Mowing Is the belt the problem on my Woods rear mower?

[Leejohn]

I also suspected the idler arm pulley but I don't want to mess with taking the belt off to check it. Is it a big deal to put it back on?

It has been working better last 2 mowings. So, maybe whatever had the idler arm locked up, worked its way out.

Who knows but I will keep using it until either the belt snaps or the thing acts up again.

Any opinions on whether to go with a expensive belt or a cheaper one? Is the quality that much better given the price of the expensive one is double the cheaper one?

It's no big deal to just roll the bet off and on. Just take a screw driver and use it like a little pry bar and at the same time turn a blade with the tractor off. Then fix the spring arm, it well not fix it self. If you don't fix, then go with cheap belt and buy 5 or 6 while your at it.

[oliver28472]

Your first post indicated cracking on the belt. You might as well get ready to change it. There might be a decal with a diagram of the belt on there. While it is off spin each spindle by hand.