86-87 42" center pulley assembly

[Hoffertot 4]

Hello everyone,

 

I recently had some issues with the middle blade cutting grass while I was mowing. I decided to take the mower deck off. I believe I have found the problem, and that would be a missing bushing or spacer, but I can't seem to find it on any of the assembly documents I have. Could anyone help me verify if my assumptions are correct, or assist me if you see something else that is wrong? Here are some pictures to hopefully better show what I am referring to. The mower model I own is a 86 Wheel Horse 312-8 manual mower.

 

The first image is the mower deck itself, presumably a 0542ms04 ( this is the 42" deck). No identifiers on the actual deck.

The second image shows the pulley being referenced and the mount in which is suppose to attach to.

The third image is hard to see, but the actual spindle shaft sticks up higher that the pulley so tightening down the top bolt does not actually secure the pulley in place. This causes the pulley to spin with the belt, but the pulley is loose with respect to the spindle shaft.

The fourth image is the assembly drawing I have been referencing to troubleshoot the issue.

 

Any help or guidance would be appreciated. And this is my first post in the forums so if this has been answered before, or this post should be moved, please let me know.

 

Thanks!

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,068]

Suspect the spindle assemblies are like this one or older

The spindle and pulley are known as the double-D series with a 5/8" x 3/4" hole.

The mower blade center hole should be the same.

 

Garry

[N3PUY 1,031]

How is it possible for the pulley to spin on the shaft if both are "double D" ?

I'm guessing the pulley "double D" is worn into a circle.  I think I talked to a guy up the road last year that had the same problem.

A new pulley is required.  

[Hoffertot 4]

Thanks for the quick responses. The other 2 pulleys are both double D onto the spindle shaft. This double pulley is not a double D shape, and this is why I wan wondering if I was missing an insert or adapter to mount to this pulley. The thickness of the part that slides over the shaft(shown in the picture below) is nearly an inch thick, I can't imagine it would spin and round the D shaft like that. I guess there is potential that it had the wrong pulley assembly installed on it when I purchased the unit.

 

There is a lot of slop between the shaft and pulley ID as shown in this picture. It was just being clamped down with a bolt and washer.

 

This picture shows the thickness of the pulley ID.

 

I had been mowing with this for about 2 years, and if that is incorrect, I'm surprised it lasted that long.

 

Thanks.

[N3PUY 1,031]

I would say that it was the correct "double D" pulley and has rounded out.  It is the same thing that happened to the neighbor's pulley.

The STEEL shaft is harder than the cast IRON pulley.

[Hoffertot 4]

1 hour ago, gwest_ca said:

Suspect the spindle assemblies are like this one or older

The spindle and pulley are known as the double-D series with a 5/8" x 3/4" hole.

The mower blade center hole should be the same.

 

Garry

Thanks for the manual Garry, you happened to post the one for a 77, is this what year you determined it to be from looking at the pictures? Or did you mean to send an 87 one? Are the pulleys the same?

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,068]

I think that was the last 42" deck model to use the double-D shafts. There is a list of decks on that page in the order they were produced so yours could be older and one of those.

There is also pages that show the spindle assemblies over the years that could be used to upgrade the assemblies. Nothing saying the newer decks could not have received older used replacements.

 

This is the next model of deck that was produced and it uses 3/4" spindle shafts and they are both 1977 models - a mid model year change.

Garry

[RJS Cutter 0]

I am having a similar problem.  I hit a stump while cutting now the middle spindle shaft seems to not be attached to the pulley.  Is there a pin or key that may be sheared or was this the final straw that damaged the assembly.  I have not torn things apart yet, just figured it out and am at the research stage.  Any information you can give me would be appreciated.

 

Thank you.

 

[Hoffertot 4]

On 7/26/2017 at 10:54 PM, RJS Cutter said:

I am having a similar problem.  I hit a stump while cutting now the middle spindle shaft seems to not be attached to the pulley.  Is there a pin or key that may be sheared or was this the final straw that damaged the assembly.  I have not torn things apart yet, just figured it out and am at the research stage.  Any information you can give me would be appreciated.

 

Thank you.

 

Sorry for the late reply. I think I have come to verdict that these guys are correct in saying that the double "D" pulley has rounded out on my rig. The part number for the pulley that replaces it is a Toro 106847, but I have not had a lot of luck finding any online. Seems like they are quite rare these days. It appears there is a round hole version of this pulley as well, but I am not entirely sure on how it is attached. Maybe press fit on the shaft, set screws, or just clamped? Maybe once you pull it apart, it will be obvious what the issue is.