Grinding noise from Craftsman LT1000 when engaging blades
Craftsman LT1000 riding mower, model 917.272761
About 5 years old, nothing but oil changes done on it
Started having issues when lawn got high while I was away. When I came back and tried to mow (even at highest setting), the blade would get bound up on the grass and kept stalling the mower. It would even give a small puff of white smoke and smell like burning rubber.
Each time I would stop, clean out the blade area, and let it cool down. This probably happened about 10 times over a period of a week or two.
Today I took it out to mow, and it was running fine. Then all of a sudden, it started shrieking something horrible. The horrible noise only occurs when the blades are engaged. I immediately shut it off. Checked the blade, but it was not obstructed. Noticed that the blade drive belt seemed incredibly loose.
Went to Sears, got a new V belt, and installed it.
Started the mower back up, engaged the blades, went about 10 feet. Horrible grinding noise again, and sparks coming out the left side of mower (left with me sitting on it). Shut it off right away. Noticed that it had dug up the ground where I had traveled (on the left side again).
However, there was nothing obstructing the blade, and when I remove the blade it does not appear to be bent. If I turn the left blade by hand, I can hear a grinding noise coming from the area where the blade is screwed into.
I have to get my hands on a "star" screwdriver, so I can open it up to get some pictures, but can anyone suggest what I should be looking most closely at? From the research I have done and from reading the owner's manual, it seems the most likely culprits are:
Bad mandrel bearings
An obstruction in the clutch
Frozen idler pulley
Frozen blade mandrel
Can someone help me debug which of these it might be? I don't know how to check these things, and can't find enough detail anywhere to help me.
Thank you so much in advance. I can take pics of whatever will help you help me! :)
-Vikki
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