So was at my dad's place today had another go at this brake problem.. I found another drive belt that wasn't so worn. Tried another spring on the braking arm. Still no difference. So looking at the setup of the pulleys and belt, when your foot is off the pedal, the belt is loose around the pullies and the brake pad touches the gear box pulley. Once you press down on the pedal the pad moves away and the pulley on the end of brake arm takes up the slack of the drive belt hence makes the mower move if in gear. Was looking at the pics we took before the reno was done on it and saw that the link rod from the pedal to the braking arm (what ever it is called) was positioned in the second hole, mine is in the first one (see pic). Tomorrow I will try it in the second hole.
