Reinstall the belt cover on the front of the engine with the two self-tapping screws and flat washers. Refer to Figure 15.

NOTE: Make sure that the auger cable is routed in front of the belt.

Drive Belt

Drain the gasoline from the snow thrower, or place a piece of plastic under the gas cap.

Remove the plastic belt cover on the front of the engine by removing the two self-tapping screws.

Tip the snow thrower up and forward, so that it rests on the housing.

Remove six self-tapping screws from the frame cover underneath the snow thrower.

Pull the idler pulley away from the drive belt and remove the belt from the engine pulley. You will find the idler pulley in front of the engine and under the belt cover that you removed earlier.

Working from the underside of the frame, slip belt between the friction wheel and the friction wheel disc. See Figure 20. You may have to twist the belt flat in order to slide it through the clearance between the friction wheel and the friction wheel disc. Remove the belt completely.

Replace new belt. Reassemble following the above instructions in reverse order.

Friction

Wheel

Remove six screws from the frame cover underneath the snow thrower. Refer to Figure 12.

Remove the left wheel from the axle.

Drive

Cover

Figure 21

Remove the four screws securing the left drive cover to the frame. Remove the drive cover from the side of the frame. See Figure 21.

Shift Arm Assembly

Sprocket

Spacer

Pin

Idler

Pulley

Location

Friction

Drive Belt

Wheel

Location

Disc

 

Figure 20

Changing Friction Wheel Rubber

Check the rubber on the friction wheel after 25 hours of operation, and periodically thereafter. Replace the rubber if any signs of wear or cracking are found.

Drain the gasoline from the snow thrower, or place a piece of plastic under the gas cap.

Tip the snow thrower up and forward, so that it rests on the housing.

Friction Wheel

Figure 22

Holding the friction wheel assembly as shown in Figure 22, slide the hex shaft out of the left side of the unit. The spacer on the right side of the hex shaft will fall and the sprocket should remain hanging lose in the chain.

Lift the friction wheel assembly out between the axle shaft and the drive shaft assemblies.

Remove the six screws from both sides of the friction wheel assembly. Remove friction wheel

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MTD 31AH553G401 manual Changing Friction Wheel Rubber, Drive Belt, Idler Pulley Location Friction, Disc