Does Not drive, belt position not sure is correct, connected and tight. Engin runs and Blade turns just fine. Craftsman, 917.374511, Lawn Mower

the craftsman takes a specific belt. make sure you have the proper belt for that deck and tractor. aftermarket belts can be too tight or too loose

The transmission drive belt is a separate one from the blade belt. The clutch pedal when released puts tension on the transmission drive belt so it tightens up and drives the gearbox pulley by way of a large spring. Make sure the spring is ok. The belts don't last forever and probably needs replacing looking at the age of the machine. That is a fun job as it is right up under the machine and runs from the engine pulley right back to the top of the transmission. You have to drop the deck right off and I usually find a tree with a large branch and haul the front up with a rope or winch so the mower is vertical. Makes it easier to work on. Drain petrol first though. Hope this helps otherwise get a mower shop to do it for you if you feel it's to much of a task. Good luck.

You need to replace the blade clutch cable that runs between the blade engagement lever just to the right of the steering wheel and the the spring to the idler/clutch wheel on the top of the mower deck. Over time the cable binds in the sleeve/cable jacket preventing the blade from disengaging

first make sure the blade is not just loose if tight remove the hub that holds the blade and make sure the key is not damaged

Step 1

Consult your owner's manual to get the proper part number for the drive belt needed for your particular lawn mower model and purchase it.
Step 2

Turn your lawn mower on its side or put your riding mower up on blocks so you can get to the underside of your mower's deck.
Step 3

Clean the underside of your deck. This can most easily be accomplished by carefully scraping the underside of the deck with a long handled flat blade screwdriver. Remove any pieces of drive belt that are still attached to the pulleys that are visible.
Step 4

Locate the tensioner. This is a pulley that can move when it is loosened. Use your ratchet to loosen the bolt holding the tensioner in place. Allow the tensioner to move closer to the other pulleys.
Step 5

Check your owner's manual for the proper way to position your drive belt over the pulleys. On most models the drive belt simply goes around the drive pulley, the tensioner and the pulley connected to the blades, but some models are slightly different.
Step 6

Pull the tensioner tight until there is less than 1/2 inch of play in the drive belt when you push on it between pulleys. Tighten the bolt holding the tensioner in place once the belt is as tight as the owner's manual suggests.

First, you need to make sure you have the right tools for the job. You'll need a wrench, work gloves, mower blade clamp, drain pan and fresh fuel. Check your owner's manual for the correct belt to your specific lawn mower. Belts that are not specifically designed for your mower will not fit properly and may wear down prematurely. Next, remove the spark plug wire. This is a safety precaution to prevent the mower from accidentally starting.
Now you can remove the screws that secure the drive cover to the mower deck. Once you've taken off the drive cover, loosen the screw that holds the belt tension spring to the transmission. As the screw is loosened, tension on the belt is released allowing you to remove the belt off of the front transmission pulley.
At this point you'll need to turn your mower on its side to take off the mower blade. Be sure to use a work glove to protect your hand when removing the mower blade. You can use a lawn mower blade clamp over the blade to secure it. Unscrew the bolt to remove the blade and then the engine baffle. Once the pulley unit is exposed, you can remove the entire drive belt. Insert the new drive belt and place one end on the rear pulley and re-attach the engine baffle. Then, place the mower blade back (making sure it's facing the correct way with bottom of the blade facing the ground) and tighten the bolt. Remove the clamp and return the mower to its upright position so you can place the other end of the belt to the front pulley. Remember to tighten the screw to the tension spring.
Put the front drive cover back on, tighten the screw that secures the cover to the deck and reconnect the spark plug wire. Add new fuel to your mower and you're done!

there are as many belt diagrams as there are mowers. You will need your model number to get the correct diagram. You should find this under the seat or on the very back of the unit. sorry can't help more at this time, when you get this, you can get online and go to sears and you will find it there.

Sounds like a loose belt check the tension spring if they ok check and see if belt is strectched

Manual lists the incorrect number for this model! i learned through many difficulties. Correct belt is a # 144959, 1/2 " by 95"

It sounds to me that you need a new mower deck drive belt, or your blades need sharpening. If the blade edges are rounded, they won't cut butter... Also, when mower is off, check mower deck drive pulleys to make sure you don't have any that are locked up or are dragging. You can check this by pulling the belt away from pulley and spinning the pulley by hand. MOWER MUST BE OFF before attempting any of these checks. You would be surprised how many people would try this with the mower running.
Hope this helps