Tonyorourke7 wrote:
Also think it?s quite a
coincidence that both the cylinder and the self propel stopped working
at the same time. Any ideas?


At least on USA-style "cylinder" (here called "reel") mowers the engine
usually drives a countershaft through a clutch, the countershaft drives
a chain driving the reel and the reel drives the wheels through pawls
pinions and ring gears at the ends of the reel shaft. At least that's
the norm on traditional consumer reel mowers circa 1960.

Fancier greenskeeping mowers sometimes have separate drive for the
reel and wheels, but I suspect you'd see the difference easily.

The clutch is rarely a disk type, much more often it's some kind of
belt tensioning arrangement, either an adjustable idler pulley or
split sheaves that can be tightened up to drive the belt.

What you're describing sounds like a loose belt or belt tensioner.

Just out of curiosity, can to post a link to a photo or diagram?

HTH,

bob prohaska