Troy-Bilt Z809H, 24 HP B&S engine, 46" deck, 3 years old, model 14az809h063. I just had the drive belt replaced by an "authorized" repair facility.

With the engine off, everything seems fine. I can shift into and out of gear easily and the brake stops the tractor cold. With the engine running, once I start driving it in forward or reverse, it wants to keep going slowly in that direction even with the drive pedal released. The brake barely works and I cannot get it out of gear without releasing the brake pedal and shifting out of gear while it's rolling. That sounds like the belt is too tight but there is slack in the belt before I press on the drive pedal. I must keep the drive pedal depressed fully to maintain full speed on level terrain and I can barely crawl up my inclined driveway where it used to go without a problem. THAT sounds like the belt is too loose. The belt is the correct number and I found that it was routed incorrectly around a belt keeper which made it tighter than it should be. There was enough slack to move it from one side of the keeper to the other.

Is there some adjustment that would remove some tension when the drive pedal is released so it won't move on its own AND provide more torque/tension to drive when I want to without standing on the pedal? Could there be a problem with the variable speed belt on the transmission?

If you had it replaced by them, I'd tell them they screwed up and ask them what will they do about it.

THE DRIVE BELT IS TO TIGHT. TAKE THE DECK OUT AND ADJUST THE PEDAL.














Troy-Bilt Z809H, 24 HP B&S engine, 46" deck, 3 years old, model 14az809h063. I just had the drive belt replaced by an "authorized" repair facility.

With the engine off, everything seems fine. I can shift into and out of gear easily and the brake stops the tractor cold. With the engine running, once I start driving it in forward or reverse, it wants to keep going slowly in that direction even with the drive pedal released. The brake barely works and I cannot get it out of gear without releasing the brake pedal and shifting out of gear while it's rolling. That sounds like the belt is too tight but there is slack in the belt before I press on the drive pedal. I must keep the drive pedal depressed fully to maintain full speed on level terrain and I can barely crawl up my inclined driveway where it used to go without a problem. THAT sounds like the belt is too loose. The belt is the correct number and I found that it was routed incorrectly around a belt keeper which made it tighter than it should be. There was enough slack to move it from one side of the keeper to the other.

Is there some adjustment that would remove some tension when the drive pedal is released so it won't move on its own AND provide more torque/tension to drive when I want to without standing on the pedal? Could there be a problem with the variable speed belt on the transmission?