laloux 0 #1 Posted March 29, 2016 I bought a used 36 inch rear tiller for my 417-A this winter. I finally got all the parts in required to run this on my wheel horse. Just tried using it in virgin soil and I keep loosing the belt. I have re- read installation instructions. I can not figure out what I am not doing right. Anyone with ideas for making the belt stay in place? Or is this typical for this type of tiller setup in virgin soil? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slammer302 2,155 #2 Posted March 29, 2016 does the idler pulley have a good spring on it to keep tension? Is the belt lined up good and straight from front back to tiller? Using the tiller to break ground for the first time can be hard on them lots of jumping around. I prefer to break the ground up with a single bottom plow first. It seems like im killing my tiller when trying to break through the grass and rocks for the first time. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
laloux 0 #3 Posted March 29, 2016 Yes, I believe everything is lined up, have even stretch the spring on the idler for more tension. It may be just typical for virgin soil with all of the jumping around and vibration. Thanks, Slammer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phatboy 565 #4 Posted March 30, 2016 Well the belt should not jump off,,, something somwhere is a miss,, how old is the belt ? Are you sure it is the right one ? Are you routing the belt correctly ,, send us some picks of pullys and spring etc.. And post the tractor model and belt number and we will see if we can help.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,373 #5 Posted March 30, 2016 My tiller belt (new or old) would jump off too if the soil is to compacted, like Slammer said above, break fresh virgin ground with a turn plow then use the tiller,even after sitting all winter a previously tilled garden will sometimes be a bit rough and compressed and rough going, I like to till it up in the fall before getting the snow equipment on then again in the spring, we have to remember with the belt driven attachments they're not the same as shaft driven compact/farm tractor attachments, just my experiences on the clay/rocky type soils here in WV/VA I'm used to, Jeff. Also make sure that gearbox is full of gear oil 75w/90w/140w my tiller usually seeps out during storage from year to year (seals bad) same as the gearbox on the 2stage blower (which I recently rebuilt before snow fell) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,018 #6 Posted March 30, 2016 With hard compacted ground and the jumping, the belt could very well jump. As the tiller jumps and the tines lift out of the ground, they speed up. When they hit an obstruction they try to stop. The belt's momentum will push the leading edge of the belt off the tiller pulley. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
laloux 0 #7 Posted March 30, 2016 This all sounds like good info. Working out of town right now. Give me a couple days and I will get some photos and maybe a video uploaded. And just maybe we can figure this out. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
