Why Does My Exmark Zero Turn Lazer Z Lawn Mower Die Every Time I Turn on the Blades?

Preparation

• The Exmark zero turn lawn mower should be on a level area to ease your ability to access its belt. Ensure the mower is positioned on such an area before turning it off. Push down on the deck lever beside the driver's seat to lower the deck for troubleshooting.

Accessing the Belt

• The pulley of the Exmark mower keeps the belt in place on the mower deck and helps ensure it stays taught. You can find the pulley on the bottom of the center of the mower deck. The loose drive belt is looped through this pulley, and below it is the spring-loaded idler piece. Use a socket wrench to loosen the bolt at the top of the idler's front metal plate. This will allow you to operate on the drive belt.

Tightening the Belt

• The empty, square hole on the idler's front plate is used to access the drive belt for tightening. Insert a ratchet or breaker bar into this hole and crank it clockwise to tighten the belt back up along the mower's pulley. Stop cranking when you first feel resistance, and keep in mind that further tightening beyond this point may result in belt damage.

Finishing the Job

• Do not forget to make final adjustments in order to ensure your mower is ready for use again. Use your socket wrench to tighten the idler plate's top bolt to secure the assembly once more. Also, pull up the deck's lever to raise the Exmark's mower deck to its previous position. You will need the mower deck raised prior to starting the engine and moving the mower again.