How to Replace the Variable Speed Belt on a Troy-Bilt Pony

Lower the mower deck by positioning the lift lever into the bottom notch on the right rear fender.

Remove the belt keeper bar from under the engine by removing the bolts that secure it in place, using a wrench.

Remove the belt guards from the mower deck by removing the screws that hold the guards in place, using a screwdriver.

Locate the idler pulley on the mower deck and loosen the bolts that hold it in place, using the wrench. Do not remove the bolts completely. Loosening the bolts releases tension on the belt.

Remove the belt from the drive pulley on the engine and the pulleys on the deck. Place the new belt onto all of the pulleys.

Tighten the bolts on the idler pulley and reinstall the belt keeper bar and belt guards.

After you remove the belt, it can become confusing when trying to route the new belt onto the pulleys. To avoid this, make a diagram of the belt and how it routes around the pulleys before you actually remove the belt from the pulley system.