John Deere D105

[Ranch.Hand]

There’s very little tension on the belt when engaged. It’s so loose the blades do not engage.
The mower is only 3 years old. Gets used probably three times on just over an acre each time per year.
The belt is in good shape.
The real confusing part... the L bracket for the cable and spring to provide tension on the belts is welded to the mower chassis, instead of bolted like the manual indicates.
Help? How do you adjust the engaging points to provide tension to the belts?
Basically, (B) is welded, and there aren’t any (A) parts in the attched image from the online manual.

 

[BlazNT]

Does the cable have an adjustment nut?

 

[Ranch.Hand]

Does not appear to have an adjustment nut.

One photo shows the cable in place on the L bracket (welded to the deck),the other I have removed the cable from the bracket.

 

[BlazNT]

The silver hex part may be an adjustment part. Try turning it while it is installed on the deck to see if it moves the cable at all.

 

[shiftsuper175607]

Does not appear to have an adjustment nut.

One photo shows the cable in place on the L bracket (welded to the deck),the other I have removed the cable from the bracket.

When you move your engagement handle...does that big spring move?

As in stretch out and pull the bracket that has the tension idler toward the bracket...thus taking the slack out of the deck belt?

Seems that it does not....

 

[Ranch.Hand]

The silver hex part may be an adjustment part. Try turning it while it is installed on the deck to see if it moves the cable at all.

That appears to be something for strength, it does not turn.

 

[Ranch.Hand]

When you move your engagement handle...does that big spring move?

As in stretch out and pull the bracket that has the tension idler toward the bracket...thus taking the slack out of the deck belt?

Seems that it does not....

Yes. The big spring pulls up SOME slack, nowhere near enough to provide good belt tension.

 

[shiftsuper175607]

Yes. The big spring pulls up SOME slack, nowhere near enough to provide good belt tension.

The bracket and tension pulley the spring is attacked to...can you move it enough to take up the slack?

that spring is big for a reason.
It takes a fair amount of force with your handle (you should feel that spring pulling when you engage) to pull that spring...move that bracket, and the tension pulley to tighten the belt.

 

[Ranch.Hand]

The bracket and tension pulley the spring is attacked to...can you move it enough to take up the slack?

that spring is big for a reason.
It takes a fair amount of force with your handle (you should feel that spring pulling when you engage) to pull that spring...move that bracket, and the tension pulley to tighten the belt.

I can move the lever from full stop to full stop.
I have used this mower quite a few times since we bought it new.
It’s odd that it no longer pulls the tension sufficiently.
Even stranger that John Deere changed a proven/simple design by removing the adjustment hardware, and welding the bracket in place.
Worse, the owners manual still indicates removing two nuts, adjusting the bracket, and reinstalling the nuts.

 

[shiftsuper175607]

The bracket and tension pulley the spring is attacked to...can you move it enough to take up the slack?

that spring is big for a reason.
It takes a fair amount of force with your handle (you should feel that spring pulling when you engage) to pull that spring...move that bracket, and the tension pulley to tighten the belt.

If the cable is moving the spring and bracket... You should be able to see how much the cable should move by looking at the handle end and watching the cable move when you throw the handle...3 inches etc...and the bracket with the tension pulley moves that much toward where the cable bracket is..
If all this looks right...

then the belt is routed wrong or off a pulley underneath a cover and you can not see it.