I just finished doing the idler pullies and drive belt on my YT4000. The biggest hang-up I had was the spring loaded assembly that had the two different pullies on it. With the spring from the assembly to the frame attached, I couldn't get the pivot bushing and associated washer to stay in place while putting the nut on the bolt. It may be that at my age, I just wasn't strong enough to do it. So I released the spring and got everything bolted in place. Now, the spring. I tried the screwdriver trick, but the spring was shaped wrong and I couldn't get it to pop through the frame. I finally bought (for a princely sum of about $6.00) a tool used to remove and replace motorcycle muffler springs. A "T" shaped tool with a 3" padded handle with about a 6" shaft with a small hook at the end. 5 minutes later, everything bolted in place and the spring back in its place. I did have to slightly loosen the belt retainer on the motor pully. You can get to it through a hole in the chassis as long as the steering plate is turned in the right position. I also used the same tool to release the spring that holds the blade engagement cable in place under the dash, as I replaced that as well since the cable was starting to fray. thanks for the videos.
What did you do with the pulley with the longer shaft? I have that one and plan to install it at the rear pulley, but I don't think the tractor came that way from the factory. Enjoyed the real life experience of your video. Thanks
@@Duf It was the rear pulley, but I downloaded the wrong manual and ordered the wrong pulley. I replaced all three plastic pulleys and the drive belt no longer slips. Thanks for your help.
you are a patient man..i would have hurled that stuff all over the yard..my mower is in far worse shape that yours, so, i will need to do a lot of this...first thing will be to get my drive back..i do not want to look underneath! lmao oh and btw - i am contemplating setting fire to the mower and paying someone else..your thoughts? as my ytard has huge field like grass clumps which i am pickaxing out...I know i should just plough it under but #wedontdoboring
Craftsman can SERIOUSLY go to hell with these dang plastic idler pullies in 15+hp mowers. I have a 2800 pro series tractor with less than 125 hour in it and it’s already thrown 2 of them. The ground we mow is pretty hilly but it’s still just a normal run of the mill large yard. For Craftsman to do this to their customers after charging over $3k for a supposed commercial duty machine they should be sued! At the very least they should be forced to make a metal replacement option!
Yeah went to tractor supply and got a metal one! Works great until the rest break! Thanks for the video..really helped me..one thing though.. just changed the flat idler and took off the tension spring..made life real easy..had to see modify the space as the bearing was a 6302 tad which is not the same,as 6302 RS...ih the joy of fixing..anyway thank you!
Can't believe they use garbage plastic pulleys. My lt1000 just broke. I'm going to tractor supply and buying steel pulleys to replace both garbage plastic ideler pulleys.
I just finished doing the idler pullies and drive belt on my YT4000. The biggest hang-up I had was the spring loaded assembly that had the two different pullies on it. With the spring from the assembly to the frame attached, I couldn't get the pivot bushing and associated washer to stay in place while putting the nut on the bolt. It may be that at my age, I just wasn't strong enough to do it. So I released the spring and got everything bolted in place. Now, the spring. I tried the screwdriver trick, but the spring was shaped wrong and I couldn't get it to pop through the frame. I finally bought (for a princely sum of about $6.00) a tool used to remove and replace motorcycle muffler springs. A "T" shaped tool with a 3" padded handle with about a 6" shaft with a small hook at the end. 5 minutes later, everything bolted in place and the spring back in its place. I did have to slightly loosen the belt retainer on the motor pully. You can get to it through a hole in the chassis as long as the steering plate is turned in the right position. I also used the same tool to release the spring that holds the blade engagement cable in place under the dash, as I replaced that as well since the cable was starting to fray. thanks for the videos.
Yea that part can be a bit challenging, I think I just muscled it
Are all 3 pulleys the same part # or are they all different? Could i get part # for all three please for my yt4000. Thx
Sorry bud this was from years ago, I don't have the part number, I looked it up online.
What did you do with the pulley with the longer shaft? I have that one and plan to install it at the rear pulley, but I don't think the tractor came that way from the factory. Enjoyed the real life experience of your video. Thanks
Do you mean the front drive pulley?
@@Duf It was the rear pulley, but I downloaded the wrong manual and ordered the wrong pulley. I replaced all three plastic pulleys and the drive belt no longer slips. Thanks for your help.
Do you have the part number for the pulleys and the belt
I got them here - www.repairclinic.com/Shop-For-Parts/a21b317c58/Craftsman-Lawn-Mower-Pulley-Parts
you are a patient man..i would have hurled that stuff all over the yard..my mower is in far worse shape that yours, so, i will need to do a lot of this...first thing will be to get my drive back..i do not want to look underneath! lmao oh and btw - i am contemplating setting fire to the mower and paying someone else..your thoughts? as my ytard has huge field like grass clumps which i am pickaxing out...I know i should just plough it under but #wedontdoboring
Oh my patience runs out pretty quick, that's when my determination kicks in. LOL
I had the same problem with that same pulley except mine ended up being almost completely melted!! 😮 It was bad!!
Yep I am still surprised they are plastic
Craftsman can SERIOUSLY go to hell with these dang plastic idler pullies in 15+hp mowers. I have a 2800 pro series tractor with less than 125 hour in it and it’s already thrown 2 of them. The ground we mow is pretty hilly but it’s still just a normal run of the mill large yard. For Craftsman to do this to their customers after charging over $3k for a supposed commercial duty machine they should be sued! At the very least they should be forced to make a metal replacement option!
I agree man, plastic pulleys are ridiculous.
The idler pulley on my Ram 1500 went out a couple of years ago. Same thing. Plastic pulley.
just found out why it wont run idler is eaten - same as yours...
Yea I was really surprised that those idlers are made of plastic, designed to fail.
Yeah went to tractor supply and got a metal one! Works great until the rest break! Thanks for the video..really helped me..one thing though.. just changed the flat idler and took off the tension spring..made life real easy..had to see modify the space as the bearing was a 6302 tad which is not the same,as 6302 RS...ih the joy of fixing..anyway thank you!
Check out fun videos on my RUclips account
Can't believe they use garbage plastic pulleys. My lt1000 just broke. I'm going to tractor supply and buying steel pulleys to replace both garbage plastic ideler pulleys.
I was very surprised as well when I first saw them.
@@Duf Tractor supply has steel pulleys the same size as the plastic ones. Definitely replacing both plastic pulleys with steel.
Craftsman products turned to shit years ago.
Have heard that repeated a number of times, it's too bad.