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How to Change the Belt on a Troy Bilt Rototiller

Steven Douglas

Troy Bilt rototillers are very versatile yard machines designed to perform the difficult task of tilling soil with ease.

Tilling soil creates a tremendous amount of stress and strain on the transmission components of rototillers; this stress has been engineered by Troy Bilt to be fully absorbed by the drive belt, which the tiller operator may replace as needed as a routine maintenance item. Rototiller operators can quickly replace a worn or stretched drive belt thus ensuring maximum performance from their rototiller.

Tip

Verify that the drive belt is correctly positioned in the same groove on each pulley.

  1. Park the tiller on a hard level surface. Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting. Move the PTO drive lever to the neutral position.

  2. Kneel beside the tiller on the right side, and create slack in the drive belt by reaching over the belt pulleys and pressing in on the mid point of the drive belt with two fingers. With the belt still slackened, move the belt away from the lower pulley by pushing it down and out towards the direction of the engine.

  3. Push the belt even farther upward to create more slack slack in the belt. Carefully raise the top half of the belt up and around the upper belt pulley and the rubber belt reverse disc. Keep moving the belt towards the front of the belt reverse disc.

  4. Move the PTO drive lever to the forward, or drive, position, which will increase the available slack between the upper and lower belt pulleys. Lift and remove the entire belt out from between these two pulleys.

  5. Pinch the new replacement belt in the middle, and slide one end in between the two pulleys. Push the belt fully forward, and push it down so that it is looped over the bottom lower pulley. You may use a wooden ruler or other such object to help you push the belt far enough down.

  6. Move the top portion of the belt up and completely over the rubber belt reverse disc. Put the PTO drive lever in the neutral position towards you.

  7. Place the top half of the new belt into the groove closest to the engine on the top pulley, which represents the high speed range position. Place the bottom half of the belt into the groove closest to the engine on the lower pulley, which also represents the high speed range position. To create more slack for the new belt installation, you may support the PTO drive lever with one hand while seating the belt.

  8. Test the tiller's operation for proper belt tension. Mark the belt replacement date in the owner's manual for future reference.

The Drip Cap

  • Troy Bilt rototillers are very versatile yard machines designed to perform the difficult task of tilling soil with ease.
  • Carefully raise the top half of the belt up and around the upper belt pulley and the rubber belt reverse disc.
  • Place the bottom half of the belt into the groove closest to the engine on the lower pulley, which also represents the high speed range position.
  • To create more slack for the new belt installation, you may support the PTO drive lever with one hand while seating the belt.
  • Test the tiller's operation for proper belt tension.