Still trying to get the mower deck right

[JimP2014]

Hello I have an lt2000 19.5 horsepower hp Craftsman.

The mower deck is a 42-in cutting with deck.

For more than a month I've had the deck separated from the frame of the mower.

I have replaced both spindles I have replaced the large idler pulley, I have replaced the small idler pulley.

I have replaced the belt it may not be the original belt but it's a Kevlar belt and it's 100.25 in Long.

It is a deep v belt and I'm replacing what I put on last year with a brand new one, I don't recall this ringing noise problem last year.

So I just ran the machine with the mower deck engaged there's hardly anything to cut because everything's so dry so any stress put on the mower deck or the engine is 99%. Whatever this problem is with this ringing noise.

I ran the machine for about 5 minutes essentially cutting nothing because everything is brown but one thing I was asked to do was after I shut the machine down to see what the temperature is of the belt now I could have used a thermal gun but I use my finger and I can comfortably keep my finger on the belt for say 20 seconds and then I have to take it off because it's just getting too hot so if I need to get an exact temperature using a thermal gun I can do that.

But the problem is this ringing noise and to identify whether or not is coming from the mower deck some component on the mower deck so when I'm not engaging the blade there is no ringing noise.

When I engage the blade the ringing noise begins. I'm assuming the problem is the mower deck but I could be wrong.

This last time that I slid the mower deck back underneath the chassis I noticed that the front rod would not connect to the front of the mower deck so I had to loosen the setting on it it's as if the mower deck took up a new position say a half inch to an inch towards the rear tires I don't know how this could happen but I adjusted that front rod so that I could slip it through the front of the mower deck.

Maybe I needed to lift the front of the mower deck up a bit and it would have connected just fine but I adjusted it so the front rod is a little bit longer now effectively.

I hope to post videos of the lt2000 Craftsman running without the mower deck engaged and then when I engage it and then get videos of both sides of the mower deck but the belt is scored it's roughed up it's got a black band around the outside. And I've read everything about what that means but I can't seem to fix it.

Model # 917289070 Official Craftsman tractor

I can live with this ringing noise as long as the ringing noise isn't contributing to the burnt belt and I did notice that this 100.25 in belt might be slightly long however last summer it did work I bought three belts that were too short and this 100.25 in belt did work so I went with that as the length of belt I need maybe because there is some slack I need say a 99 in belt or a '99.5 in belt but if you go by the recommendations from Craftsman and going back to last Summer I believe you end up with a belt that is way too short so that's why I'm guessing on the belt.

Jim

 

[JimP2014]

Hello I have an lt2000 19.5 horsepower hp Craftsman.

The mower deck is a 42-in cutting with deck.

For more than a month I've had the deck separated from the frame of the mower.

I have replaced both spindles I have replaced the large idler pulley, I have replaced the small idler pulley.

I have replaced the belt it may not be the original belt but it's a Kevlar belt and it's 100.25 in Long.

It is a deep v belt and I'm replacing what I put on last year with a brand new one, I don't recall this ringing noise problem last year.

So I just ran the machine with the mower deck engaged there's hardly anything to cut because everything's so dry so any stress put on the mower deck or the engine is 99%. Whatever this problem is with this ringing noise.

I ran the machine for about 5 minutes essentially cutting nothing because everything is brown but one thing I was asked to do was after I shut the machine down to see what the temperature is of the belt now I could have used a thermal gun but I use my finger and I can comfortably keep my finger on the belt for say 20 seconds and then I have to take it off because it's just getting too hot so if I need to get an exact temperature using a thermal gun I can do that.

But the problem is this ringing noise and to identify whether or not is coming from the mower deck some component on the mower deck so when I'm not engaging the blade there is no ringing noise.

When I engage the blade the ringing noise begins. I'm assuming the problem is the mower deck but I could be wrong.

This last time that I slid the mower deck back underneath the chassis I noticed that the front rod would not connect to the front of the mower deck so I had to loosen the setting on it it's as if the mower deck took up a new position say a half inch to an inch towards the rear tires I don't know how this could happen but I adjusted that front rod so that I could slip it through the front of the mower deck.

