How to Change the Drive Belt on a Sears Power Propelled Mower

Heat over time causes the belt to wear out and need replacing.

Sears' walk-behind, powered lawn mowers use a drive belt. The belt runs from the gear case belt keeper to the belt retainer on the blade adapter. Heat over time will cause the belt to wear out and need replacing. Visible cracking on the belt is an indicator that the belt is aging and needs replacing. Changing a belt on a Sears' power self-propelled mower involves removing the old belt and replacing it with a new one.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement belt
• Screwdrivers

Instructions

1. Take out the screws that hold the rear baffle in place and then turn the mower on to its side --- the air filter and carburetor should face downward. Remove the rear baffle and place it to one side.

2. Take off the blade bolt, lock washer, hardened washer and blade. The take off the debris shield and gear case belt keeper, then remove the existing belt.

3. Place the new belt on the gear case pulley and put the gear case belt keeper back on the machine, ensuring the belt is within the tabs on the belt keeper. Align the blade adapter key with the crankshaft keyway and reposition the blade adapter on the machine, with the drive belt inside the tabs of the retainer.

4. Reinstall the debris shield and blade. Then turn the mower the right way up, and reinstall the baffle screws.

References

• Sears: Craftsman 700-series Rotary Lawn Mower Owner's Manual