46-inch Decks
• Insert a 3/8"-drive ratchet wrench (set to loosen)
into the square hole found in the idler bracket on the
left side of the deck's surface. See Figure 25.
Idler
BeltGuard
3/8" SquareHole
Figure 25
Grasp the ratchet's handle and pivot it toward the
tractor's right side to relieve tension on the belt.
With belt tension relieved, carefully remove the
belt from around the left-hand spindle pulley.
50-inch Decks
• To ease in removing the belt in later steps, loosen,
but do not remove, the bolt which secures the
pivoting idler pulley to the idler bracket.
See Figure 26.
Pivoting Idler Pulley
BeltGuard
IdlerBracket
Spring
3/8" Square Hole
/
Figure 26
• Insert a 3/8"-drive ratchet wrench (set to tighten)
into the square hole found in the idler bracket on the
left side of the deck's surface. See Figure 26.
• Grasp the ratchet's handle and pivot it toward the
tractor's right side to relieve tension on the belt.
• With belt tension relieved, carefully remove the
belt from around the left-hand spindle pulley.
All Models
IMPORTANT: Carefully allow the ratchet to pivot
rearward before removing it from the square hole.
• Remove the deck belt from around all pulleys,
including the deck idler pulley(s) and the electric
PTO clutch.
• Route the new belts (deck belt first) as shown on
the following page.
• Remount the belt guards removed earlier.
28