Maybe I needed to lift the front of the mower deck up a bit and it would have connected just fine but I adjusted it so the front rod is a little bit longer now effectively.

I hope to post videos of the lt2000 Craftsman running without the mower deck engaged and then when I engage it and then get videos of both sides of the mower deck but the belt is scored it's roughed up it's got a black band around the outside. And I've read everything about what that means but I can't seem to fix it.

Model # 917289070 Official Craftsman tractor

I can live with this ringing noise as long as the ringing noise isn't contributing to the burnt belt and I did notice that this 100.25 in belt might be slightly long however last summer it did work I bought three belts that were too short and this 100.25 in belt did work so I went with that as the length of belt I need maybe because there is some slack I need say a 99 in belt or a '99.5 in belt but if you go by the recommendations from Craftsman and going back to last Summer I believe you end up with a belt that is way too short so that's why I'm guessing on the belt.

Jim

One thing I failed to mention here is the larger idler pulley from way back when I'm sure it's still good but in any case I replace the large idler pulley + I thought there was a problem with it because there was a wobble before I replaced it so I replaced it with a brand new large idler pulley and I got the wobble to go away well after spinning the blades for say 10 minutes few days ago that wobble is back maybe that wobble is supposed to be there I have no idea but I just thought I'd mention it additionally.

Jim

 

[JimP2014]

This is a video of the left side of the mower deck + the large pulley and one of the spindles can be seen in the foreground but the thing to notice is the constant ringing noise the video starts with the blades engaged but about 3/4 of way through I turn the blades off and the ring noise goes away and then I engage the blades again and the ringing noises back so this is other than the belt needing to be replaced I just have a feeling with a brand new belt I'm still going to have the ringing noise so I'm hoping to address the ringing noise soon.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Rivets]

In the video I see two things I don’t like. One, the large idler pulley is at an angle. The idler tensioner arm may be bent. Second, when disengaging the PTO, both idler pulleys wobble, indicating to me that either pulley bearings are bad or the studs are worn. Either of these can cause the harmonic ringing you are hearing.

 

[JimP2014]

In the video I see two things I don’t like. One, the large idler pulley is at an angle. The idler tensioner arm may be bent. Second, when disengaging the PTO, both idler pulleys wobble, indicating to me that either pulley bearings are bad or the studs are worn. Either of these can cause the harmonic ringing you are hearing.

Rivets regarding that large idler pulley so it was wobbling like say for years or maybe it was wobbling since last year I don't know but in any case I just put a brand large idler pulley on and I noticed that it's wobbling so then I tightened it down so tight and then it wasn't wobbling anymore and then I ran the machine with a blades engage for maybe 10-15 minutes and I came back the next day and I noticed that large idler pulley is wobbling again like how can that be so it's a brand new large idler pulley I don't know if that bolt it looks like a carriage bolt is the brand new one from the box where I use the existing one but I did have that large idler pulleys so it would only rotate in One direction without the wobble. Thanks for your reply what are your thoughts on this one?

Jim

 

[JimP2014]

Rivets regarding that large idler pulley so it was wobbling like say for years or maybe it was wobbling since last year I don't know but in any case I just put a brand large idler pulley on and I noticed that it's wobbling so then I tightened it down so tight and then it wasn't wobbling anymore and then I ran the machine with a blades engage for maybe 10-15 minutes and I came back the next day and I noticed that large idler pulley is wobbling again like how can that be so it's a brand new large idler pulley I don't know if that bolt it looks like a carriage bolt is the brand new one from the box where I use the existing one but I did have that large idler pulleys so it would only rotate in One direction without the wobble. Thanks for your reply what are your thoughts on this one?

Jim

The other thing is regarding that wobbling of that large idler pulley in some other video I don't know which one a guy was talking about how it pivots he was calling it a pivot + I don't know either way what do you think about the possibility what I'm calling a wobble is actually a design feature?

