How to Replace a Craftsman Lawn Mower Drive Belt

We've all had that awful experience of having our lawn mower break down on what seems to be the hottest day of the year. But before you throw in the towel, take a moment to make sure that it's not your mower's belt that's the problem.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Wrench set

1. Find out the driver belt's part number. This can be found in your lawn mower's owner manual.

2. Find a store that sells Craftsman lawnmower parts and see if it has your specific belt in stock.

3. Clean out the underside of your mower's deck, making sure there are no leftover pieces from your old belt still stuck inside.

4. Find your mower's tensioner, which keeps the pulleys in place, and loosen it (this usually involves loosening a single bolt). Then slide the pulleys closer together so that you can fit the belt over them more easily.

5. Arrange the driver belt over the pulleys (you should refer to your user manual for the exact configuration of the belt over the pulleys, since this will vary depending on the specific model of your lawn mower).

6. Tighten the tensioner back up, leaving only about a finger's width left of play in the belt.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have the owner's manual, you can still find the driver belt's part number online. Whenever possible, buy a factory belt as opposed to an aftermarket one.

Resources

• information on replacing Craftsman riding mower belt
• Information on replacing Craftsman walk-behind mower belt