x324 mower idler pulley removal

squam1 · Aug 11, 2014

48" (non-rotatable wheel version) deck on an x324. ~10 years old and runs great. Bolt holding the right hand blade sheared off the other day and I had to replace the entire spindle/bearing assembly. Question is how to remove/re-attach the idler pulley on top of the deck? It is the stacked double pulley on the right hand side that the belt from the powerflow runs to. More importantly, once removed (which I managed to do after a bunch of bruised knuckles) how to properly tighten that nut on the top of the pulley to reassemble it all?

I was able to hold the old spindle from the bottom of the deck with a large pipe wrench which allowed me to losen the nut on top of the pulley. Had to cut away some of the old housing so I could get a good grip on it. Putting the new one on I didn't have that option so I just held the bolt on the bottom with a socket wrench and used a lug wrench to hold the nut on top. Not at all sure I got the nut on top tight enough. I would like to find a way to hold the pulley and really clamp down on the nut from the top. I'm surprised the whole thing is not reverse threaded and worry it will come loose over time. I cannot figure out any way to hold the bearing assembly/pulley firmly enough to get a good purchase from the top side to tighten that nut. What am I missing?

bruceatlam · Aug 11, 2014

An impact wrench --------------

beenthere · Aug 11, 2014

And that nut will self tighten as you mow with it. Think you will be okay with the nut tightened as you have done.

squam1 · Aug 12, 2014

Thanks 'cuz I don't have an impact wrench/compressor! Was able to get it pretty tight by locking the blade with this thing I found on-line (best $10 I ever spent on tractor parts). Used it to first tighten the bolt from the bottom as tight as I could, and then flipped the deck and got a pretty good turn on that nut too. I'm obiously no expert mechanic and I have no idea how much torque I got, but it felt plenty tight. Since the blade isn't locked on the spindle in any way (just friction) I suppose I actually could have been turning the entire thing of course....

And just out of curiosity, if that spindle turns clockwise, wouldn't the natural action tend to loosen the nut?

https://www.greenpartstore.com/Blade-Buster-Lawn-Mower-Blade-Clamp-B1DL100.html