Mower drive belt tightener, Help!!

[cwm1276 8]

I have found the tightener on my 7117H wiggles side to side. I think this causes the belt to want to run off the inside of it and either get stuck or chew up the belt until it gets back on the pulley. Common question answers. This a new belt as I noticed the old belt had jumped off in the same spot. I doubled check to make sure I did not habe the pulley in the snow blower mode, it point the furthest towards the opposite side instead of more forward for the blower.

[UCD 12]

The Idler belongs in the upper tab of the PTO swing arm for the mower. The biggest problem with belts running off to the side or jumping is bad bearings in the idler pulleys. Replace the pulleys.

[cwm1276 8]

Thanks Maynard, but the whole arm that the pulley mounts to seems to twist and not just move front to back. Is that normal?

[PhanDad 1,996]

The through shaft that the whole idler assembly mounts to is probably worn and allowing the movement you describe. I've seen some pretty severe wear on that shaft, especially on the cone clutch side when parting out a couple of tractors. Have the wear area filled with weld, then finished back to correct size. Or if there's enough shaft length, drill a new cotter pin hole, add some washers, and move the shaft to the left (when sitting on tractor) so a new area of the shaft is contacting the frame.

[cwm1276 8]

Tonight, wife went to mow one last time before I wanted to tear this apart. She come in saying it is broke. The tightner is wedged back against the pulley closer to the tire. Tightner pully is now bent. I tear into it. and find this

The arm was welded to the rod that runs across the tractor and that weld is now broke, allowing the arm to twist. Question can I weld that rod and arm back up, or should I find a replacement part? I already will order a new pulley since we bent the current one.

[cwm1276 8]

Thanks Everyone, this morning I found a local dealer that had that part in stock and the pulley, so my wife, who was going to be in the neighborhood of the dealer anyway is going to pick them up and I can get the mower running tonight.