Can You Take the Self Propelled Off of a Lawn Mower?

Safety Precautions

• Before doing any work on a lawnmower, especially the drive and blade systems, remove the rubber boot from the end of the spark plug. Ground the rubber boot against a metal point on the engine cylinder to ensure there are no accidental start-ups. Move the mower into a flat, well-lit work space so you can comfortably access the belt and drive systems on the mower. Always wear leather work gloves, closed-toed shoes and long pants when working on a lawnmower.

Accessing the Belt

• Unhook the spring clip on the drive system, moving the handle into the "disengaged" position. This will release tension on the belt, allowing for its removal. Reach underneath the engine block. On many self-propelled lawnmowers the belts can be accessed easily. However, on some a protective covering sits on top. It must be removed to gain access to the belt. On many models, the drive pulley sits directly underneath the crankshaft of the mower's engine so it can connect with the engine.

Removing the Belt

• The belt forces the pulleys to spin. These turn the front pulley and the axle on the front wheels. To disconnect the drive system, the belt must be removed from the pulley system. After gaining access to the belt, slowly twist the rear pulley while pulling down on the belt. Roll the belt off the rear pulley. After disengaging the belt from the rear drive pulley, slowly roll the belt away from the front pulley and remove it.

Reattach the Belt

• If you ever want to switch back to a self-propelled lawnmower, reattach the belt to the drive system. Remember how the belt was routed before taking it off. If it helps, draw a diagram of the belt's routing around the pulleys and guides to help with its reassembly. Make sure the belt sits fully in the center of both pulleys and runs through all the belt guides before starting the lawnmower.