JD 216 saga continues

OK, I went to route the mower belt on this afternoon, so I wound up taking the outside pulley off the PTO mechanism, and got the belt routed over the inner pulley, but then I found the two pulleys down below seem to be cocked to one side, with the back one off to the side of the front one.

Is there any tricks to getting these pulleys straight, or do I need a new pulley assembly?

The first time you install the deck, there might be a lot of blue language issued. It gets better, After a couple implement switches, it will only take about 5 minutes.
If I am correct that the pic is taken from the bottom, they are correct. That looks like the swinging tightener.
Looking at the pulleys from the side, belt comes off the top of PTO, rear- flat-outside face of the belt goes forward of the flat pulley, then toward the deck pulley. Put a quarter twist in belt, bottom of loop toward the left, so belt goes rearward on right side of deck pulley, around the back, then forward from the left side. Then the inside-V side of the belt fits in the V pulley & up to PTO.
On the swing arm that these two pulleys are mounted, there should be a 3/8 or so hole. That is where the tightener spring hooks. Kind of difficult to see, might need a flashlight. Spring is about 1 in or so diameter by 6 in or so length, hook on one end & threaded on other. That bolt with the plastic knob goes through the front plate & threads into end of spring. Spring wire is about 1/4 in, very stiff, & will squawk as you tighten it.
No need to remove the PTO pulley to install belt. The top of frame rail should have a curved cutout. Starting from above,tuck bottom loop of belt through that cutout & below pulley, then feed it down. Not a lot of extra space, but the belt fits. Notice that the outside PTO pulley is outside the frame. It is for the front mount snow blower, blower belt will just clear the hood support.
Also, the last part to install is the right side lift link. It hooks to the deck inside the belt loop.
HTH
Willie

Great, Thanks!
That helps a lot. I was afraid the two pulleys on the bottom were supposed to be parallel to each other. The "T" handle thing is broke, so all that is left is a kind of a misshapen plastic glob mess that looks like somebody has used pliers or a vise grip on, but I did notice there's a nut behind it, so maybe I can tighten that nut up when it comes time to tighten it up.

The guy I bought the mower from says he has a service manual, parts manual, and other assorted papers but hasn't come up with anything yet.

Thanks again for the assistance, much appreciated!

I don't exactly know what your up to but if you had a mower deck under there, doesn't the belt go on the center pulley? If you had the pulleys straight ,wouldn't the belt be aimed at the inside of the rt rear wheel?

Glad to be able to help. Knob on my tightener bolt was broken too. If you hold the lock nut, the knob will unscrew. Then just put on another nut & lock then together. Adjusting the belt will be the only time a tool is needed when switching implements.
Willie

Horizontal crankshaft. The odd looking pulley setup shown is to guide the belt around the corner to meet verticle blade spindle.
Willie

I have one , that's what I said.