Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I have a Toro Recycler mower model 20017. It's logged a lot of hours in the past 4 years without a problem - until last fall when the personal pace self-propel system stopped "helping". Over the winter I replaced the traction cable (which had a small kink in the sheathing), the drive belt (as long as I was at it, right) and the broken handle spring. Greased, oiled and shined her and waited for spring. ....  Well spring is here and unfortunately, there was no improvement!

Any suggestions where to look next? Seem's like opening up the transmission is all that is left, but I'm hoping there's an adjustment somewhere that I did not notice. Ideas?

Never mind.

Tore it down and found that the pinion gear was froze up. Got it worked free, regreased the tranny, springs and keys. Should be all set now.

*&*^%&*  ...  Still don't have self-propel! Mower starts easily, runs smoothly and cuts well, but I have to do all the pushing! I certainly miss being able to walk beside the mower when doing the terraces - it used to be so effortless back then.

Here's where I'm at now ... gears and bearings all seem fine to me. If I tip the mower I can turn the rear wheels by hand and see that the pulley spins freely - conversely, I can pull on the belt and and turn the wheels. But when I tip it back onto 4 wheels, the mower will only roll forward if the engine is running, the rear wheels lock up completely if I try to push forward when the engine is off (it rolls backward easily in both cases). Noticed the rear axle has a lot of play. It can slide to the right about 1/2" and to the left 1/4". This is because the bearing retainers are different on the left and right sides -  but according to the parts list they should be the same. Because of the extra travel allowed to the right, the belt has carved away part of the belt cover and has even polished a slight depression into the right corner of the steel belt guide. I added some machine spacers to equalize the axle play. Now it only slides about 1/4" each way and the belt no longer rubs. Put everything back together and tested it out. NO CHANGE! Still can only roll it forward if the engine is running and there's not even a weak attempt to self-propel.

I don't see anything that can be adjusted. I've tried clamping the traction cable at different positions but the outcome doesn't change. Did I hook the cable into the wrong hole? It's attached to the transmission bracket hole that's closest to the ground (on the long arm). There's another tab with a hole in it on the same bracket that I don't see a purpose for - I have nothing attached to it - should there be? I did put a new belt on, maybe I was sent the wrong size (I had to be careful when doing the pulley test, the belt would bind between the crank and the corner of the metal guide if I pulled too quickly - made me wonder if it was too long). Anybody know what it should measure?

This is not a complicated setup. I'm so frustrated with myself that I can't figure this out!  Please, I could use some advice.

 take a look at the pulley/blade adapter.  the groove where the belt ride becomes worn.

Pull the blade off and remove the drive pulley that the blade is attached. Check to see if the pulley is grooved. My dealer says that it lasts about 4 years with normal use. This pulley costs $15. Note there is a spacer washer in the bottom of the pulley housing that needs to be removed and placed in the replacement housing before reattaching the blade. Not doing this will result in binding the pulley assembly into the bottom of the drive flange and not allow the blade to move. Also check the transmission pulley for the same wear patterns. I had your problem and this fixed it perfectly.