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13
INSPECTING / REPLACING THE
DRIVE BELT
The drive belt can be inspected or re-
placed from beneath the machine deck.
The belt should not require inspection
for many hours of operation. If re-
placement becomes necessary, follow
the instructions given here.
Belt Inspection
Stop the engine and let all moving
parts stop. Disconnect the spark plug
wire and move it away from the spark
plug. Remove the ignition key on elec-
tric start models.
A. For your convenience, we recom-
mend that you place the trimmer/
mower on a raised platform to make
access to the underside of the deck as
easy as possible.
B. Remove the rubber debris flap (A,
Figure 5-4) by using pliers to remove
either one of the small E-rings (B) at
the ends of the retainer rod and then
sliding the retainer rod out.
C. Remove the rear belt cover by
using a 1/2" wrench to remove the sin-
gle screw (C, Figure 5-4) in the rear
belt cover. Examine the belt carefully.
Feed it around the rear pulley so the
entire belt can be examined. If cracks
or other damage are noted, a new belt
is needed. Otherwise, clean and re-
place the belt cover and debris flap.
Belt Replacement
D. Remove the spindle head by taking
off the large hex nut (A, Figure 5-5) at
the bottom of the spindle using a 3/4"
socket wrench. (While loosening the
nut, hold the spindle head secure by in-
serting a screwdriver or rod into hole
B, Figure 5-6, at the top-front of the
deck. Be sure to align one of four
holes in the pulley with the deck hole
first.)
E. With a 1/2" wrench, remove the
screw (D, Fig. 5-4) securing the front
belt cover/spindle mounting plate.
Then remove the other four screws
holding the belt cover/spindle mount-
ing plate on (E, F, G and H, Fig. 5-4).
Lower the drive housing and the belt
cover/spindle mounting plate carefully.
Note precisely how the belt is routed
along the pulleys. (See Figure 5-7.)
Work the belt off the rear pulley (H,
Figure 5-7), then off the other pulleys.
NOTE: The nut on the idler arm V-pul-
ley must be removed in order to take
off the belt. The screw may need to be
held with an allen wrench. Install the
new belt along the very same path.
F. Clean parts of all debris. Replace
the lower driveshaft housing and front
belt cover/spindle mounting plate, the
spindle head, the wear cup, the rear
belt cover and the debris flap.
G. Check for correct belt tension. See
“Adjusting Trimmer Head Engagement”
in this Section.
Figure 5-4
Figure 5-7
Figure 5-5 Figure 5-6
A
B
D
E
F
G
H
C
A
H
DANGER
KEEP HANDS and FEET AWAY
THROWN OBJEC
Objects suc
h as ro
cks, p
e
small debris w
ill be thrown vi
th
e cutting
head, resultin
g in sig
hazar
d to eyes an
d exposed
bod
y p
Kee
p children, pets and bystanders 50
feet away from m
achine while o
perating.
Be alert to
hid
den obstacles.
ROTATING CUTTING HEAD
Do not servi
ce or adjust cut
ting head o
r
other moving parts unless en
gine
is sto
pped
and spark plug wire is disconnecte
d.
1
9
0
4
4
03
(
1/97
)
B
Section 5: Maintenance/Repairs
WARNING Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the unit, shut off engine, wait for all parts
to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug.
Remove ignition key on electric start models. Failure to follow these instructions can result in
serious personal injury or property damage.