BY THE WAY, THIS IS ON A 1976 ST/12.

Did you install the belt over the clutch and under the idler?

I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE BELT WAS OVER THE CLUTCH AND UNDER THE IDLER AND IT WASN'T. I SWITCHED IT SO IT IS RIGHT NOW BUT THERE IS A NEW ISSUE. I STARTED IT UP HAPPY AS CAN BE THAT IT WAS RIGHT AND IT WORKED GREAT FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. NOW WHEN I PUSH THE CLUTCH DOWN IT STILL WANTS TO MOVE LIKE IT IS ENGAGED AND WHEN I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IT WON'T GO BACK IN GEAR; IT GRINDS LIKE CRAZY AND WON'T GO INTO ANY GEAR. I HAVE CHECKED AND DOUBLE CHECKED THE ADJUSTMENTS AND EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE TO ME ACCORDING TO WHAT THE MANUAL SAYS. I AM ASSUMING THIS HAS TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT ISSUE BECAUSE I KNOW IT WORKED JUST FINE BEFORE I CHANGED THE DRIVE BELT BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT COULD BE. ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!!

Hi Gary,

Sorry I got into this one late. I uploaded a couple of pics that hopefully will clarify what I'm going to write.

http://photos.bravenet.com/426/001/687/42704CDFFE.jpg

This is the clutch arm. Notice the tang that goes over the pulley? This keeps the belt running in the groove of the pulley, and also may serve to stop the belt when the clutch pedal is depressed. Sometimes they will bet bent out by people who don't want to unbolt he pulley to replace the belt. I've seen a few tractors where the tang thing is bolted on and not a piece of the bracket. It may be discarded.

http://photos.bravenet.com/426/001/687/6EC7369FB9.jpg

This is where the spring gets mounted.

http://photos.bravenet.com/426/001/687/DFD1F71FAC.jpg

This is a copy of the manual page relating to the belt adjustment. I apologize if this is the same thing you have in your manual.

Make sure you have the right belt. Make sure the tang is in place and close to the pulley. Some belts are stiffer than others, epspecially in the weather we're having. You have to get that belt stopped so you can shift.

I forgot the clickable links don't work here.

I posted this same message on my new message board.

Spence

This should help a lot!! There isn't a tang on the tractor that I saw but I'm going back out now to check. The guy I bought it from must have drilled a hole in the bracket above where the spring is supposed to go because there are wear marks that the new spring fits perfectly into. I am getting a much clearer picture of what is supposed to happen now. Thanks a lot; hopefully I won't have to post anymore questions because it is starting to snow a lot and I'll probably need the snow thrower very soon!!

Glad to have helped!

I really need to drink my coffee before posting. Wow...all the typos.

WELL, I CHECKED IT OUT AGAIN AND THE SPRING IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND THE BELT IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY BUT IT STILL ISN'T RIGHT. I ORDERED THE BELT AND SPRING RIGHT OUT OF THE OWNERS MANUAL SO I KNOW THEY ARE RIGHT. IT HAS TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT ISSUE SO I AM GOING TO GO BACK AT IT TONIGHT AND SEE IF I CAN FIGURE IT OUT. WHEN I FIRST START IT UP IT RUNS BEAUTIFUL FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND THEN WHEN I PUSH THE CLUTCH IN IT WANTS TO MOVE A LITTLE BIT. WHEN I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TRY TO PUT IT BACK IN GEAR IT JUST GRINDS. LIKE I SAID, IT WORKED BEFORE I PUT THE NEW BELT ON SO I AM ASSUMING IT IS AN ADJUSTMENT ISSUE. THANKS!