Deck belt tension not!!

[roy 13]

Rebuilt deck for my 418-A, with new spindles , hardware & all back together BUT, when I installed the same deck belt, it's so loose I know it's not right.  I'm assuming it's the spring, flat arm tension thing not doing it's job. 

For the life of me I can't see how to make it take up the slack, see pic, I just looped belt over that deck bolt to show how much slack belt is!

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

@roy

 

There's two holes for the idler pulley on that bar, right?  Maybe you've got the pulley in the wrong hole?

 

I believe that the hole in the deck under the right hand slide bolt is slotted.  If you can move that to the left you'll have more room to slide the bar over to service the belt when it comes time.  Won't fix your issue now but just for future.

 

 

Edited March 30, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[pfrederi 17,676]

Her is my deck from the 418.  When you  tug on the belt does the bar slide freely??

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

I wondered if the drive and spindle belts got switched but that is not the case.

 

Drive belt 102742 replaced by 94-2501 (1/2" x 103") [Napa 6378 (1/2" x 103.25")]

Spindle belt 1594 (1/2" x 107.21") [Napa 6781BR (1/2" x 107.24")]

 

I think Jeff nailed it.

[Ed Kennell 38,029]

Make sure the idler pulley is in the right hole on the above bar.     Is the idler pulley the same size as the origonal?

[pfrederi 17,676]

Maybe correct on the two holes but with belt loose the spring should pull the bar all the way to the end of the slot it rides in.  With proper tension it should be in the middle of the slot.  With a loose belt yours is still in the center....

 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

7 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

Maybe correct

 

Are your drawings backurds Paul?  Isn't TIGHT with the bar further to the right and LOOSE to the left? 

 

[Ed Kennell 38,029]

Are there two holes for the spring ancher bolt?     In your pictures it looks like that bolt is at the end of the slot and the other bolt is in the middle of the slot.

[pfrederi 17,676]

2 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Are your drawings backurds Paul?  Isn't TIGHT with the bar further to the right and LOOSE to the left? 

 

No look at how the spring works, it will push the idler bar to the idler pulley end of the slot if there is no resistance from the belt.

[roy 13]

I'm pulling it apart tonight,  I think there are 2 holes for the idler pulley, will try & move it.

Yes to pulley , idler size same as old ones.

The bar moves freely when I pull on the belt, end bolt moves to end of slot.

I'm hoping moving idler pulley will help " tension" the belt

Thanks all guys , will keep u apprised of what happens

Roy

[Lee1977 6,648]

It looks like you painted the bar that could cause it not to slide.  If you have the idler in the right hole it could be the paint.

Edited March 31, 2021 by Lee1977

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

4 hours ago, pfrederi said:

No look at how the spring works, it will push the idler bar to the idler pulley end of the slot if there is no resistance from the belt.

 

I think we're actually saying the same thing in a different way.

 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

7 hours ago, roy said:

see pic

 

Definitely in the wrong hole:

 

 

Look at the distance between the edge of the idler pulley and the end of the slot.  About one inch on yours.

 

 

You can see the edge of the pulley on Paul's pic is right at the end of the slot.

 

 

And that's exactly the amount of distance between the two holes on the idler bar.

 

 

 

[roy 13]

I removed idler pulley, & there is that 2nd threaded hole!   Moving the idler to 2nd hole has solved the issue,  I now have tension on the belt & the "slider" does move freely

Thanks for all the advise gentlemen

Roy

[Ed Kennell 38,029]

       Red Square to the rescue again.      Hi Ho Silver.