Don't know on that but I will caution you, lawn and garden stuff uses
belts that are of a different material than regular car belts.  Take the
old belt with you to a good independent lawnmower repair shop for
a replacement.

You should call Sears and order a service manual, Sears is very good about
having these available for their stuff that they sell.  It may take a week
or so
for the manual to arrive.  Call the 800 number don't mess with the locals
(who sound incompetent anyway)

Also be aware that the batteries they use in these things MUST have a
trickle
charger used on them for storage over the winter or they will go flat, and
once flat, they are ruined  You can get trickle chargers for motorcycles for
about $10 from JC Whitney that will work fine.

Ted

It's pretty easy, really, and you're right about figuring out how to do it
yourself.  Sears store employees assemble those things and don't have the
foggiest notion about what they're doing.

First, if you didn't get a parts list (you should have with a Sears), go to
their web site; they have parts lists, especially for the newer models such
as you have.  There you'll find information in one of the sketches that
shows how/where the belt has to be routed.
  Then go to Sears Repair with the old belt and part number, and get a new
one.  Before you leave the store, compare the old to the new to be certain
it's the right one.

I doubt anyone can tell you exactly how to replace the belt without your
brand and model number (eg Craftsman 20 hp xxx... and so on.  Since it's
new, if you look, there is most likely a decal on the mower deck showing the
belt routing so if you understand that, you might be all set.

Loosen the keepers at the drive pulley, pull the belt down and off.  You
might have to disconnect one side of the mower deck to slide the belt out;
it depends.  Reverse everything to put the new belt in, put the belt keepers
back EXACTLY per the spec, and you're done.  With the belt under stress
(engaged and in gear but tractor not running) the guides should not touch
the guides.  Disengaged, they will touch them; that's what keeps them from
falling off.
  Watch out for idler wheels and make sure the belt's on the correct side
of them.
  That's why you need the manual.  YOu should already have one; if not, go
to their site and get it.

Pop

I have a 18 HP Sears garden mower.  The belts are available at a NAPA
store if you have them in your area.  Take in the old belt and they
will match it up.  Start at the pulley in front on the engine
power takeoff.  Loop the belt along the pulley.  Bring the belt
down to the idler pulleys where it makes a right angle bend
toward the mower deck pulley.  With one hand, start the belt on
the mower deck pulley and with the other hand, rotate the idler
arm (the thing the tension spring connects to) to loosen the belt/pulley
assembly temporarily (you have to hold it rotated against the spring
pressure.)  Then reach over to the mower deck pulley at the same
time and rotate the remainder of the belt on the deck pulley.  It's
a bit awkward the first time but you'll get the hang of it.

FWIW, my Craftsman mower is 18 years old and still going strong.
I haven't done much maintenance on it.  Only oil and air filter changes
and I work the hell outta it cutting dry weeds/kicking up dust/mowing
my lawns (about 3/4 acre of lawn).  It's been a reliable machine
(B&S engine).

b.