How To Replace The Drive Belt On Troy Bilt Riding Mower Model TB42 Hydrostatic 42"

[@joeh2253]

Thank you sir, that "easy" repair would have had me frustrated. You did a great job as usual.

[@IndRepair]

I want to get frustrated sometimes then I remember this is the profession I chose and the job I do daily so I can't be too mad about it. Should have been an engineer for sure, HA!

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

I’ve put this machine in my “do not acquire to flip” category. Sheesh!

[@IndRepair]

Yeah, one of my least favorite for this repair wow!!

[@philliphall5198]

The deck falls off and it’s a peace of crap 💩

[@IndRepair]

@@philliphall5198 I don't see decks falling unless someone hits something normally but looking back I guess I have seen it quite a few times on this design

[@frankie7508]

What an incredible repair! All due to the design deficiencies for maintenance. Having seen this video, I would never purchase a troy built hydrostatic lawn tractor. As always Martin, thank you for an outstanding repair with excellent video shots and detailed explanations. 👍👍👍

[@IndRepair]

It definitely does not have any maintenance capabilities at all. My shoulders / back never like this repair a lot of under work. Many of these the plastic bushings on the front wheels are blanks so they won't even accept grease

[@frankie7508]

@@IndRepair And, it's very ironic , my guess is probably deliberate, that you never criticized, complained or condemned the design of the machine and that it was completely devoid of any consideration whatsoever for maintenance. Yet, very astutely I might add, all of your followers have and will pick up on this point. Designing equipment and facilities with maintenance in mind requires a great deal of additional foresight and experience, time and cost. Believe me I know! It just shows that you're a quality individual by not criticizing/ignoring the manufacturer severe deficiencies and simply showing people who repair equipment for a living the great deal of additional work involved. Something for you to consider in a future video that I think your audience would find it very interesting is to group the same type of machines that compete together from different manufacturers and critique those machines from a maintenance standpoint. I am certain that the more expensive models would come out on top. Which is why I own a gravely pro walk hydro, spending the extra money because I was so dissatisfied with the quality of the design of the machines on the lower end, including and especially residential models. Best wishes for continued success Martin, and take care.

[@IndRepair]

@@frankie7508 Yeah, I have come to be used to the fact that pretty much everything is engineered in such a way that it makes it difficult to repair. I think you are right about doing the comparison video and agree on quality there! Best wishes to you also!

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

@@frankie7508 Well said, and a great idea for future videos! It would be great, going into a job, to have some idea of the issues surrounding maintenance.

[@elijames3041]

Grate video

[@IndRepair]

Thank you!

[@leosweeney7955]

Hi, I always put the deck lift rod, back in the lift bar, and put lift lever back in high position.

[@IndRepair]

Great tip!

[@philliphall5198]

Might as well replace the steering bushing while the deck is off 😮

[@IndRepair]

The deck comes off in about 30 seconds the rest was the difficult part lol

[@crisprtalk6963]

Martin little help please, 42" JD D110 riding mower, belt keep rolling (twisting), all pulleys are good, idlers are new, have tried JD OEM belt, tried shorter belts, belt guards are in place, deck is not warped, spindle bearings are quiet, all appears great but belt still twists. What's left to check?

[@IndRepair]

This is the drive belt or deck belt?

[@IndRepair]

Obviously deck belt huh? If you look across them all is there any difference in height or are they all level?

[@crisprtalk6963]

@@IndRepair The left lder pulley (larger of the two) seems higher that the right one but this seems to be by design on these mowers as my neighbor has similar mower with same deck and his looks identical to mine. He has no deck belt troubles. None of the pulleys wobble.

[@philliphall5198]

@@crisprtalk6963a line the pulleys,Sir

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

Only thing that comes to mind is get a duplicate belt to the one your neighbor has. Also check to see if you mow at a different height.

[@watermanone7567]

Nice work, the designer that made you loosen the rear seat area to loosen and tighten the bolts for the idlers needs to get a different job. They could have been carriage bolts or tac welded to prevent all that extra work. Also please the front deck wheel as in the video it looks bent pretty badly. Thanks for the video.

[@IndRepair]

Yeah, kind of crazy this design and many of the other ones take the whole rear of the mower apart to get to the top of the nut instead of just using a carriage bolt

[@IndRepair]

Deck needs a full rebuild from the sound of it

[@MikeClark-s8s]

Boy that was kinda of pain lol!!

[@IndRepair]

Man I tell you, think I have only done one exactly like this because I sure was not remembering most of that!

[@philliphall5198]

Deck bracket are weak and it flops around like junk 😢😢😢

[@IndRepair]

Definitely so!

[@garylittle8985]

Another good reason to avoid buying a Troy Bilt.. and if someone brought me one to put a belt on it, they would hit the roof over my labor charge, thinking i ripped them off.. i personally would have straightened that bent bracket in a vice and reused it. Otherwise, you did a great job. If i was the owner, I'd sell it asap before it breaks again, and buy something of higher quality and easier to replace belts.

[@IndRepair]

Some of these models sure are a bear. It was definitely not a cheap repair but I was prepared in the estimate and when getting into it. Almost all other models, brands and makes are easier to replace (I will save John Deere's intricate designs on some for a different thread). Bending the bracket back probably would have worked just fine, if I wasn't ordering other parts I likely would have done that instead of ordering it to not have to wait. I appreciate that!

[@jasnapon]

Why didn't you blow that deck off first 🤔

[@IndRepair]

Always pw after I am done