How to Adjust the PTO Belt on a John Deere 210 Mower

The PTO belt is the drive belt that runs the mower deck. It is a serpentine, V-groove belt manufactured from Kevlar. The mower deck has a built-in adjustment system called an idler pulley. The pulley is spring-loaded. As the Kevlar belt stretches, the idler pulley applies more pressure to keep the belt properly adjusted. Unfortunately, once the belt stretches too far, the idler pulley stops functioning. The only way to properly adjust the PTO belt on your John Deere 210 is to replace the drive belt with a new one.

Socket and ratchet set

Instructions

- 1
  Park your John Deere 210 on level solid ground, set the parking brake, disengage the PTO lever to stop the mower blades and then lower the deck with the deck lever.
- 2
  Lie on the ground in front of your John Deere 210 and locate the PTO pulley that rests just below the engine. You can easily locate it by looking under the front of the mower.
- 3
  Remove the retaining bracket mounted over the pulley with a socket and ratchet.
- 4
  Grip the belt with both hands and pull it off the PTO pulley.
- 5
  Pull the belt back towards the mower deck, then remove the belt from the deck. There are many different pulleys on the mower deck. Use the diagram printed on the deck for proper belt routing and install the new belt onto the deck.
- 6
  Pull the belt forward and place it over the PTO pulley. If you cannot stretch the belt enough to get it over the pulley, have a second person manually push the idler pulley inward away from the belt. The idler pulley is the only pulley mounted to a spring-loaded bracket on the mower deck.
- 7
  Reattach the retaining bracket to the PTO pulley with the socket and ratchet.

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