48" Mower Deck Ass'y Question - Flat Idler Pulley

[hotajax 223]

I installed a new flat idler pulley on my 48" deck.  I saw two distinctly different drawings for assembly.  One drawing showed a washer above the pulley, and another washer below the pulley.  The other drawing showed no washers, just the bolt and a split lock washer.  The more recent drawing showed NO washers, so I installed that way.  I don't hear the idler pulley rubbing against that floating arm.

 

What do you all know about this?  Without the washers, there is not much clearance between the pulley and the floating arm, but there is enough.  Thanks.

[rick 233]

Use whatever arrangement lets the belt run closest to the center of the flat pulley, without the pulley rubbing on anything.

[hotajax 223]

Quote

 

Thanks, Rick.  After looking at the old pulley and studying everything, not putting the spacer washers in was the best option.  The old pulley, when the spacers were in, has wear marks on the bottom  Taking out the washers should lower the pulley, and raise the height of the belt relative to the pulley. 

[peter lena 8,589]

@hotajax  anything you can do to free up the rotational mass on a deck  is the deal . once I started doing that and related levers , drive points , helps make everything easier . when you hear a pto drive clutch squealing  and resisting what its saposed to do , you have work to do , if you want to . Pete 

[hotajax 223]

@peter lena

OK, I admit it, you're a genius.  I removed the two idler pulleys from the mule drive and spun them around my finger.  The inner pulley, the v-pulley, only rotated once around my finger when I gave it a spin.  The outer pulley, the flat idler, spun 5 or 6 times around when I gave it a spin.  I left the flat pulley alone, but I pulled the shields from the vee, sprayed out the old grease, and repacked it with Lucas red.  The vee is still tight, but it is better, and the belt flutter has improved alot, almost gone.  Will try for a new one now that I have time.  Thirty bucks for a new vee isn't bad.  Jeez, I was about to go after spindle bearings, too, so this is a big savings in time.  I owe you one.  Or a sixer.

 

BTW, who has clutch parts if that nonsense starts up?

Edited May 24, 2023 by hotajax

[johnnymag3 2,517]

12 minutes ago, hotajax said:

who has clutch parts if that nonsense starts up?

I have a TON of PTO parts   ...   and mule drive pulleys...bearings...etc..

John   

 

[Bill D 1,915]

6 minutes ago, johnnymag3 said:

I have a TON of PTO parts   ...   and mule drive pulleys...bearings...etc..

John   

 

Any clutch disc's?

[hotajax 223]

44 minutes ago, johnnymag3 said:

I have a TON of PTO parts   ...   and mule drive pulleys...bearings...etc..

John   

 

Thanks.  

[peter lena 8,589]

@hotajax  anything you can do to free up the rotational mass on a deck  is the deal . once I started doing that and related levers , drive points , helps make everything easier . when you hear a pto drive clutch squealing  and resisting what its saposed to do , you have work to do , if you want to . Pete 

[peter lena 8,589]

@hotajax   just experience  , like a lot of the others here , have my original C-85  41 years , @johnnymag3  will also steer you in the right direction , parts and insight experience , glad you are learning along the way .  thats what its all about ,  keep Rollin , pete

[hotajax 223]

1 hour ago, peter lena said:

@hotajax   just experience  , like a lot of the others here , have my original C-85  41 years , @johnnymag3  will also steer you in the right direction , parts and insight experience , glad you are learning along the way .  thats what its all about ,  keep Rollin , pete

When the tractor was newer, I could keep it going by myself by finding documentation and manuals.  Now that it's getting older, there's a lot of stuff you need to know that isn't in the literature.  You just have to find people who stumbled on this stuff.  Fortunately, I have a really good engine guy about 30 minutes away, but there are probably only 550 hours on the engine since the complete rebuild.  Engines should not be a prob.