Best way is to lay machine down on the front panel. Put a towel or mat under it to protect the paint. Now you can see the motor, belt, pulley etc. Grab the pulley and try turning it both directions. It should turn easily both ways. If it won't then either the clutch spring is binding up or the inner gearbox is seizing. To check the clutch, remove the belt & gearbox pulley. Behind the pulley is the plastic clutch with teeth and a brake arm with a plastic pawl resting against the teeth. (This is the source of the high pitched clicking you hear if brake arm is not pulled away far enough from the teeth before the clutch & gearbox spins) Pull the brake arm away and tie it back out of the way. Pull clutch down & off. Take note of which way around it all goes before removing. Remove inner spring and replace it if broken distorted or rusty. If ok then apply liberal grease and put it back together. Check pawl on brake arm they sometimes break. Try pulley again for free movement.
Lincoln Appliance NZ, September 2012
