Craftsman LT 1000 Lawnmower Drive Belt Installation

The Craftsman LT1000 is a basic riding mower designed to cut residential lawns. It's equipped with an automatic transmission, and it cuts 42 inches across. The mower requires regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly and safely. Over time, the drive belt that turns the mower blades can wear down or break. You can replace the drive belt yourself without using any special tools.


Park the mower on a level surface, and engage the parking brake. Move the motion control lever to "Neutral.' Disengage the attachment clutch, and turn off the ignition. Remove the key.


Move the attachment lift lever forward to the lowest position.


Remove the belt carefully from the engine pulley.


Remove the small retainer spring and clutch spring from the pulley bolt.


Remove the large retainer spring, slide off the collar and remove the housing guide from the bracket.


Remove the retainer spring, and disconnect the anti-sway bar.


Remove the retainer springs, and disconnect the suspension arms from the rear brackets.


Remove the retainer springs, and disconnect the front links from the deck.


Raise the lift lever to raise the suspension arms, and slide the mower deck out from under the mower.


Remove the drive belt carefully from the mandrel and idler pulleys. Route the new belt along the pulleys, making sure that it fits properly in the grooves.


Raise the attachment lift lever to the highest position, and slide the mower deck underneath the mower. Lower the attachment lift lever to the lowest position, and reinstall the mower deck following the same method you used to uninstall it.