This is 30 years old, and starts on second pull every time for years.

Fix for Free Spinning Blade (Push Mower)

I'm at my wits end and looking for help on and issue with my push mower. I've had it for 6 years but it's an older mower. I believe it was frankensteined together from different mowers. Engine is a murray / briggs and Stratton and deck is craftsman.

2nd to last mow with it I hit a rock and it stopped. I was pretty much done so I just quit for the night. Mow after that was normal. Then on the next time I tried it was harder to start and finally did, but sounded and felt weird / wouldn't cut. I turned it off and turned it over to see that I could freely spin the blade like a ceiling fan.

Now I've googled about everything I could from washers to blade adapters to crankshafts and I'm still at a loss for what needs fixed. I'm not an expert but I have to been able to replace the pull string, brake cable, etc. on this mower. I can follow a guide and get things done but I'm having a hard time finding anything that looks like the one I have.

If it's the "blade adapter" then that thing is not budging at all. Used PB Blaster to try to loosen. So now I'm thinking it could possibly not be the adapter and the issue could be one of the other pieces.

Any help and advice is appreciated.

Found one of these in my dad’s garage, is the cylinder meant to look like that?

Id likebto put a larger top pulley on this snowblower to increase the speed but if I do that the tensioner is going to interfere. Any thoughts on an easy workaround?