Can someone tell me why the blades on my Craftsman LT 1000 Riding Lawnmower will not engage? The engine works fine and the mower will run in every gear but when I push the cutting blade lever up, nothing happens. I did smell the scent of burning belt so I released the lever. There is a cable connected to the cutting blade lever, could it be loose?

In advance, Thank you for all your help.

Bob, March 2008

My sears tractor lt 1000 will engage into gear but it will not move. I tried reverse and it still will not move. The blades will engage.

Don, May 2014

my 2003 lt100 used to not start.. then it would SOMETIMES start if i put it on the charger... and if it wasnt on the charger it would click and turn ca lil bit but then it would only click on the charger now even when its on the charger nothing will happen at all!

oph ilia hiney, November 2012

How do I take the starter off?

Eva, April 2011

its the belt had thew same problem

Georgia, May 2010

The same thing happened to my LTX 1000, after messing around for a few hours I took the deck off and found that the bearings for the blades were shot. It looks like I will need to take the whole deck in to have the bearings pressed out and replaced.

Calif Jerry, June 2008

I'm having the same exact issue with the blades not engaging on my mower. I've cleaned the deck and moved the pulley back and forth several times. I mowed 3 times afterwards without any problems, but then the blades won't engage anymore. I'm guessing that the belt is stretched and needs replaced because it will usually engage when I first start the mower over the past month or so (when the belt is cold), but then it won't engage after emptying the grass clippings and I'm sure the belt is warm and stretched at this point. The mower and belts are now 4 years old. I guess I'll be replacing the belts tomorrow.

Jim, May 2008

You probably just need to replace the belt. This tractor does not have a way to tighten the belt. After a couple of years they simply stretch out and need to be replaced.

Bob, April 2008

There is a spring loaded lever on top of the mower deck that the cable runs to. Look underneath while you pull the lever, you'll see the spring and cable. It attaches to an arm that's probably gunked up. Work that arm back and forth to loosen it up.

It will probably help to really clean it up good so you can see what's happening with the cable and arm. It's not a hard repair, just work it loose again.

Brandon, April 2008

There is a spring loaded lever on top of the mower deck that the cable runs to. Look underneath while you pull the lever, you'll see the spring and cable. It attaches to an arm that's probably gunked up. Work that arm back and forth to loosen it up.

It will probably help to really clean it up good so you can see what's happening with the cable and arm. It's not a hard repair, just work it loose again.

Brandon, April 2008

Your tension idler is stuck in the down position. The washers are probably rusty or you need to clean your deck and oil all the moving parts while engaging and disengaging the blades while the mower is not running of course. Make sure your belt is still on as well.

slimdude, April 2008