The Model number is 944-525800, which I believe is made by Husqvarna. I have tightened the spring tension the to point where the belt will just freewheel when the engagement lever is released. Should I install a stronger spring? There is a possibility that the belt continues to slip even when the lever is fully squeezed due to insufficent tension on the idler pulley. Is this a common problem with this model?

Remove the deck so you have a good unobstructed view of the ground drive belt system. Have a helper sit in the seat and push down on the clutch/brake pedal while you examine all the linkages in the mechanism from below the frame. You are looking for worn or loose pivots, pins or anything that can limit the travel of the components that put enough slack in the ground drive belt for the transmission input pulley and shaft to become "unpowered" so you can shift. Have you also noticed the clutch engaging at a lower pedal position when you try to get moving from a stop? That can also be a symptom of the same issue. If you have recently changed the belt and did not use an OEM spec belt there is a chance the belt is a fraction too short. Basically, something is causing a bit of power to be applied to the belt when the clutch is pushed down. Here is a link that might be useful: 917.272751 OM

Old thread, let us fast forward to update it: Briggs now intentionally makes plastic carb throwaway small engines called Briggs EXi or "Just check and add oil" engines... No small Briggs for push/self propelled mowers have an iron sleeve now, not even Pro model engines have it anymore.. According to Briggs site there is none being built today, what iron sleeved engines left on the shelves is all there is left!! Pro 850 was the last to have it. All Kohler engines are made China. Briggs Vanguards are made in China. Kohler's head gaskets still fail (fixing my sons 3 yr old cub now) & also suffer oil seal leaks from poor machining today, all are made from cheap grade materials in China and won't last long anymore! Very soft aluminum & plastic abounds them. Regardless where anything is built it's made by people who never even knew nor do they care about our American pride or our history of quality or about the products longevity! Anyone 30yrs old and under today simply grew up replacing products not repairing them unless they were dirt poor like I was and always tried repairing first but hey it was the 60's and everything had nuts/bolts/screws then and was steel. So why would today's engines have so many problems only after a few yrs running when they once ran for many decades without majors? Well' it's called "Planned Obsolescence" and its a fact most corps have now adopted this. Google it to really understand it well if you never heard of it, you'll be so thrilled. So everytime I read about engines online I'm really glad I'm a pack rat and keep everything. Well' I keep stuff until problems show up so I still have my 76 B-100 8 speed Wheel Horse tractor with the cast iron Kohler K series engine. It's engine/trans has never been apart once and not reached its first ring job yet & if it ever does I'll never worry about it again in another 30+ yrs or in my lifetime at least. It still burns no oil and cuts just as good as anything today without any of the mechanical problems. Why people keep buying these junk newer mowers again & again instead of buying the old brutes for a fraction of the cost that have outlasted them all by several decades idk? Restoring these if needed, is a lot cheaper than new mowers now days and it's an all new cast iron brute again ready for decades of service! I see some very nice cast iron garden tractors on craigslist all the time. Real garden tractors because GT used to actually stand for Garden Tractor but now it's just a sticker slapped on them and they can't even run anything, example: My Wheel Horse runs 23 different implements including Generator, side sickle, snowblower, tiller etc... Visiting websites about old Wheel Horses, old JD's & old Cubs (non MTD) tractors etc..and everyone is bragging & very proud of their mowers longevity and still use them regularly, sold or scrapped their newer ones they bought just after a few yrs usage. Been there done that with a Husqvarna myself! Visit any site like this one about newer mowers and what you'll always find is its junk, its in the shop, motors bad after 3 yrs, hydro rear ends out second time around. I'll sue them all! Lemon Laws anyone??..ect.....lol Even the expensive Zero turns have very costly engine/hydro repairs I read about them and have friends who own them too. In fact I'm good friends with people who care for football fields and cemeteries here so I hear first hand but they are very fast cutters while they are problem free, rarely make a complete season without a shop visit though. Expensive upkeep no doubt. Sorry but its just ignorant to me to pizz away money for landfill delight. Simply amazing and very sad for the old crying indian too. Now that really shows my age huh? *Peace

I have a Craftsman GDO #139.53674SRT2 recently it quit working. Neither of the 3 remotes work, or the wired wall button. When I press any of the transmitters or wall button the unit makes a click and then the orange light on the unit blinks 5 times, the light doesn't come on. The light does not come on when the beam is broken on the photocell eyes either. What do you think the problem is? I have checked the alignment of the photocell eyes and replaced the wired wall button, no luck, any advice?