Sabre 1846HV Drive Belt

I was mowing the yard, and this wish-it-was-a-real-Deere riding mower stopped pulling and smoked the hydrostatic drive belt. I know this is an old unit, probably about a 1999 model, so I don't want to sink a fortune into it. Until this point, neither the drive belt nor any of the idlers have been replaced, to my knowledge. Since I could hit the dump valve and push the little beast back to the garage, I know the hydro unit's not locked up.

So...is there a common problem I should look for on one of the idler pulleys? When the belt got smoked, it killed the engine before I could kick it out of gear. I'm guessing something's locked up, and not the engine...I can turn the engine by hand in the garage.

Is there a common problem here? Or do I have to check all 3 of the idler pulleys to find the culprit? Thanks in advance for any experienced insight.

That model was available only in 1999. If the belt and idler pulleys are original, then I think that the machine has served you well. You are going to have to grab each idler and try to rotate it. Most likely, one of them seized due to lack of grease and that is what destroyed the drive belt. Idler pulleys contain ball bearing races that are pre-loaded with grease at the factory. Normally, there is no grease nipple so when the pre-loaded grease gets used up, the bearing either seizes solid or it blows apart and the pulley falls off the bearing.

As I see it, you have two options. You can scrap this tractor now and accept whatever it brings from the junkyard... OR.... you can purchase THREE NEW idler pulleys and an OEM drive belt so that this tractor can be put back into useful service. There is no "common problem" that pertains to this issue other than the fact that drive belts, idler pulleys, tires, batteries, brakes, light bulbs, bearings, bushings, rod ends, etc etc all have a certain lifespan before replacement is needed. Considering you got 15 years of use from the idlers and belt, I'd say that you were most fortunate and should not be complaining. Whether the hood decal says John Deere, Cub Cadet, Husqvarna, Sabre, Craftsman, Toro or any other one of the low end lawn tractors, it does not matter. Most of the parts used to make lawn tractors are sourced from other manufacturers and at a price point that is commensurate with what the complete unit will retail for at the dealer or big box store. Presumably, you can obtain parts from your local John Deere dealer, since it was Deere that made this product.

Thanks. I "inherited" this one from my inlaws about 10 years ago, so it was mostly used up before I got it. I've been fortunate to get the 10 years from it that I have. They mowed 5 acres at a time, I mow under 1 acre.

I figured it was at the end of the "useful" part of its life, but if there was some "common" problem that others had with this model that was just now appearing, I wanted to be aware. Time and sealed, ungreaseable bearings likely caught up with me this time.

You are the only person who can decide whether this tractor is worth repairing or not. Mowing 5 acres at a time is far beyond what this tractor was designed for. In fact, it is at the outside fringe of what most garden tractors with a 60 inch deck would be expected to mow. I suggest that you price the parts and then make the decision to either fix or scrap.

You can search on the JD parts website - the 1846HV is there with complete parts list and diagrams.
The Sabre and Scotts models were identical except for color and decals.
The hydrostatic drive belt is in a kind of odd arrangement with idlers on that model.
The diagram shows two idlers, plus drive and driven pulleys.
The belt may have come off and got wedged in between an idler or pulley
and the frame or whatever else is close enough to lock things up.
Worn belts will do that.
Only problem is you've got to get under the tractor to figure it out.
Good luck.