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So it's got a brand new 300 CCA battery. Started fine . Charging system works but I never got a chance to attach ammeter while cutting. Friend takes it away to cut some grass. He brought it back so I could change the oil. I go to start it and it turns over slow. It does start after some tries. However on starting it I am holding clutch/brake in with my foot and I can feel the belt tension. This is a hydro unit and the clutch/brake should disengage the belt. Manual shows that releasing clutch/brake moves a v-pulley outward to tighten the belt. I'm guessing that pressing clutch/brake moves pulley in or allows a spring to pull the pulley in. I need to drop deck to get a good look. I'm wondering if there would be enough tension trying to turn the hydro pump to impact the starter if belt not fully disengaged. Maybe related but the brake locks on by pulling up a dash knob. To release I assumed I pressed brake and then knob. But there was no play in brake to allows knob to unlock. Took some 'pounding' to get it released and I recall now that the same thing happened to me last year with this unit.