Concerning a Craftsman 24hp garden tractor. The

GAO TO YOU TUBE Replace spindle bearing Craftsman 24hp

look for bad spindle bearings

Is the deck too low or one side lower than the other? Level the deck side to side, front should be a little lower than back (about 1/4 inch). check tires for correct air pressure. Make sure blades are balanced.

With the mower off.
Look on top of the deck.Find the pulleys for the blades then find the engine pulley.There should be one more pulley that is the tension pulley.Watch that pulley as you pull the engage blade lever,while still turned off.The belt will go on the blade pulleys,and the engine pulley,it needs the tension pulley to push it tight.So you need to make sure it goes on the inside of the tension pulley.If you get the belt on and it does not engage,just remove it and replace it on the opposite side of the tension pulley.

What brand of engine?

You should not need to remove the deck or the clutch cable just to change the belt.

• ensure mower clutch lever is in the off position
  

• lift the front of the tractor approx 24 or more inches.

• lower the mower deck as far as it will go

• locate & remove the cotter pin from the right (discharge) side mower lift arm where it attaches to the rear of the mower

• release the lift arm from the mower deck to allow it to drop (it will hang from the other 3 points)
  

You should now have plenty of clearance to change the belt. Remove the belt from the engine pulley first and replace the new belt on the engine pulley last that will make it easier to change the belt.

If this is helpful please vote yes, Thank You!!

1) The drive belt between the engine and transmission has broken or jumped off a pulley.
OR
2) Your hydrostatic transmission is dead.

DO NOT STICK YOUR FINGERS UP INSIDE A RUNNING MOWER TO SEE IF THE DRIVE BELT IS MOVING.

unable to answer if valve opened or not but does sound like ur bottom valve is bent or piston made contact and bent it to fix need to remove head and replace valve also need to inspect piston face is not damaged from possible contact

yes might have to change pulley size not much difference just a little more hp

you most likely have a head gasket that is leaking. At the end of the season you should call your dealer and have it repaired.