Remove 4 bolts holding engine to deck, two by exhaust, one on each "leg" of the engine, remove engine, replace belt, re-install engine. Don't forget to use a new exhaust gasket.

Walt Conner

Thank you for the prompt reply, Walt.
I had removed all that you said, but the upper
half of the muffler will not come off over the pulley,
(the hole is too small). It looks to me that
the only way possible is to remove the pulley,
but the clearance between the shiv and the
casting is so small, there is no room to even
get a puller on it. Is the pully pressed on
or are there set screws that I am not seeing?

I just went out and looked at my spare 10301 engine ass'y. The muffler plate will not clear the pulley. You will have to remove the pulley, which makes it possible to replace the belt without removing the engine from the deck. There is a set screw. If you can loosen it, the pulley should come off. It may require heat.

Sorry about that. The ones I have replaced, don't know what models, were replaced as I said. That pulley can be a real pain to remove. The special set screw was generally put in with thread lock, it is slotted and usually strips out when you try to remove it.

Good luck,

Walt Conner

Saxman, won't that engine unbolt and the belt go over the engine and between the engine and that muffler plate without removing the pulley?

Walt Conner

Walt; there doesn't seem to be enough clearance around the pulley to get the new belt in. The old one can be cut and pulled out, but I don't see how you could get the new one in. I'm going to take another look at it today - it was nearly dark when I went out there yesterday. I guess I'll have to get the pulley off of mine too, just to swap out the muffler plate which is bad on the spare engine. I got the engine for a 10201 (no drive) and it's identical except for the pulley. This is just another peculiarity of the 'V' engine.

I have removed the pulley and belt from a 10301 without removing the muffler cover. Just took the complete engine off the deck, removed the plate and collar assembly, turned the crankshaft 'til the set screw was visible and loosened it with an allen head bit (can't remember what size). Also had to clean the crankshaft in order for the pulley to slide off. Wasn't too difficult a job. Good luck replacing yours!

Guess I should have mentioned that the reason I removed the engine was so I could more easily align the pulley set screw with the hole in the shaft when reassembling. Didn't have to remove any cables or anything from the engine.

Just to confirm that the muffler plate is one piece and the center hole is not big enough to pull the drive pulley through. Blaise's method sounds fine, and that's what I would do. You usually need really good access to the pulley. Blaise got very lucky in being able to get it off with little trouble. I might also look at enlarging the center hole just enough to pull the pulley through in case I need to replace the belt again or remove the muffler plate (to replace or to service the lower seal). I haven't tried getting the pulley off mine in over a year, but it didn't want to come loose then. I have to replace the muffler plate if I put the engine in service. Since I don't need the pulley, I don't mind ruining it to get it off. Thanks to Walt's tip that they used Loctite on the set screw, some heat applied there should allow it to be removed. In my case, I can break or cut away the parts of the muffler plate around the pulley to allow a puller to be used, but don't do that unless the plate is already bad - what usually happens is either the muffler bolts strip the threads or the bosses break off. You can only use the original or replacement 'Tri-Round' thread-forming bolts on the 'V' engine.

"the set screw was visible and loosened it with an allen head bit "

Well good to see they wised up. The screws were slotted and put in with thread lock.

Walt Conner

Thanks to all for the info. Meanwhile I reassembled
what I had taken apart, since the belt still has
some life in it and the mowing season will soon be
coming to a close. That will be a good wintertime
project. Meanwhile I'll give some of my other
"Boys" a little exercise. Thanks so much.
By the way.....that special little gasket that
goes between the engine and the muffler...
does an OEM part have to be used, or can one
be made from some exhaust gasket material?

It's a composite/metallic material. When you get the muffler plate off, you can take it out and see if you can find the same stuff at the auto parts. I've been known to re-use it if it's not burned. Actually, it's not worth the trouble to make one since it's inexpensive.

you dont need to undo the pulley set screw on the 10301 to replace the belt. take out the bolts that hold the engine block to the muffler plate. the play you get between the muffler plate and crankshaft gives you enough room to move the engine and get the belt on easy.

"take out the bolts that hold the engine block to the muffler plate."

That is what I thought and posted a week ago.

Walt Conner

Okay, I agree. I didn't consider sliding the engine back to get the pulley away from the upper muffler.
Walt, I'm sorry I didn't understand what you were saying. Anyway, you'd still have to remove the pulley to get to the lower seal or to remove the engine, but at least you can change the belt.