Snapper rear engine rider tube stuck can't tighten belt

[stuckmotor]

I've asked this in LawnWorld with no result so I thought I'd try here.
My Snapper Rear Engine Rider has a tube going into another tube under the seat. In order to tighten the belt I'm supposed to slide the inside tube up an inch or so and move some washers from in front of a flange to behind it. I can't get the inside tube to budge. I've beat on the flange with both a weak air hammer and a pipe driven by a sledge hammer. I've cut slots in the outer tube and applied two different kinds of penetrating oil repeatedly over several days. I've removed the engine and attempted to drive the inside tube out with the pipe and sledge hammer as well as the air hammer.
Unless someone has a better idea, I'm going to try heat. This will likely melt the vinyl looking anti - friction material that separates the two tubes. I await your wisdom.
Thanks,
Stuck again

 

[tookielee]

pictures might help

 

[MossRoad]

I've asked this in LawnWorld with no result so I thought I'd try here.
My Snapper Rear Engine Rider has a tube going into another tube under the seat. In order to tighten the belt I'm supposed to slide the inside tube up an inch or so and move some washers from in front of a flange to behind it. I can't get the inside tube to budge. I've beat on the flange with both a weak air hammer and a pipe driven by a sledge hammer. I've cut slots in the outer tube and applied two different kinds of penetrating oil repeatedly over several days. I've removed the engine and attempted to drive the inside tube out with the pipe and sledge hammer as well as the air hammer.
Unless someone has a better idea, I'm going to try heat. This will likely melt the vinyl looking anti - friction material that separates the two tubes. I await your wisdom.
Thanks,
Stuck again

If this is the same mower as yours, this guy starts mentioning tightening and the tube around 9:55 in the video. He mentions the plastic spacers and says something to the effect that if they're stuck and the tubes wont slide, you have other issues. Unfortunately, he then doesn't discuss how to resolve those issues.

 

[MossRoad]

Apparently there are two types of tubes. Here he discusses both. At about 7:30 in this video he starts discussing the other type of tube with the washers like what you describe. Maybe there's something in there that you can use?

 

[stuckmotor]

Thanks Moss Road. I've been watching Jim in that very video and others for over a week and emailed him two or three days ago. The email didn't bounce but I haven't heard a thing.

 

[MossRoad]

Hopefully he or someone else will get back to you. :thumbsup:

 

[stuckmotor]

pictures might help

I've taken some pix. My brain is fried from wrestling with that mower in the heat. It might take a while for me to get them up.
Stuck

 

[stuckmotor]

Hopefully he or someone else will get back to you. :thumbsup:

Moss Road,
You did a lot of work to find that youtube presentation and tell me the exact location that showed a mower with my type of belt adjustment. I really appreciate it.

I stuck my old faithful HF sawzall into the tube under the seat and attempted to cut two slots the length of the outer tube. They might not be deep enough because the tubes are still stuck. The mower is now on it's left side so penetrating oil can soak in. If it still doesn't free up, I'll try the other side and maybe saw a little deeper.

 

[tookielee]

Is this your first time doing this? If so, quit cutting until you get more advice,
you may be missing something that lets you slide it

 

[MossRoad]

Moss Road,
You did a lot of work to find that youtube presentation and tell me the exact location that showed a mower with my type of belt adjustment. I really appreciate it.

I stuck my old faithful HF sawzall into the tube under the seat and attempted to cut two slots the length of the outer tube. They might not be deep enough because the tubes are still stuck. The mower is now on it's left side so penetrating oil can soak in. If it still doesn't free up, I'll try the other side and maybe saw a little deeper.

I just enjoy looking at how things work. I had a fascination with these little riders and may still someday obtain one for leaf pickup.

I'd also stop cutting until you've exhausted all other avenues. Maybe you need the machine in a hurry, so that's up to you, of course. I'd continue to apply heat to the outer tube and maybe look into melting some wax into the tube sections of you can reach it. Google stuck bolt heat wax and read up a bit and watch some of the videos. It might help? Good luck.

stuck bolt heat wax - Google Search