Ok let me start of by saying it is so moves really slow even in high 7 , I walk faster than it goes, even my 4 year old passes me, I just go this mower and the engine is brand new ,prior owner replaced it , I am thinking the speed isa why he got rid of it now but here it is , replaced both belts with think it was a 7540446 to the tranny and a 7540280a for the engine , they were old and worn and thought that was the problem but nope it still goes super slow , and its like really really really slow it low. I have the same out come . I looked on a site called order tree that does show diagrams of mowers for part references and I put the belts on like they show , still slow , there are two rods one that comes from the 7 speed slector that I attached to the upper spring loaded arm and one from the clutch/brake that I attached to the solid plate just below the spring loaded one , that moves the whole pulley system . (I even swaped rod locations to see if that was it but nope) I did notice that the pulley system that both the belts attach to(the belt from the engine to variable pulley and belt from variable pulley to tranny)had a little rust on just the parts where the belts ride so I lightly sanded off the surface rust. (the middle slide up and down very easy. I thought that this thing worked auto so that's all I did and put it back on and fired it up and still very slow , doesn't slip but so slow . What could I be doing wrong or is something not right? I have turned wrenchs for a long time and know mechanics but this thing is tossing me. I understand the concept of variable speed by the pulley being slid up to increase speed to the tranny meaning belt on top rides further into the pulley and the bottom belt riding further out, but it isn't working this way , not that I see. I looked at this variable pulley and it slides very easy , but there is nothing like a spring toforce it on way or the other , Should there be? I know how hard it is to distance help repair something and have no problem taking a pic or 30 to show what I mean . Could there be a problem in the tranny ? It feels faster i8n high then low but it just doesn't go that fast , I mean engine on fast in 7 hi I can "walk" faster. Like I said the rust was on surface and took it off so it wouldn't scuff the new belt up only. Is it possible the rods are in wrong places or prior owner let pulley off or something . There is only on tensioner that is at the tranny the front belt shows a 754-0280a going from crank top small pulley right to variable top side pulley and the rear belt going from bottom of variable pulley to tranny and a belt tenshioner to hold against back side of belt to keep belt somewhat tight from a spring. This model is a 14AS845H372I am thinking it is a 97 and not 98 due to the differences in diagrams at order tree . I have no owners manual. I just didn't want to waste 80 dollars on the variable unit and not have a second input. It did have a steering problem which I repaired myself , the gear had the middle 5-6 teeth chewed down as did the gear on the steering shaft but I repaired both with welding and grinding and it turns wonderful now without popping. Not sure how this tractor was treated but from the steering and new engine I am thinking it wasn't treated like it was going to be a keeper. Any input would be great , Thanks

could be the belts are mis routed, the variable speed pulley, or the idler pulley arm not moving.

(p.s. did not read entire post.)

Just so anyone else has this problem , I increased the shaft pulley to a 6" and changed belt and all is good , I was trying to get this mower to move a bit faster as I could out walk it even when it was in hi 7 . I did check all parts and found them to operating normal but this tractor just moves slow , I had all belts on correctly and the variable pulley was working fine , I simply went to Tractor supply and bought a 6" rough pulley and a 1" insert and a 56" belt instead of the 53" aka 954-0280a. I then welded the 1" insert into the 6" pull and cut out the protector pulley plate , installed the 6" pulley and belt and presto my mower would go a smooth 7-10 mph in hi 7 depending on engine rpm , I still have my low speed for cutting the lawn and my reverse. I say still have reverse because if you push them any further you take the chance of the chain busting and tearing up the case due to the reverse chain moving while mower is moving forward unless yours is gear driven , If you intend on going much faster you should break the case and remove the rev. sprocket and chain due to this problem but I didn't intend on situation , only to get tractor to move at a 7-10 mph speed in its highest gear without the blades engaged.