Idler Spring too strong for old farmer

[haroldhholden]

Hi,

Wonder if anyone out there might help me. I have a Woods Rearmount, RM550 Finishing Mower. I recently changed the belt. To do this, you must first release the idler spring. The problem I'm having is getting the sping back on. The spring is relatively easy to release...you just lift it off the idler deck lug with a pair of pliers. The spring is exceptionally strong. I have no leverage to pull the hook back on the deck lug. Does anyone know a trick to doing this or do I have to have an elaborate hydraulic puller to do this? I know the manufacturer must have realized that an old farmer like me could not pull the spring without human or mechanical help! Nevertheless, the manual states: Disconnect idler sping from deck lug...put the belt on and then connect idler sping back on the deck lug. It says nothing about how you get the spring back on because of the tremendous tension. Thanks.

 

[Muhammad]

Welcome to TBN.

 

[jimmyj]

Welcome to TBN.

Could you maybe use a spreading clamp for woodworking or use a screw type turnbuckle fastened to both ends of the spring and then expand the turnbuckle to stretch the spring?

Probably the easiest is to get a hand from someone. Those springs can be a real challenge.

 

[crash325]

Use something similar to an ice pic. Put it in the spring end, in the hole the spring goes in, then just pry it up & in. If the spring tang is too long for this, clamp vice grips on it, find something to pry against and go again.

Sort of like putting brake springs on, except the tool is in the hole and not over a post.

 

[teg]

I've used a ratchet strap to pull and hold the pulley back, but it wasn't a Woods. Hook it on the arm or if you can catch the inside lip of the pulley.

 

[brin]

I have a bush hog brand finishing mower and it has been awhile since I changed my belt and had to deal with the spring...but as I recall I removed the spring after the old belt had broken ...then I laid the new belt in place except I did not put it around the last pulley by the spring...until I had reconnected the spring....only then did I slip the belt onto the last pulley by the spring and you can easily use a pry bar to push the whole pulley so as to enable you to get the belt on....Now that is how I recall I did it ...see if that works for you..

 

[Briana03]

WELCOME to TBN

I moved your thread to the Attachments Forum.

 

[yankeerider]

I have done what Brin suggests on my John Deere mower deck. Hook up the spring, then work the belt over the largest accessible pulley by rotating, being careful not to have any body parts where they can be injured.

 

[k0ua]

One thing I have done is take some cloths line wire (6/18 steel) or any fairly strong steel wire, even bailing wire or safety wire doubled and wrap the open ends on the shank of a fairly large screwdriver preferably a phillips head, and leave the loop end about a foot away from the screwdriver. The screwdriver is a "T" handle and the loop is the thing to hook your spring on. Then pull on the "T" handle of the screwdriver with both hands if need be, and hook the spring back on the idler lug. then work the wire back around the lug, and pull the other direction if need be to get it off leaving the spring still on the lug. The idea of the phillips head is so you can just slip the wrapped wire off of the shank without unwrapping it. Works for me. In fact I keep one as a tool on a junk screwdriver all the time.

James K0UA

 

[JoeL4330]

I agree that if you can put the spring on first and then rotate the belt on, that's the solution...

but, if you are having trouble getting the spring on even with the belt off, then you might be able to use a mini load binder