How to Change a Tractor Drive Belt

Your tractor's drive belt broke and you need to mow another 1/4-acre before you can call it a day. Changing a tractor drive belt is a fairly easy thing to do that should save you maintenance costs and is often accomplished without tools. Here is how to change your tractor drive belt and be back in time for supper.

Instructions

1. Find the tractor's drive belt part number. This can be located in the tractor's user manual, or if you no longer have the user manual, you can find it online. Most manufacturers will list replacement parts and numbers on their websites or at least a phone number that you can call to get that information.

2. Locate a parts supplier that carries parts for your tractor. Keep in mind part cost, shipping cost and, if you're not ordering it online, the cost of getting to the supplier's location. Many tractor supply stores carry a wide range of tractor parts, but call first to be sure the drive belt for your tractor is in stock.

3. Remove the pieces of the old belt. Check for pieces wrapped around axles and spindles.

4. Loosen tension on the mower deck (if you have an adjuster), and starting at the top, feed the folded belt through your tractor's drive pulley and below the guiding pulleys to the mower deck pulley. Make sure to remove all twists from the belt.

5. Tighten tension on your mower deck and pull the belt manually to check for tension and obstructions of belt debris.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider having a spare drive belt for your tractor in the barn. This way if this happens again, you can save yourself a trip to the tractor supply place.