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In Reply to: 318 manual or help on changing primary belt from mowing deck posted by maria on Saturday, June 26, 2004:
Are you referring to the belt from the motor to the mower? If yes, the first thing (engine is off and key is removed!) to do is locate the tensioning knob in the front of the tractor below the front grill. Turn this counter-clockwise to loosen up the belt. Now go under the tractor with a flashlight and visually look at the way the belt is routed. There are metal rods on the mower deck and around the mule drive pulleys and you want your new belt to not be on the wrong side of these rod guides, as it will wear out in a matter of minutes. Then remove the front grill, do NOT use the plastic Deere emblem as a handle to pull as it WILL break off. Trust me on that, I know. Now reach under the tractor and grab the belt and work it off the mower pulley. Disconnect the pins from the very front of the mower to allow the removal of the black "mule" drive (the assembly with the two pulleys that change the direction of the belt. Go to the fron of the tractor and pull the mule drive towards you. Remove the belt from the motor's PTO pulley and discard the belt. Fit the new belt on the mule drive and while reinstalling themule drive, work the top of the belt around the PTO pulley. Rehook the front mower pins, being carefull that the belt is routed correctly. Work the belt back on the mower pulley and visually check that the belt is not rubbing anywhere and not on top of, or outside of the guides. Now start the tractor and raise the mower deck all the way. Shut off the tractor and tighten the tensioning knob until the little steel rod visible through the slot in the mule drive points at the initial install setting on the decal. Start up the tractor and turn on the mower and see how it runs. You should be ready to cut grass. You might be able to get a manual from this site, or from your Deere dealer. Deere charges in the neighborhood of $20. Take good care of your 318, it is one of the best garden tractors ever made.