Red Dart 4 #1 Posted March 2, 2023 I am not sure where and how to adjust the belt tension for the mower deck. I think by turning the bolt CCW or CW (where my finger is pointing) will adjust the cam and loosen or tighten belt. Didn't seem to make much difference for me. Any help out there guys. Thanks in advance. Red Dart 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,049 #2 Posted March 2, 2023 You have to loosen the bolt that clamps the pulley to the swing arm. The one at the slot. You have plenty of room left in the slot to move the pylley forward with the jack screw you are pointing at. After adjusting the belt tension, retighten the bolt at the slot. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveoman1966 3,745 #3 Posted March 3, 2023 This SIDE MULE apparatus is about the most unwieldy and awkward setup ever designed. You'd be well advised to upgrade to the FROINT MULE drive system. Very easy to make the change and you can get good used parts from Ebay. Here is my UPGRADE.PDF file as a guide. MULE DRIVE UPGRADE DETAIL.pdf 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,589 #4 Posted March 3, 2023 @daveoman1966 totally agree with you on the opportunity to swap that unit out , that and a bearing lubrication upgrade , makes that unit work without effort , pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Dart 4 #5 Posted March 3, 2023 21 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: You have to loosen the bolt that clamps the pulley to the swing arm. The one at the slot. You have plenty of room left in the slot to move the pylley forward with the jack screw you are pointing at. After adjusting the belt tension, retighten the bolt at the slot. Thank you Ed. I forgot to mention i did loosen slotted bolt and slid so that the bolt was at the end of travel, however when I rotated belt it seemed like it would hop off wide pulley behind that swing arm. Ill try again and try to see how it does with the clutch engaged. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Dart 4 #6 Posted March 3, 2023 19 hours ago, daveoman1966 said: This SIDE MULE apparatus is about the most unwieldy and awkward setup ever designed. You'd be well advised to upgrade to the FROINT MULE drive system. Very easy to make the change and you can get good used parts from Ebay. Here is my UPGRADE.PDF file as a guide. MULE DRIVE UPGRADE DETAIL.pdf 801.23 kB · 1 download Dave, thankyou for that very detailed information. I will look into the mule drive parts. The instructions and photos are much appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
