*SIGH*... Y'know mownie, I really do think that the hard-to-turn-the-engine-over syndrome is related to the starter. Now I can't get it to turn the engine more than a single revolution at all even when it is cold (I have it uncovered so I can see what it is doing when cranking it), let alone turn it over to fire. This is what it was doing when it was hot. So can't try out the carb adjustments yet since I can't get it to turn the flywheel fast enough to fire the engine at all. What HAS been happening is when you turn the ignition key, the starter driveshaft pops up, the gear engages the flywheel, then it stops wmmph at a high compression point in the engine or something, and then labors and can't turn it past that point, like something is jamming up somewhere. At least once tonight though it cranked the engine a couple revolutions without incident but it wasn't seeming to get any firing action; that was right after I put the battery on the charger briefly. THEN, after that a couple times the starter drive shaft (or whatever it is) did not pop up at all upon turning the key; it sat there and spinned....so we know it is getting current. Tried a little WD-40 to the shaft under the silver disk-shaped part below the gear but did not make much difference...a and finally another time the shaft popped up, engaged, stopped (when it stops it is engaged with the flywheel and stays there after releasing the key; you have to turn the shaft to make it come back down), and then there were a couple of clicking noises coming from inside the starter too when the key was held in start briefly past the jam-up point. That also happened on one or two tries. Sooooo....Battery? Starter? Neither? Both? lol. I replaced a broken plastic part at the top of the drive shaft on the starter season before last; will have to look up what it is called but remember removing and replacing the pin that holds it all together to the drive shaft was next to impossible...so kind of hesitant to try to tear it all down again because it was such a pain. Way easier to just buy a new one, albeit a lot pricier.. Might make more sense just to put the battery on the charger to be sure it does have sufficient charge before blowing $125 on a new starter but will it hurt the battery if it DOESN'T need charging to do this? Can't afford the starter at this point anyway. Sorry to change this thread so late in the game, if you think I need to start another let me know. Dang dinosaur...it just doesn't want to do any work, that's all... :^\

Haven't seen that issue of MTD but I've owned several brands of lawn tractors and changed a fair number of belts. The guide bars/retaining bolts on some are removed by removing the nut on the bolt or removing the bolt which is threaded into the bracket. On other models, the pulley is removed, the belt placed on the pulley and the pulley bolted back on. Bob

ok, after reading through your posts on this thread I see that you have pretty much solved your electrical problem. Wish I had seen it sooner and had access to my mower so I could have taken pictures for you, because your mower is identical to mine in TSC tractor model and B&S engine model. I googled the tractor model awhile back and got exactly 2 results, one of them my own post in this forum. Maybe they are typically so great no one needs to post about problems, lol. Not likely! :) I would have been more than happy to take pictures of the wiring because I am reasonably sure it should be identical to what I have on my mower. If you would like a couple photos for reference, I will take a couple for you when I get my currently power-deprived garage door fixed...so I can GET to it. As far as replacing the idler pulley, are you referring to the idler pulley on the deck /blade drive, or the one on the motion drive? Looked up the deck idler pulley in the manual and it is originally part no. 310326; they also reference the washer, bolt and nut used to hold it (if you want those too I can give them to you). While you can search for parts on Tractorsupply.com, if you click on the "Parts" link at the left it takes you to www.ordertree.com; might be easier to just go straight there and bypass Tractor Supply. This is where you can search for the old part number and it will give you the equivalent replacement item that has superceded the parts that are in most cases no longer available, I have found. AND you can order from them, as well. I have gotten new blades, a torque tube for the deck, engine mount bolts and washers (these HAD to be the right ones; discovered someone had replaced them at some point with standard nuts and bolts and the engine was literally dangling by two of the four; no WONDER the stupid blade drive belt wasn't doing its job...nother long story). The list goes on. I think I also got a starter solenoid and ignition, ahem, KEY switch from them too. And also, if you have the part number (along with tractor model no.) you can take that to the service desk at TSC and they should be able to order it for you too if they don't have it in stock. That ALSO takes awhile but does eventually come in. At least it did in KS. Again I would be happy to look up any part number at all for you; the manual I have has exploded views of every system on the tractor (electrical, deck assembly, motion drive assembly, chassisexcept the engine, which you can find at BriggsandStratton.com. I have had some problems with my blade drive belt and the idler pulley that I will save for another thread, when I cure the carb/fuel feed problems I am currently having; WHEN I can get to the mower...beginning to feel like the thing is cursed, at times, but like you, I do prefer this mower and it does run and mow great when it is running right...we've had this mower for at least 10 years, I think, and it is at least 18 years old...just gotta keep up with the parts and maintenance. Hope this helps!!

Breezy - the toilet alcove is just a smidge shy of 31 inches wide. The narrowest code would allow in my area. It doesn't feel too cramped - but it's open at the end. If it were at the end of a long "tunnel" it probably would feel cramped. The niches. well, I love them. especially the lower one - helps with shaving!!! :-) originally we weren't going to have that tall metal tension shelf in there - products/soap in niches and along the "shelf/ledge" on the half wall. When the glass was installed, wiping it down was such a pain that we put the tension unit in there.