Scratchy almost grinding noise coming from the main belt pulley area where the deck belt attaches to the motor pulley. Started all the sudden while mowing. Can hear the noise when manually turning the blades. Is the main pulley attached to an engagement clutch of some kind?

You've either broke the motors housing moving the motor out of alignment or the impact on the blade has snapped the drive belt by the sudden torque or it's been jerked off by the sudden stop of the blade it's been yanked off the drive pulleys and the nose is the motor running free with no blade resistance you will need to open up and inspect the drive belt assembley system the blade drive shaft pulley access area and the motor access area to either replace the broken belt or refit the belt if it's not been chewed or damaged by the free spinning motor pulley the smoke it was proberbly the belt rubbing against the motors drive pulley or wrapping up around it burning it through friction
Or your broke the motors drive shaft HOUSING allowing the driving motor and pulley to become misaligned dropping drive belt off
The motor funny noise if a banging around sound then is was the still running motor pulley is bouncing around and rubbing against the deck ect. Causing the smoke if this has happened the impact with the stone has caused a kickback effect on the motor twisting it out of its housing breaking it's secure mounts meaning the decks motor is loose the housing has gone, the MOWER extremely dangerous as the motor can at the speed it's running at 3000rpm it will chew thought the rest of the deck in a matter of seconds throwing and ripping itself from the machine sending chunks of broken deck and the motor flying in all DIRECTION possibly causing injuries to any one within range and as the wires rip apart and a possible nasty and even fatal electric shock please for your own safety do not use the lawnmower
Until it's been inspected by qualified personnel
It is highly unsafe and should either be repaired or replaced which ever the cheaper
Advice to check the area your cutting esp when using a high impact resistant plastic deck lawnmower for hidden foreign objects large and small stones as the small ones can be thrown by the blade like a "bullet"! small toys esp metal cars etcetra will make excellent shrapnel and cut the fabric grass box to ribbion it's also you if directly in the debris path Also not good for your lawnmowers blade or deck
Pavement slabs are defiantly known as the silent MOWER DESTROYER YOU can't hear it, as you aproch you can't see it before it's too late, there's a Loud bang the MOWER stops that exact same instant and the MOWER IS NOW KNOWN AS BROKEN "!
Esp on petrol mowers slabs tend to stop the MOWER dead bending the crank shaft the mowers with a slightly bentccrank will jump Round like it's on steroids or vibrate so badly it will shake itself apart as well as leaving a, very odd sensation in your arms
Deposits from animals are just nasty to clean off the deck and wheels so I clear them up too if THERE are any just in case

Be sure to verify if you are getting the noise while you are physically on the machine or with no one on it
Creaking or squeaking while running on the machine usually indicates an issue in your incline motor, deck frame, springs, and or pivot points

A loud grumbling noise getting louder and louder while elevating speed, usually means you have a bad bearing

Any knocking noise coming from a treadmill indicates bad bearings in your front roller, rear roller, or drive motor

Isolate the bearings in the front and rear rollers from the drive motor bearings

To test: Unplug machine, remove the main shroud, remove drive belt from drive motor and front roller pulley

After doing so, move the treadmill belt by itself by pushing it backward or forward with just your hands and listen for any noise, if you get any noise it is most likely coming from either the front or rear roller. To isolate the noise out of the two rollers you must remove the rollers and turn each one individually.

If no noise with the first test, go ahead and start the machine and run it at a low speed. You want to listen for noise, if you get knocking or grumbling while drive motor is running with no drive belt attached then the issue is in your Drive Motor.

A lot of times simple maintenance will save your treadmill from noise, you want to make sure and lubricate your treadmills *pivot points. Incline motor bolt, shaft, deck screws, and or any *pivot points on the bottom of your machine. Metal on metal *pivot points are usually the culprit in most cases.

*Pivot points are just areas of high friction where there may be a bolt, washer, and nut attached to the base of your frame or any hinges on your folding type treadmills. Metal to metal needs to be lubricated to minimize wear and tear of those areas.

Synthetic grease works best or any spray on lubrication works fine if you do not want to remove any bolts or hardware.
If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to call us or visit us online
888-713-2880 or
http://www.sportsmith.net/supportsearch.aspx

To be honest with you, these could be symptoms of a few different problems. Here are the most common ones and what it possibly sounds like:
1) It could be that the front roller has dislodged itself from the roller pulley. In other words, the motor keeps turning, and when you step on the walk belt, the pulley (the one with the small rubber belt) keeps turning, but the roller stops. This can cause grinding noises, and the pulley to "skid" the black belt, which can account for the black dust. You can usually tell this is the problem when it runs fine with nobody on it, but when you step on it, it grinds
2) It could also be that the walk belt is rubbing on the sides of the deck and/or side rails. This happens when the belt shifts over from the center. It would definitely sound like a grinding noise, and the black dust could be from the walk belt particles wearing down due to the rubbing.
3) It could also be the drive motor brushes. Let me explain. The motor has two small blocks on either side of it (inside the metal casing). Those two blocks actually carry electricity into the spinning part of the motor (called an armature). They actually make contact with the armature at all times while it spins. Those "small blocks" are made of a graphite (what pencil lead is made of). Well, with so much spinning, and so much contact from the armature, those things grind down with time. They sometimes grind down until they are stubs only. Then they start grinding. The powder in this case would be the brush graphite piling up (this would often be shiny dust, and is a dark grayish).
4) The grinding could also be roller bearings going bad.
**For #3, and 4 above, you have but to remove the small belt that attaches to the motor (rubber, black, and small attached to pulleys), and let the treadmill run for a few seconds by itself. You may get a "speed error code' after the treadmill does not detect speed, but at least you'll know if the grinding is coming from the motor. If it runs super quiet, even for a few seconds, then you know it may be #1, 2, or 4 above.
These are the most common issues based on your symptoms.

If the machine has been sitting idle for a period of time it is probable that the cutter spindles have failed / rusted bearings. They suffer from wet grass/ water seepage when working and when let stand idle for a time will rust up the balls in the bearings. Loosen the drive belts and see if the cutters can be turned freely by hand .

When was the last time that this unit inspected ? The belts sound as if they are slipping Check with the unit in the stop mode turn the capstan with your one finger and hold the motor pulley with your other hand if they can be moved easily the belts are worn and must be replaced

lube the deck belt + rollers bearing see the video attached.

2) Test the bearing for main motor, and schedule maintenance for motor.
If the noise persist after you execute the maintenance motor+deck belt, TIME for replace the OLD board deck belt.
God bless you

If the fan is attached to the water pump tahe hold of a blade and try back and forward towards the motor. If there is movement there it will be either a fan hub failing or a water pump bearing. Second check remove the fan belt and check for noise.( idle engine for short period of time) If it is gone confirm pump by spinning any adjuster pulleys and check for noise or rough movement

my car is doing the same thing. please let me know if you ever figured out the problem. [email protected]

your idler pulley near the motor area is bad,it keeps tension on the belt,usually either a spring steel rod or a bracket with a nylon pulley attached on the end