Operator's Manual

50
Adjusting the Mower Belt
Tension
1. Disengage the PTO, move the motion control levers to
the neutral locked position and set the parking brake.
2. Stop the engine, remove the key, and wait for all
moving parts to stop before leaving the operating
position.
3. Raise the mower to the transport position.
Important Check the amount of twist in the belt
between the pulleys. Make sure it is only what is specified
in Figure 70.
Important Check and make sure the belt is installed
into both the front and rear belt guides (Fig 72).
4. Check the belt tension. The spring loaded idler center
bolt needs to be near the top alignment hole in left
support plate (Fig 72).
1
2
M–4417
3
1
Figure 72
1. Center bolt
2. Alignment hole
3. Left support plate
4. Spring loaded idler
5. If adjustment is required, loosen the mower idler plate
and adjust it (Fig. 73).
6. Insert a ratchet or breaker bar into the square hole in
the mower idler plate to adjust the tension (Fig. 73).
7. To increase belt tension, rotate the mower idler plate
until resistance is felt and rotation stops. Do not go
past when it stops (Fig. 73).
8. Tighten the idler plate bolts (Fig. 73).
2
m–6826
1
3
4
Figure 73
1. Mower idler plate
2. Square hole
3. Ratchet or breaker bar
4. Idler plate bolt
9. Check the distance from the rubber stop and the arm of
the spring loaded idler pulley when the idler plate is
tightened. It needs to be 0 to 1/4 inch (0 to 6 mm)
from the rubber stop (Fig. 74).
m–6825 1
2
3
5
4
6
Figure 74
1. Spring loaded idler pulley
2. Top alignment hole
3. 0 to 1/4 inch gap
(0 to 6 mm)
4. Idler pulley arm
5. Belt
6. Rubber bumper
10. Adjust the belt tension and the idler plate, if necessary,
and tighten all hardware securely (Fig. 73).
11. If the mower idler plate contacts the end of the
adjustment slot and more belt tension is required, a
small change to the right side fixed idler can create
more belt tension adjustment (Fig. 75).