Belt Removal for a Poulan Pro

Safety Measures

• Before you can take the belt off your Poulan Pro lawn tractor, make sure that all the safety features on the mower are engaged. Park the mower on a flat surface that will allow easy access to the mowing deck. Depress the brake pedal fully and engage the parking brake. Make sure the parking brake is fully engaged and the machine will hold; try rocking it back and forth lightly to test the brake. Disengage the transmission, moving the clutch into its neutral setting. Always wear leather work gloves and closed-toe shoes when working on the mowing deck.

Getting the Deck Off

• The mowing deck, which holds the entire drive and belt system, needs to be removed before the belt can be replaced. Pull the deck's adjustment lever so the deck is set to its lowest setting. Slowly roll the belt off the rear, or engine, pulley. Disengage the clutch systems, the anti-sway bar and the housing guide on the front of the deck. Each of these parts will have retainer springs holding them to the deck. Pull the springs out. After these are disengaged, disconnect the rear suspension arms and the front links on the deck, pulling out their retainer springs.

Removing the Belt

• With the drive systems disengaged, pull up on the adjustment lever to lift the suspension arms, disconnecting the deck from the mower. Slide the deck out from underneath the mower to work on the belt. Slowly turn the two mandrel pulleys while working the belt off the pulleys. Work the belt off the two idler pulleys last. Move the belt out of the housing guides and away from the deck. Inspect the condition of the belt and discard if it's heavily worn or starting to crack.

Reinstalling the Belt

• The reinstallation process for the drive belt on your Poulan Pro is reverse of the removal process. Feed the belt onto the two idler pulleys. Work the belt around the two front mandrel pulleys while turning the pulleys. Slide the belt into place on the pulley grooves and into the housing guides. Refit the mowing deck to the mower in the reverse process of its removal. Once the mowing deck is reconnected, slowly work the belt around the last rear drive pulley.