When I start the mower blades and start cutting I am having a squealing noise. Sometime the belt will start burning and there is smoke, I have to quickly disengage the blades. I also go through belts within less than a season of use. I have cleaned the deck regularly and lube every thing I can find. It seems this year it is worse then ever and I can't even cut the grass at all. I am thinking this is a mandrel or the PTO clutch? Seems like the noise is at the bottom of the Engine where the PTO is. How do you replace this if it is the problem? What do you think?

Remove the deck belt or at least get it fully disengaged. Pull the spark plug wires and manually turn the blades, do they all turn freely?

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Remove the deck belt or at least get it fully disengaged. Pull the spark plug wires and manually turn the blades, do they all turn freely??

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Yes, The blades move freely when the belt from the PTO is removed.

Either you have the wrong belt or your adjustment is way too loose. The smoke and noise could be just a slipping belt and adjustment is warranted. Check under your hood for the correct belt number or go to Parts & Accessories | Shop & Find Lawn & Garden, Appliance Parts at Sears PartsDirect | SearsPartsDirect.com With your model number handy.

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Either you have the wrong belt or your adjustment is way too loose. The smoke and noise could be just a slipping belt and adjustment is warranted. Check under your hood for the correct belt number or go to Parts & Accessories | Shop & Find Lawn & Garden, Appliance Parts at Sears PartsDirect | SearsPartsDirect.com With your model number handy.

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Thanks for the thought but I know for sure that I have the correct belt. I have purchased 3 of these over the last 2 years and I am burning through them. I am not sure where the belt adjustment would be, can you please elaborate? Thank you!

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Originally Posted by mklinejr10

Thanks for the thought but I know for sure that I have the correct belt. I have purchased 3 of these over the last 2 years and I am burning through them. I am not sure where the belt adjustment would be, can you please elaborate? Thank you!

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Sorry, I also wanted to mention I purchased these belt at Sears using the Model number and having them look it up to verify. Thanks again!

Belt numbers are also under the hood of nearly all Craftsman tractors too. OK the adjustment, do this with the engine off and the plug wire pulled, have someone else operate the engagement handle while you observe which pulley moves unedr the tractor to apply tension to the drive belt going to the deck, not the one running around to the blade mandrels. The moving pulley is on an arm and that arm will have an adjustment bolt on it which can be truned. One way the belt gets tighter and the other way it gets looser. When your belt is engaged, engine still off now, you should be able to pull on the belt and cause it to deflect about an inch.

This will sound dumb, but when you turn each blade indepenently by hand, do they turn freely?

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Belt numbers are also under the hood of nearly all Craftsman tractors too. OK the adjustment, do this with the engine off and the plug wire pulled, have someone else operate the engagement handle while you observe which pulley moves unedr the tractor to apply tension to the drive belt going to the deck, not the one running around to the blade mandrels. The moving pulley is on an arm and that arm will have an adjustment bolt on it which can be truned. One way the belt gets tighter and the other way it gets looser. When your belt is engaged, engine still off now, you should be able to pull on the belt and cause it to deflect about an inch.

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This tractor just has a Red button you pull out to engage the blades. But I think I understand the concept. I will see if I can find an adjustment pulley or screw.

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Originally Posted by eatco

This will sound dumb, but when you turn each blade indepenently by hand, do they turn freely?

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Yes, the blades move freely and well when moved with the belt of the PTO