I need help with my mower(Yard Man 42" cut)

[SAWYER]

I got this from someone and was told it needed a new pulley and they had the old one off. I take it to the mower parts place and get a matching one. I assume it goes in the middle of the deck where the hole is next to the other one but I want to make sure, and how does the belt run?

 

[PottedMeat]

what does the manual/disassembly pics say?

http://manuals.mtdproducts.com/mtd/Public.do?BrandCode=10201&langId=-1

 

[slashbinslashbash]

I have never worked on lawnmowers before, but to me it looks like yes, the pulley would mount in the 2nd hole on the middle thingy, which would appear to be a belt tensioner. It looks like that whole assembly, with the two pulleys on it, would rotate in one direction and be spring-loaded in the other. So basically you install the new pulley, rotate the tensioner so that it is perpindicular to the two main pulleys (forming a cross shape with all 4 pulleys) and then run the belt across the two main pulleys, in such a way that it runs between the two smaller pulleys. It might help to have another person to help you do this. Once the belt is in place, release the tensioner and the two small middle pulleys will swivel into place and keep it taut.

 

[boomerang]

Can you describe how that center bracket pivots? Which direction does it have to move to have tension on it?

A closer view of that center area of the cutter deck from other viewpoints may help too. I'm neither agreeing or disagreeing with the above poster, I just would like more information.

That link to the manual above should help you tremendously. I skipped over it my first time through and just saw it.

 

[skyking]

Yes, it is a backside tensioner, no groove in the pulley. It has a shaft/spacer that you tighten into that hole.