Need help with Bush hog finish mower

[runner76]

I am a novice at tractor equipment repair, so bear with me.
I purchased an old Bush Hog brand Turf Hog Model TH 72. It has two belts below the deck, these are driven by the central gearbox mounted pulley to turn the two outside sets of blades. One of the belts is missing. I got the new belt, but cannot get it on. It seems that one of the three pulleys it goes around should move so the belt can be put on, and then the pulley adjusted to make it tight, but I can not see any adjustment anywhere, I can't "stretch the new belt over the pulleys. What am I doing wrong?

Number 2 question, assuming I get the belts on I am going to want to replace the blades, will the bolt that holds them be left or right hand twist.

Thanks so much for any help, have been fighting this for two days. The old TH 72 like mine has been replaced with a new model that has a single large belt and tension pulley, that is NOT what I have.

thanks in advance for any help.

regards, Frank

 

[pmsmechanic]

I don't know if this will help or not. I have a Farm King mower that uses what sounds like a similar setup. The gear box is mounted on slotted holes to adjust belt tension.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

There has to be some kind of idler arm assembly to tension the belt.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Hmmmm. Does it look like this?

Bush Hog TH Series (Turf Hog) Finish Mower TH48, TH60, TH72 (OBSOLETE) Parts TH Series (Turf Hog) Finish Mower TH48, TH60, TH72 (OBSOLETE) Belts and Pulleys 01 Models Parts List and Diagram

 

[kebo]

I can say that my Sitrex 5ft finish mower has normal threads on the spindles for the blades, CW to tighten, CCW to loosen. It's Italian made, so it may be a safe assumption that the spindles on yours are too? Like PMSmechanic pointed out, something has to move in order to release or increase the belt tension. On my Sitrex, the gearbox is mounted on a plate that can be adjusted (front to back) for belt tension. Good luck, hope you get it figured out!

 

[runner76]

Thanks to all who replied. I did figure it out. The gearbox itself moves, I was expecting an idler pulley of some type. Again, many thanks,

Frank