I need to see a diagram of the belts and springs on a 42 inch MTD mower deck. I took mine off the tractor to clean it and change the blades, and I found a broken spring. I want to determine where the spring should be connected so I can install a replacement.

Question edited for clarity.

Pictures and videos.

https://www.google.com/search?q=MTD+42%22+Yard+Machine+Mower.+deck+belt+diagram

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First is to check the belt diagram and make sure your belt is on the correct side of the engagement pulley. This would be the one on the left side of deck with a spring attached.

deck drive belt is 96.5 inches 42 Deck Drive Belt BRAND NEW Factory Part OEM Troy Bilt MTD Huskee and MORE

Genuine MTD 954 04045 Mower Deck Belt 42 5 available

same as mtd yardman craftsman etc

On mower deck.

You can find the belt diagram for the MTD Yard Machine mower in the MTD Owner Manual. The diagram is on page 21.

There is a spring attached to a tensioner that probably came unhooked while changing the belt. Higher deck settings push the deck backwards enough to spin the blades, the lower setting need the spring tensioner to take up the slack in the belt.

HOW TO CHANGE A BELT ON

Troy-Bilt 17.5-HP Manual 42" Riding Mower

does anybody know what kind of drive belt a huskee 24 horse 42 deck takes?

If idler is in tact and spring attached, it is likely that the belt isn't routed properly. If you try to route the rear-most portion of the belt around the idler, it will be loose. You must route the front-most portion of the belt around the center blade pully and then around the idler. Just Google "MTD 46 inch deck diagram" and you will go to a Parts Tree site with the proper diagram showing routing.

If you don't have the model number, I just found a diagram for mine by Google, by typing in "MTD 46 inch deck diagram" It took me to a Parts Tree site and right to the diagram I needed. There are slight model differences but for years, the 46 inch, three blade deck has been essentially the same.