Replacing Mower Drive Belt (48 and 54 Mower)


Replacing Primary Belt

  1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in SAFETY section.)

  2. Allow engine and muffler to cool completely.

  3. Lower mower deck.

  4. CAUTION: Component is spring-assisted and under tension. Injury can occur if spring-assisted component is released suddenly.

    Remove drive belt tension:

    • MXAL46053
      MXAL46053-UN-09APR13

      48 mower shown. Lever on left side.

      Grasp and hold tension rod (A) securely.
    • Disengage rod from retaining bracket (B) by rotating rod counterclockwise.
    • Move rod as far as possible toward rear wheel to remove all belt tension.


  5. MXAL46054
    MXAL46054-UN-09APR13

    Remove primary mower drive belt (C) from engine sheave (D), and move tension rod back into retaining bracket.


  6. Clean belt with a clean cloth.

  7. Inspect belt for wear or damage; replace as necessary.

  8. Install belt on mower sheave and engine sheave.

  9. Pivot drive belt tension rod toward front of machine to tighten drive belt. Hook tension rod into bracket on mower.


Replacing Secondary Belt

  1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in SAFETY section.)

  2. Allow engine and muffler to cool completely.

  3. Remove mower deck.

  4. Remove drive belt:

    • MXAL46055
      MXAL46055-UN-09APR13

      54 mower shown.

      Remove one cap screw on each belt shield (A), and slide belt shields outward to remove tabs on belt shields from slotted holes (B) in mower deck.
    • Remove bolt and belt guide (C).
    • Remove small spring locking pin (D), and remove tension rod (E) from tension handle bracket (F).

    • CAUTION: Components are installed under spring tension. Wear eye protection and use proper tools when installing and removing components with spring tension.

      To remove belt, rotate tension arm (G) slightly counter clockwise, and remove belt from sheaves.


  5. Inspect belt for wear or damage; replace as necessary.

  6. Clean top surface of mower deck and sheaves.

  7. Install belt on mower deck as shown. Make sure belt is under tension rod (E), and in the groove of each sheave. If necessary, rotate tension arm (G) slightly to place belt onto the last sheave.

  8. Install and tighten belt guide (C).

  9. Install tension rod (E) onto tension handle bracket (F), and secure with small spring locking pin (D).

  10. Install belt shields onto slotted holes on mower deck and slide each shield towards center of deck. Secure each shield with one cap screw.

  11. Install mower deck.

SP66632,00044C3-19-20130416