Help with lawn mower! Help?

braggscowboy · #1 06/07/11, 08:37 AM

I posted this on the shop talk and no one has given me the answer. I have a Craftsman 26 horse Kohler with 52" cut and everything seems to work fine, but I don't have any pulling power. Have new belt purchased at Sears, I assume the correct one. Purged the transmission and did everything I can think of. All looks OK and everything else seems to work. I need some good homestead opinions as to what is wrong. Help?

pheasantplucker · #2 06/07/11, 08:46 AM

Have the exact same mower. Have had the same problem twice...Belt slipped. Mine was still under warranty both times it happened. They fixed it free...otherwise it would have cost $204. Is yours still under warranty?

braggscowboy · #3 06/07/11, 09:01 AM

Phesantplucker, no mine is not under warrenty. Do you know or have any idea what they did to fix it? I am wondering if my belt may be on wrong. I did replace the belt. Thanks!

Old Vet · #4 06/07/11, 09:51 AM

If it is the same belt you may not have it placed correctly. Look at the mower and there will be a diagram as to how it is supposed to be installed. If not The idler may have to be tightened to keep it from slipping. Transmission belts need to be really tight to make them work.

pheasantplucker · #5 06/07/11, 10:05 AM

I would guess that Old Vet is exactly right...If the belt is correct (size wise), I'm sure it's probably not on correctly. Like he said, there is a schematic drawing that illustrates how it should wind around...Belt tension makes all the difference! Good luck. Do you have the manual for the mower?

mistletoad · #6 06/07/11, 10:26 AM

We had the same problem with our Craftsman when we put a new belt on this year - found it had slipped from a pulley that should engage when the brake is released. It was just about under the left foot rest and you can only see the slip when someone is on it with another person underneath because as soon as you engage the break and pulley moves out of the way.

**Cabin Fever** · #7 06/07/11, 10:54 AM

I believe this is the schematic for your mower's drive system, if not, it should be real close ==> Mower schematic

From the engine, the belt wraps around the two idler pulleys (Parts #50). The idler bellcrank is attached to the brake shaft (Part #64) via a linkage (Part 188). So, when you apply the brake, the idler pulleys cause the belt to loosen (causes the belt to slip) so the engine doesn't power the tranaxle.

When you release the brake pedal, the idlers tighten the belt and thus power the transaxle. So, I'm thinking the problem may be in the brake linkage. If possible, bend over and try pulling backward on the brake pedal, and then push the accelerator pedal and see it this doesn't give you more power. If it does, it make be that the brake linkage return spring (Part #17 or #161?) is weak which would not allow the idlers to fully tighten the belt.

MoonRiver · #8 06/07/11, 10:55 AM

I had trouble replacing the mower belt on my Craftsman. I didn't pay attention when I took the old one off and couldn't figure out how to route the new one. Found a video on youtube that showed exactly how to do it.

My point is that if you haven't already done a google search on your problem, I would try that. Some people have been creating some really detailed solutions to problems like this. If you're lucky, you might even find a video.