powermax_paul Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 Re-did my deck last year, worked fine all last summer but now the belt keeps jumping off. Tensioner pulley appears to be straight and runs true. Replaced the belt and after it warmed up, same problem. Thinking about finding shorter spring to hold the belt tighter. Any ideas?
BLT Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 Have you checked out the full swing on belt tensioner? Check items 28 & 29 in parts section page 2. The bushing will seize to shaft and arm if not lubricated, a common problem it seems like on mower decks with belt covers. http://bsintek.basco.com/BriggsDocumentDisplay/heCBEN8csM0rE3CN_5kbp796Dq.pdf
johnmonkey Posted June 10, 2014 Posted June 10, 2014 I am not familiar with the deck in question, however, with the belt removed; do all of the spindles spin free. Including idlers? just a thought. jh
RickS Posted June 10, 2014 Posted June 10, 2014 Paul, While I am not familiar with your tractor I have heard that if a belt flips several times the belt will continue to do so. Before you start tearing apart the deck I would try a belt. Rick......
fishnwiz Posted June 10, 2014 Posted June 10, 2014 I had a belt on a tractor that actually had a bad spot in the cords of the belt. The belt would run correctly for a short period of time and would the twist and flip. It drove me crazy until I switched out the belt.
powermax_paul Posted June 11, 2014 Author Posted June 11, 2014 The belt isn't twisting or flipping, It's just jumping off the spindles. My tensioner arm does have a bushing, but it is pressed in, or so it seems. Is this bushing supposed to be loose? IE, maybe it is just rusted in.
rokon2813 Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 Paul, on the PM decks I don't know, but on the B decks, that bushing often freezes up, but is supposed to move. The tensioner should pivot on that bushing, not that bushing pivot on the bolt. That might allow the belt to not be tight enough, so it could jump off the pulley, but I would look for an alignment issue. If the pulleys are all aligned properly, a loose belt should just slip, not jump off the pulleys.
goatfarmer Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 My Landlord kept throwing the belt. One of the arbors had a bad bearing.
StanD Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 Bushing is seized, very common problem. Press it out & wire brush bushing & idler arm. I always used never seize for lubricant. Once a year chore.
powermax_paul Posted June 11, 2014 Author Posted June 11, 2014 Thanks Stan, that probably explains it. With bushing seized, bolt is loosening just enough for idler arm to throw the belt cuz it isn't staying parallel with the belt path.
ka9bxg Posted June 12, 2014 Posted June 12, 2014 I had a problem a few years back but it was a old belt and used hard. If the belt is to narrow that can cause the problem . Since I bought the new belt it has worked good for 2 years cutting 3 acres . This is on a simplicity 4041 and now a 4040 still working good .
powermax_paul Posted August 9, 2014 Author Posted August 9, 2014 I did replace the bushing as Stan suggested. That helped but the belt doesn't seem to want to ride properly on the idler/tensioner pulley.As you can see from the photo, its riding on the bottom rim of the tensioner pulley:
powermax_paul Posted August 27, 2014 Author Posted August 27, 2014 Well, broke another belt. I think it's jumping on and off the rim of the idler pulley. The Idler pully arm is bouncing against the spring when the deck is running. Eventually the belt jumps enough that it comes off the spindle pulleys, gets caught and breaks.
isetta Posted September 15, 2014 Posted September 15, 2014 quote:Originally posted by powermax_paulWell, broke another belt. I think it's jumping on and off the rim of the idler pulley. The Idler pully arm is bouncing against the spring when the deck is running. Eventually the belt jumps enough that it comes off the spindle pulleys, gets caught and breaks. id="quote">id="quote">In addtion to the rusted and stuck bushing, the deck metal can bend at that pivot resulting in angled idler pully and issues with belt mis alingnment / tracking. This can be straightened if the metal in good shape, not rusted out. I just replaced the deck belt on mine with a NAPA 116.0" length, model A114 "industrial" made in Mexico belt, which fits great and at only $25.00 is a bargain. We'll see how long it lasts........
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