BLADE DRIVE BELT ADJUSTMENT
Well, most riding mowers have a "pully idler", meaning once you have the belt on there (and it is the RIGHT size), the idler automatically gives the belt tension when you engage it (in fact, the idler pully is what IS engaged when you engage the belly mower).
Couple things to check (super simple):
The Belt. Look to see if she is wore smooth out.
Sometimes....they WILL stretch on you, instead of busting/coming apart, and give you noise (when she is engaged, but wore out enough to flop around a little)
The Deck Blade Bearings. Straight away, that is what it sounds like, or bent blades.
Check your Blade Bearings (super simple):
1. Pick up your deck to the highest high setting (mower off, just sitting).
2. Reach under, and grab your mower blade (do this for both sides), and TILT your blade UP (meaning, don't LIFT the blade straight up).
Seriously, jiggle it at a TILT. If you feel some slack in the bearing, the bearing IS shot. Straight up and down is most of the time OK, IF it is VERY little play on your blade bearings. As you do it, look at your belt pulley directly on top, if you see that pully bobbing....
However, if you grab one side of the blade only, then tilt the blade up, and she moves.....
Bearings need replaced, both the upper AND lower bearings PER blade.
They are not hard to replace, and not expensive either! (Though unfortunately, most are "sealed" junk nowadays!)
Bad Bearings show up (make themselves known) in only a few ways: Tons of Noise (grinding, squealing) & Vibration.
Go check them thar Bearings!
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