finish mower belt tension

[Mosey]

The manual for my LandPride finish mower says to check the belt tension by checking the force to move a certain point on the belt a certain distance and it should be 7-10lbs. I was planning to use a fish weighing scale, the type that you just hang the fish from. Will that be accurate enough?

 

[Mosey]

Well, no one responded, but I thought I’d update this anyway. I tried using the fish scale. The manual said to check the force to move the belt a quarter inch, but it took less than 1lb on the fish scale. There is a spring going to an idler pulley and the spring was barely under tension, if at all. So, I adjusted it so the spring started to open up, which required tightening the adjusting nut about a quarter of an inch. Now the fish scale reads 3lbs. The mower is 2 years old and this is the first time I’ve adjusted it. I has about 100 hours on it.

 

[Bird]

Sorry, Danny, I hadn't seen this message until now (can't keep up anymore), and this is purely personal opinion, but I think the fish scale method should work just fine (if your fish scales are anywhere close to accurate/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif).

 

[Mosey]

Bird, I know what you mean. This site is really active! But, that's what makes it good. Thanks.

 

[Golfgar4]

Danny,

Just like Bird, I finally got around to checking on some threads that I haven't had time to look at, and that's when I found this one./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Your fish scale will probably work just fine. I use a similar kind of scale to test the amount of pull it takes to open the doors in our municipal buildings to meet ADA regulations. I bought my scale, which is made by Hanson, in Shubuta, MS., in a regular hardware store. It's called the Viking, Jr.

After using this scale for a few years, I started to feel a little concerned about it's accuracy. So I brought in a consultant to check the doors for me. After using his fancy test equipment (which didn't look all that different from my little scale - but cost a whole lot more!! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif), it turns out my scale was only off by about 2 lbs. Not bad, really. Now I simply adjust my readings by that 2 lbs., and I'm right on.

So I think for your intended purposes, your scale should be O.K. Like Bird said, if you can, have it calibrated against another scale just to ease your own mind. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif