D140 Mowing Deck Belt Issue

[bainbridgematt]

So I am performing my 7.5 hour service on the mower and have managed to do everything but tension the belt. I tension it as show in the manual, but I still have a lot of slack. It says to tighten it until there is almost no slack left. I can't even get close to that. I'm afraid the belt has been very loose for some time as is managed to wear a groove in one of the spindle guards (see second attached picture). As you can see in the last picture, I've got the tension adjustment all the way back.

Should the belt already need replacing? Seems like it should have gone a lot longer than 8 hours!

Any ideas as to what might be wrong, or is nothing wrong at all?

 

[rayikeo2]

The belt should last sever seasons of mowing. Check the belt routing to make sure it is correct. Is there a lever to close to get the final tension of the belt? There is something worng, it should not be that loose.

 

[bainbridgematt]

The belt should last sever seasons of mowing. Check the belt routing to make sure it is correct. Is there a lever to close to get the final tension of the belt? There is something worng, it should not be that loose.

There isn't any other tension lever I can find. I figured the belt should last several seasons which if why I was shocked. And the belt is routed correctly.

BTW, note that the pictures above are with the implement operation lever disengaged. When I engage it, it does tighten up. Bu the manual says it should be tight with the lever disengaged.

 

[SandburRanch]

So I am performing my 7.5 hour service on the mower and have managed to do everything but tension the belt. I tension it as show in the manual, but I still have a lot of slack. It says to tighten it until there is almost no slack left. I can't even get close to that. I'm afraid the belt has been very loose for some time as is managed to wear a groove in one of the spindle guards (see second attached picture). As you can see in the last picture, I've got the tension adjustment all the way back.

Should the belt already need replacing? Seems like it should have gone a lot longer than 8 hours!

Any ideas as to what might be wrong, or is nothing wrong at all?

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[QUOTE=bainbridgematt; BTW, note that the pictures above are with the implement operation lever disengaged. When I engage it, it does tighten up. Bu the manual says it should be tight with the lever disengaged.
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With the PTO lever dis-engaged the spring in front of the adjustment bracket should be approximately 4 - 1/2" long. With the PTO lever engaged that spring will be about 6 -1/2" long. If you need more detailed information I can measure belt deflection between two sheaves with x pounds of pressure but let's try spring length first.

The groove you see worn in the spindle (belt) guards is normal. In fact one ( the right one IIRC ) has a steel pin that you will see after the belt has worn through the plastic sufficiently. These guards act as belt retainers. If you decide to remove them don't be surprised if the belt comes off when dis-engaging the PTO.

Since your manual says - ( Quote: Bu the manual says it should be tight with the lever disengaged ) - there evidently was a language translation problem form some foreign country when printed.

 

[bainbridgematt]

So it sounds like I am most likely ok after all. I will have to measure the spring when I get home this evening.

With the PTO lever dis-engaged the spring in front of the adjustment bracket should be approximately 4 - 1/2" long. With the PTO lever engaged that spring will be about 6 -1/2" long. If you need more detailed information I can measure belt deflection between two sheaves with x pounds of pressure but let's try spring length first.

The groove you see worn in the spindle (belt) guards is normal. In fact one ( the right one IIRC ) has a steel pin that you will see after the belt has worn through the plastic sufficiently. These guards act as belt retainers. If you decide to remove them don't be surprised if the belt comes off when dis-engaging the PTO.

Since your manual says - ( Quote: Bu the manual says it should be tight with the lever disengaged ) - there evidently was a language translation problem form some foreign country when printed.

 

[rayikeo2]

It is normal for the belt to be loose before you close the final closing (locking lever) lever. There is a possibility that you have taken too much slack out of the belt. It should have "not" need adjusting with only 8 hours. If it gets too tight it will cause premature wear on your bearings on the spindles and early failure of the bearings and belt. If the lever is extra hard to close, recheck the tension.:confused2:

 

[bainbridgematt]

It is normal for the belt to be loose before you close the final closing (locking lever) lever. There is a possibility that you have taken too much slack out of the belt. It should have "not" need adjusting with only 8 hours. If it gets too tight it will cause premature wear on your bearings on the spindles and early failure of the bearings and belt. If the lever is extra hard to close, recheck the tension.:confused2:

Yeah I will check that. To quote the manual "2. Move mower engagement (PTO) lever or switch to OFF position." I think they mean the "ON" position. That is what had me totally messed up. I'll give it a check tonight and hopefully the rain will hold off and I can get the hard mowed.

 

[SandburRanch]

It should have "not" need adjusting with only 8 hours.

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The operators manual states that the belt tension needs to be checked after 8 hours of operation.

Mine needed adjusting after 2 hours of operation. Bubba may have assembled mine and didn't get it according to specifications during assembly.

It is common for belts to stretch in the first few hours of operation and very little later in life.

 

[Tractornewb]

There is a bolt to the side of the tension pulley, where the spring is connected to. Check the tightness of that nut. The belt is normally reasonably loose, because that tensioner spring isn't all that strong, but it should have reasonable tension on it.