea of the size of the belt, LOWES is no help!

[@barbiesawada5916]

0.5 X 88 inches, 144200 is the part number.

[@briangardner2008]

Thank you!

[@floydyoung7329]

Thank you for a great video!! What size belt is that?

[@shawnwhitcomb8205]

That's what I want to know, too

[@ryswe]

Look up the model number and find the owner's manual, then look up the belt part number

[@johnaustin9051]

Half inch × 95 inch.....standard. Should work.

[@kevincoleman8121]

Some older ones are 85 x 1/2

[@griffenatekevinbacon]

My pto is correctly installed but the brakes seem to not work on the blades pully any idea where i can find replacememts

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Go to sears parts direct online.

[@philliphall5198]

Hard deck to remove is what it is but a stable deck 😊

[@tonyminner9255]

excellent video! Thanks!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I’m glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching and the kind words:) please give this video a thumbs up, subscribe and tell your friends to help my channel grow! It would be greatly appreciated:)

[@debram9674]

Can you change the blades without taking deck off?

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Yes, but it is very hard to perform it correctly plus a chance of getting hurt. I personally do not recommend trying to put blades on the machine without taking the mower deck off.

[@Curmudgeon555]

Harbour Freight (and others) sell a lift that lifts the front wheels of any tractor lawn mower up high enough to access the bolt holding the blades and remove the old blade and replace it , all without removing the deck.

[@michalvento]

seriously great video !!!!!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Thanks, I’m glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind comment. Please give this video a thumbs up to help my channel. It would be greatly appreciated.

[@dougschust1]

Strong blades. Better than oem.

[@dustincreighton43]

What size was the belt? I tried a 95.5 and that was to big then I tried a 85 and that was to small

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Your best bet is to go to the Sears parts direct website put in your model number and find the OEM part number for your machine and order the OEM belt.

[@barbiesawada5916]

My mower is identical to this one and I use a 144200 , I order my belts from V Belt Guys , they sell the Kevlar belts that last longer due to the strength and resistance to heat.

[@barbiesawada5916]

Belt is 0.5 X 88 inches

[@Cravz69]

I just inherited one of these, great video! I just see two of the round torsion springs for each brake bracket, there isn’t a return spring anywhere, correct? Thanks so much and nice job!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

If your asking if the mower deck blade engagement has a return helper spring spring? This model as I described it is “ a mechanical blade engagement system” meaning no cable or return spring. This is a very old mower. The newer models come with a blade engagement cable and a return helper spring on the mower deck to help dis engage the blade belt.

[@Cravz69]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines Cool. Yes, that was my question. Mine was ceased up because the engagement system wasn’t pivoting with those big washers. I cleaned everything up with a wire wheel and put some anti cease between the washers. That should do it. Just waiting on a new belt. I appreciate the quick reply.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I know you said your deck was rusted but If your mower deck is having a hard time engaging and disengaging. Watch this video it may help you. It is not the old style but it is showing what can happen. There is also a repair video in the link of this video if needed to show how to install the new bracket. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5e4fY2XqtuFeJo.

[@Cravz69]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines Got it, thanks again! Thankfully, everything is moving smoothly now. My main question was if there was any type of return spring. Fingers crossed. I’m good to go now. Thanks again.

[@COWBOYZNATION]

​​@@Cravz69So no return spring? All mechanical style engagement and dis-engagement?? What about a PTO cable with washer and spring??

[@timothyschwartz2028]

Good video

[@trevormurray2076]

What’s the part number for the belt.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

To get the correct belt part number for your machine you must take the model number from under the seat on the sticker and go to the Sears parts direct website and look up the belt number.

[@rafaelrosario8158]

Thank you

[@halas7388]

I was finished changing the belt before you dropped the deck.

[@354seven]

Thanks

[@carmenquinones8222]

Hello should the idler pulley move

[@carmenquinones8222]

The upper belt is lose. I see a spring off the pulley which seem to be frozen

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Yes the idler pulleys should move freely when the belt is not engaged. Or should I say there is no tension from the belt on the pulley.

[@carmenquinones8222]

@@JohnsonsSmallEngines thank you.

[@greggrusnak6094]

Holy Cow the Camera guy just needs to be quiet, 1 min video took 11:30

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Hi Greg, LOL!! That was the first and last time I had a customer try and help me help the customer. That was a tough one.

[@FenleySmith]

Good job biejos miaos,👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I'm glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind comment! Please share my channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated. Take care

[@leinadalan]

Part number be great!

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

Can’t give you part number with too many models out there to choose from. Take your model number from the sticker behind the seat and go to Sears parts direct online. Then you will be able to look up the correct belt number for your machine.

[@gavelboy01]

Not to be an asshole. But did anyone notice that his left hand is gone? It could be from something else. Not pushing the issue. But my other friend who repairs mowers has lost all of his fingers. I guess he had learned and knows not what to do. Sorry if I'm wrong.

[@JohnsonsSmallEngines]

I was born that way!!!! ***

[@PCHerc]

Your fix works for me! Thanks!