Please help! 54" Mower deck problems.

[98ramtough]

I have a recently new to me 1995 425 mower with a 54" deck. When I got it, the belt had a couple chunks missing out of the belt. This made an annoying thumping sound while I was mowing. I replaced the belt and the belt still seemed a little lose. So I went to the dealer and got a new tentioner spring. The belt still seems a little loose. While I am mowing, if the mower is on a slope the belt actually rubs on part of the deck and I can smell it and hear it. Also when I am mowing on flat ground and hit big bumps the belt actually rubs on part of the deck. Is there anyway to fix this? I can mow my yard very slowly and make it not rub at all, but I have 2 acres of grass and don't want to mow that slow. I have a 2305 with a 54C deck and I can mow 10mph plus and corner hard and it never rubs. Any help is GREATLY appreciated. I had the deck all apart, checked all the parts and cleaned and lubed everything. It just seems like the belt needs to be a little bit tighter?

 

[beenthere]

That is puzzling. I have a 425, and the 54" deck. Something is not right, and possibly something has been bent, or there is a bearing going out (like maybe the idler). Is it a Deere belt you put on new? If not, I'd start there.

Should not be loose, and should not rub on the deck.

 

[98ramtough]

Yes, it was a deere belt bought from the JD dealer for $90 or close to that.

 

[98ramtough]

Maybe pics help. This is the old belt and old spring and before I cleaned the deck. No I don't keep my decks looking like that, its old dirt and grease from a leaky quick connect. I have since cleaned and fixed the quick connect and the deck looks new. But this gives you an idea of the tight clearance around parts of the deck with the belt and how a belt that is slightly lose could rub.

 

[beenthere]

Then you have some deck bearing or other problems.
Can't decipher what they are, but a pic of the deck top without the belt shields would help for starters.

That pic was sure quick.

 

[beenthere]

After running the deck, are any of the bearings in the two idler pulleys or the three spindles hot to the touch?

The pics show the old belt and old tensioner spring.

 

[98ramtough]

They are pretty warm, but not hot. The pics do show the old spring and belt. I bought a new spring and a new belt and installed them but did not take pics of the deck with the new belt and spring since it did not fix my problem. How would a worn out bearing make the belt lose?

 

[Stargazer]

Are you sure you have belt on pullies correct. In pic 3 should it be on top(more inside) of idle pulley. Don't have JD but on MTD more than 1 way belt will fit on only 1 way is correct

YMMV

 

[98ramtough]

That could sure be a possibility. Maybe the previous owner put it on wrong??? I took those pics to be able to put the belt on right. I hope thats the problem!

 

[beenthere]

The belt is on correctly for the 54" deck.
Regards the "loose" fit...as long as the spring is pulling on the belt, and has not reached the end of its arm movement, then the belt should be tight enough. It isn't real tight anyway.

A bad idler or spindle bearing could cause the drive pulley to pull on the belt where the idler is jumping (bearing catching) and leave a loose belt further along it's length that can jump a pulley. When the belt jumps off the pulley, it usually leaves a tell-tale track (scuff) on the deck.

I'd let the deck set and run (not cutting) for 25-30 minutes, and watch the idler to see if it stays running smooth, or if it starts to jump like something is catching. Then check bearing temp when shut off. This is my strongest suspicion.

If no hot bearing, then I'd check the pulleys over very careful for packed debris, or bent/broken groove sides.

 

[98ramtough]

If I drive the mower on a side hill it makes the noise and I can smell it, it smells like burnt rubber from the belt rubbing on the deck. I will look closer tonight and maybe prop it up with someone on the mower and the deck running and get a video. I guess I could just take the deck into a dealer and have them look but everything is easy to fix if I can find the problem...

 

[98ramtough]

Does someone have a 54" deck they could take a pic of that part to see if it looks the same?

 

[brin]

You could have a " warped deck " that can happen if you run into a stump or other obstacle and it may not show up visually but the mower deck actually gets warped and will never be right again..I had that happen to me one time and an old mechanic is the one that told me that..Sure enough no matter what i did the mower deck itself was just off..and I had to buy another one and all was fine.. Just a thought..

 

[beenthere]

Does someone have a 54" deck they could take a pic of that part to see if it looks the same?

I just took a pic of my 54" deck, and looked it over carefully, and verify that you have it hooked up correct (in your pics, which are not of the belt as it is on now (we'll assume the same ).

If the belt were too loose, that spring would have that idler pulley pulled back against the deck housing.

Here is a pic (if yesterday, I had the deck pulled out just yesterday, but don't have plans to do that again right away.

 

[beenthere]

I assume that you didn't get the 60" belt by mistake. I really think your problem is in that idler assembly. It should be free to move and make the belt very tight. What I see doesn't look quite right.

It is belted right, but you are correct that the idler arm you've circled should move freely and sometimes they rust up or tighten up and need some penetrating oil to free them up.

Belt burning on the sidehill doesn't make sense if all the adjustments and linkages are hooked up correctly.

These are good decks and IMO are rock solid. With the rust and debris shown in the pics, there may be some parts not moving free. I leave the deck shields off and blow the deck off after every use with the air hose. Keeps them dry and clean.

 

[98ramtough]

That debris in that pic if DIRT not rust. There is no rust on the deck at all. Like I said, that was before I got the deck cleaned out. I will take another pic this weekend of the deck after I got a chance to clean it and replace the belt and spring. I keep my decks in good shape and always use a leaf blower to blow everything out of them top and bottom when done mowing.

 

[beenthere]

Great. Good to hear that...and sorry, didn't mean to imply what I crudely said.

When you can, check that the idler arm moves freely and also the two idler pulleys spin free with no noise. Let us know how the 30 minute run test comes out (checking for heat and flop in the idler).

 

[98ramtough]

I didn't mean that rudely sorry...

I checked all the spindles and pulleys for heat when I had the belt and everything off. I will try the 30 minute heat test. everything is the same temp when running. When I was spinning them I had no resistance and everything was clean. I checked for burrs. I need to take better pics now that it is cleaned up. Everyone sees that pic and expects its something locked up etc. Thats not the case. I have that deck very clean with no dirt, or anything on it now. The idler does move freely and if the spring was a lot heavier duty could pull the belt tight.

 

[IH3444]

Is there a sliding slot that the idler can be adjusted by loosening with a wrench, moved a bit, tightened, then reapply the belt tension with the spring? The slot maybe filled with previous cut grass, and be obscured.

 

[98ramtough]

Not sure, I will definitely check this though. If this is the case it will fix my problem.

Is there a sliding slot that the idler can be adjusted by loosening with a wrench, moved a bit, tightened, then reapply the belt tension with the spring? The slot maybe filled with previous cut grass, and be obscured.