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?

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.