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 and remove machine and rear deck shield. (See Removing and Installing Machine Shields in the SERVICE MOWER section).

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

    Remove drive belt tension:

    • MXAL45903
      MXAL45903-UN-10APR13

      48 mower shown. Lever on left side.

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


  5. MXAL45904
    MXAL45904-UN-10APR13

    Center deck shields removed for picture clarity.

    Remove primary mower drive belt (D) from engine sheave (E), 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 (A) toward front of machine to tighten drive belt. Hook tension rod into bracket on mower.

  10. Install machine and rear deck shields.


Replacing Secondary Belt

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

  2. Allow engine and muffler to cool completely.

  3. Remove machine and rear deck shields. (See Removing and Installing Machine Shields in the SERVICE MOWER section.)

  4. Remove primary drive belt from engine sheave.

  5. Remove mower deck.

  6. Remove primary drive belt from deck.

  7. To remove secondary belt:

    • Remove left and right deck center shields.
    • Remove left and right deck side shields.

    • MXAL45905
      MXAL45905-UN-10APR13

      54 mower shown.

      Remove bolt (A) and belt guide.
    • Remove spring locking pin (B), and remove tension rod (C) from tension handle bracket (D).

    • 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 (E) slightly counterclockwise and remove secondary belt (F) from sheaves.


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

  9. Clean top surface of mower deck and sheaves.

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

  11. Install and tighten belt guide (A).

  12. Install tension rod (C) onto tension handle bracket (D), and secure with spring locking pin (B).

  13. Position primary drive belt on deck sheave and install all deck shields.

  14. Install mower deck.

  15. Install machine shields. (See Removing and Installing Machine Shields in the SERVICE MOWER section.)

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