So you have come to get your trusty mower out to get on top of your overgrown lawns, but have hit a problem with it not working - well not to worry, eSpares are here to help you this garden season! Having inspected your lawnmower, If you have deducted that the motor is continuing to operate but the blade is no longer turning then you can likely diagnose that the fault is lying with the belt.
Over time belts can become worn or perished, or in more extreme cases can even snap. Whichever issue is affecting the current belt in your mower, it is a crucial component to your lawnmower and is therefore imperative that you fix have it replaced as soon as possible.
In this article we show you how to replace the belt on a Flymo Turbo Compact 330 - however it is worth noting that the process should be very similar for other variations of Flymo lawnmowers which share a similar appearance.
The process shouldn't take too long and will save you money, as repairing the fault yourself will save you from shipping the machine to an expensive repair centre for a simple repair. With this helpful article and video, we hope to get you back to mowing action in no time.
This video shows an example on how to remove or replace the part on a typical machine, some models may be different but the procedure should be similar.
What You Will Need:
Step 1 - Safety Advice
Safety First! Please ensure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before starting any repair and due to the sharp edges exposed we suggest suitable Safety Gloves are worn to help prevent injury.
Step 2 - Stripping the Mower
Before we can get to the belt we first need to remove the collection box along with the handle too - it is worth noting that the handle doesn't need to be removed, however it will make the process a little more easier for you to do.
To remove the handle you simply need to remove the little metal clip and pin which hold it in place, and with those removed on both sides you can pull the handle away.
After removing the collection box you can now unscrew the motor cover, and this will be held in place by two screws.
Step 3 - The Blade the Spacer and the Impeller
At this stage you will now have access to the motor, and you can proceed to unclip the two spade connectors - there is no need to worry about remembering their original location as it does not matter when it comes to fitting them back in. You also need to remove the two foam filters which are located either side of the motor.
Once this is done you can now flip the lawnmower upside down to give you access to the blade, impeller and spacers, and you find that you can now start on removing these. Using the flymo spanner (which will have originally come with your lawnmower) - you can release the nut that holds it all in place.
Please Note: If you no longer have the spanner for this task, eSpares offer a range of Flymo spanners. Please check the "Will this part fit my Appliance" area within the product pages of each of the following parts, to see if one is suitable for use with your mower.
With the impeller, blade and spacers removed you will now see the underside of the motor and drive assembly which needs removing.
Step 4 - Releasing the Motor
You will notice that the motor and drive assembly is being held in place by eight torx head screws - therefore using a torx head screwdriver bit you can remove these screws.
However before removing the final screw please ensure that you take a hold of the motor, as otherwise it’ll drop and could possibly become damaged. With the last screw removed you can gently rest the motor and drive assembly down.
Step 5 - Giving Some Slack
With the mower turned over again you’ll now be able to see the motor, drive assembly and belt. Of course if your existing belt has been damaged it won’t be in place, however if it has only frayed and perished then we will have to remove it - and here is the best practice to do this.
You will see four screws holding the motor in place on the drive assembly, well these can be loosened (but do not remove them completely) and upon relieving the pressure the belt will become slacked, meaning we can simply slip it off now.
Step 6 - Applying the Pressure
With the belt removed we can now fit the new one. Start by fitting the new belt in place, and then proceed to tighten the belt to be set like the old one was before we loosened the motor. With the new belt on, push the motor away from the drive assembly and this will help to tighten the belt. With the belt now tight you can begin to re-screw and tighten the screws on the motor. With all the screws fitted you just need to give the belt a turn to check that it rotates smoothly.
Well done on everything so far - you will be pleased to know that we are almost done, we simply need to re-assemble the mower now.
Step 7 - Reassembly
You want to start by flipping the machine over and re-screwing those eight torx screws that will hold the motor and drive assembly in place. You can then refit the impeller, the spacers and blade...ensure you face the blade the correct way; the blade should state which side should face the grass.
With the motor and drive secure, and the impeller, blade and spacers also in position - you can once again flip the machine over, and from here you need to reconnect the spade wires, fit the foam filters and re-attach the motor cover in place.
finish off by simply fitting the grass box and installing the handles onto the lawnmower and you’re all done.
Congratulations you have just successfully replaced a snapped or faulty belt on your Flymo Turbo Compact 330 lawnmower! well done you for choosing to repair your mower yourself, as some people may have opted to spend their money on getting a repair centre to replace the belt, or just go ahead and replace the lawnmower altogether.
With your hard work, and a little help from eSpares, you’ve been able to save money and also increase your knowledge of a simple but crucial lawnmower repair at the same time.
For further helpful advice on appliance repairs for your home and garden, take a look at our advice centre. This lawnmower repair could be just the start of you learning new repair skills for your appliances.
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