OK, here's what I found this morning after my last post. I ordered a new deck engagement cable because I am 99% certain mine is stretched. But before I ordered it I found a guy on Youtube that did a really good video on replacing this cable on a tractor exactly like mine, good camera work showing everything.
At one point the video showed him removing the engagement spring and cable retainer and I had a "Wait! What?" moment as I noticed the one end of his return spring was connected to the bend in the brake control rod instead of thru the hole on the end of the idler bracket where the brake rod goes, like on mine.
My spring anchored 3" further away than it should be and is very hard to overcome when engaging the idler pulley. Before the pulley can effectively engage the belt the return spring is so taught it overpowers the engagement spring. This condition also messes up the brakes so they don't release the spindles enough to freely turn. I have no idea how long this deck has been like this. The guy I bought the mower from bought it from an estate sale to fix up and sell, making a few bucks. According to him, the mower had been in a storage shed for 3 or 4 years when he bought it.
The new cable, idler arm and brake parts are ordered. Pads are shot from rubbing on the spindle pulleys. Once I put the return spring back where it belongs I'm pretty sure this particular problem will be solved.
Mike
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