 

[Rivets]

After watching the video again and looking at the parts diagram I’ve got more questions than suggestions. When you replaced parts, did you use OEM parts?
Small pulley Husqvarna part number 532177968
Large pulley Husqvarna part number 532197379
Belt Husqvarna part number 592855001
According to the web site I used none of these parts are available. How did you cross reference them?
Did you check that the carriage bolts were the right size and the pulleys did not wobble on the bolt before assembly? If your pulleys started to wobble after you mounted them securely, something is wrong in the assembly. It should not come loose. Did you use Nyloc nuts?

 

[JimP2014]

After watching the video again and looking at the parts diagram I’ve got more questions than suggestions. When you replaced parts, did you use OEM parts?
Small pulley Husqvarna part number 532177968
Large pulley Husqvarna part number 532197379
Belt Husqvarna part number 592855001
According to the web site I used none of these parts are available. How did you cross reference them?
Did you check that the carriage bolts were the right size and the pulleys did not wobble on the bolt before assembly? If your pulleys started to wobble after you mounted them securely, something is wrong in the assembly. It should not come loose. Did you use Nyloc nuts?

After watching the video again and looking at the parts diagram I’ve got more questions than suggestions. When you replaced parts, did you use OEM parts?
Small pulley Husqvarna part number 532177968
Large pulley Husqvarna part number 532197379
Belt Husqvarna part number 592855001
According to the web site I used none of these parts are available. How did you cross reference them?
Did you check that the carriage bolts were the right size and the pulleys did not wobble on the bolt before assembly? If your pulleys started to wobble after you mounted them securely, something is wrong in the assembly. It should not come loose. Did you use Nyloc nuts?

 

[JimP2014]

Brand: POSFLAG
4.54.5 out of 5 stars(62)

532196106 Husqvarna Idler Pulley with 532177968 Idler Pulley Replaces 532197379 Husqvarna Idler Pulley, 196106 Idler Pulley Craftsman, 197379 177968 193197 for Husqvarna Z254 YTH20K46 Mowers​

I tried to send you an image right here but my phone isn't that good for that maybe I can send it on my PC later but it's basically this what you see above and it was from Amazon when you say how did I cross-reference it I'm not exactly sure what I did maybe I went to look up an Amazon part and then see what numbers from the Sears catalog matched up and then I use that number I honestly don't know but I wanted to make sure I believe I did the right thing for the idler pieces two of them.

And for the belt so last year I bought a belt it wasn't the actual one you're probably indicating so maybe it's just the belt I should get the correct belt for it it's a Husqvarna belt.

All's I can say is I used it for at least 6 months back in 2024 meaning the first purchase of it and the second purchase of it which was say a month ago that's not working out it's all burnt as you can see in the video possibly.

Jim

 

[JimP2014]

Brand: POSFLAG
4.54.5 out of 5 stars(62)

532196106 Husqvarna Idler Pulley with 532177968 Idler Pulley Replaces 532197379 Husqvarna Idler Pulley, 196106 Idler Pulley Craftsman, 197379 177968 193197 for Husqvarna Z254 YTH20K46 Mowers​

I tried to send you an image right here but my phone isn't that good for that maybe I can send it on my PC later but it's basically this what you see above and it was from Amazon when you say how did I cross-reference it I'm not exactly sure what I did maybe I went to look up an Amazon part and then see what numbers from the Sears catalog matched up and then I use that number I honestly don't know but I wanted to make sure I believe I did the right thing for the idler pieces two of them.

And for the belt so last year I bought a belt it wasn't the actual one you're probably indicating so maybe it's just the belt I should get the correct belt for it it's a Husqvarna belt.

All's I can say is I used it for at least 6 months back in 2024 meaning the first purchase of it and the second purchase of it which was say a month ago that's not working out it's all burnt as you can see in the video possibly.

Jim

Okay it took me awhile to figure out what you're suggesting I should have done is exactly what I did as far as the idler pulleys go the belt it's not the same belt that's for sure so if you're thinking maybe I should just replace the belt for the exact item I need then I could do that and hopefully that makes that ringing noise going away. I will get on that early this coming week for sure.

Thanks,
Jim