I change belts on decks now they are smokeing hot every time engage blade why ? I put it on the same way it came off. beckidoug@yahoo

Sounds like your mower belt needs to be replaced. Good luck.

Did the smoking stop when you disengaged the blades? If so it is most likely your belt that is smoking. Make sure all the blades turn freely by hand to ensure you have not hit anything that may have bent a shaft on one of the blades. If one of the shafts is bent and wont turn FREELY, the belt driving the blades would slip and start smoking as it tried to turn them.

You'll need to look under the deck w/ the mower not running and see why the blades aren't turning. Most likely something is bent (maybe blade) and hitting something. The smoke is probably from the belt slipping and getting hot.

First, you need to check to make sure you have the belt on correctly. There needs to be a tensioner holding the belt in proper tension. I have had a few deck issues where a bearing is worn out and it could be smoking when the grease gets hot. See if you can get a diagram for the belt position and check your bearings and idlers. Also make sure it is cleaned out so that you don't have a lot of grass in there that could be burning and smoking.Good luck.

when changing the blades did you remove the deck and put one of the lift rods in the wrong place?

Does it make a squealing noise then too? The white smoke is probably a belt burning up. Either you have a locked up blade spindle, or the belt is off, and rubbing. Check the deck belt(s) and the clutch assembly.

you should take a picture of how the belt is on there now so you will know how to put it back on. check to see if the blades will spin freely with it not running of course. put your hand under it and spin the blade. if they don't spin you may have something wrapped around the spindles causing the blades not to spin causing the belt to smoke. if the belt is cracked or missing any chunks you may want to replace it. take a picture so you will remember how it goes back on.

motor off= deck engaed turn blade should turn motor and belt fairly easy, NO remove the belt from the motor pulley with deck engaged blades should turn freely.
most decks have breaks on the pullies so if the deck is not engaged the break will be on

The oil on your pulley could definitely be the culprit. You need friction in order for your belts to work properly.

model 917258862 mower was given to me. sat outside numerous years. I've managed to get it to start run and drive, but cant get blades to engage. don't know what the wires are for or do that go to some sort of pulley attached to the bottom of motor. can somebody help me pls ?