Still trying to get the mower deck right

[Forest#2]

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.

You were typing at same time as me in your post 20

For one: (in the video) as to what Rivets noticed also
the belt is riding too high on that idler pulley in the video. The top edge of the idler is damaging/chewing the back side of the belt. (belt is getting too high on the idler)
Sometimes people do not pay attention to spacers on the very bottom/underneath of idler pulleys and when they put them back w/o the spacer the idler sets too low. (and the carriage bolt nut may not even allow the bolt to become tight and the whole thing wobbles even though the nut is tight. I've seen spacers collars or spacers washers stick to the bottom of a idler and fall off on floor or the idler get turned upside down with the spacer on top, but usually falls off on floor un-noticed. Also the spacers are usually not shown in a parts diagram.

I see you mention that you really have to tighten the carriage bolt nut to keep the pulley from wobbling. this might indicate you need to add spacer such as washers under the idler pulley so as to space it up and this would also allow the carriage bolt nut to become secure.(I see quite a few threads on top of the carriage bolt in the video. Also some idler pulleys have a offset spacer built into the center hole and if pulley mounted upside down they will not align properly.
Anyway that idler is running too low on the belt due to maybe as rivets says the bracket is bent ot not secure. If that is a swivel spring loaded bracket sometime due to wear they require shims or replacement parts.

Anyway that area is really suspect needs attention.

 

[JimP2014]

For one:
the belt is riding too high on that idler pulley in the video. The top edge of the idler is damaging the back side of the belt.
Sometimes people do not pay attention to spacers on the very bottom/underneath of idler pulleys and when they put them back w/o the spacer the idler sets too low. (and the carriage bolt nut may not even allow the bolt to become tight and the whole thing wobbles even though the nut is tight. I've seen spacers collars or spacers washers stick to the bottom of a idler and fall off on floor or the idler get turned upside down with the spacer on top, but usually falls off on floor un-noticed. Also the spacers are usually not shown in a parts diagram.

I see you mention that you really have to tighten the carriage bolt nuts to keep the pulley from wobbling. this might indicate you need to add spacer such as washers under the idler pulley so as to space it up and this would also allow the carriage bolt nut to become secure.(I see quite a few threads on top of the carriage bolt in the video.
Anyway that idler is running too low on the belt due to maybe as rivets says the bracket is bent ot not secure. If that is a swivel spring loaded bracket sometime due to wear they require shims or replacement parts.

Anyway that area is really suspect needs attention.

Forest I posted some other images (2) I bought a brand new belt. I thought I started a new thread but here it is:

Still trying to get the mower deck right

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...

www.lawnmowerforum.com

Basically it is a 5/8" x 100" kevlar belt and it is too short. So I just tried to remove the small idler pulley and put the belt around it THEN push the whole thing to where that square whole is on the frame. I could not get it to move that far into position. So I am thinking the 5/8" which fits the spindles pulley perfectly has caused the entire belt to shorten up. I have 2 images on here. I will post them here again.

This is where it is say an hour ago. If the 5/8" rather than the 1/2" belt is the way to go then I don't mind buying another 5/8" belt but say 101" or 102" long. I don't know this # right know.

I see what your saying about washers BELOW the large idler pulley. The kit comes with only one washer and that goes on top. I actually had 2 or 3 washers on each idler pulley up until say 2 months ago. I figured this was a hack that I did say last year and I got rid of them not know the consequences. NO Sears parts diagram calls for washers on top of the mower deck frame and then the idler guide and then the large idler pulley then the "brand new washer" then the locking nut. Or maybe it is get the belt guide on top of the frame first. And then the customer supplied washers.

Jim

 

[JimP2014]

Forest I posted some other images (2) I bought a brand new belt. I thought I started a new thread but here it is:

Still trying to get the mower deck right

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...

www.lawnmowerforum.com

Basically it is a 5/8" x 100" kevlar belt and it is too short. So I just tried to remove the small idler pulley and put the belt around it THEN push the whole thing to where that square whole is on the frame. I could not get it to move that far into position. So I am thinking the 5/8" which fits the spindles pulley perfectly has caused the entire belt to shorten up. I have 2 images on here. I will post them here again.

This is where it is say an hour ago. If the 5/8" rather than the 1/2" belt is the way to go then I don't mind buying another 5/8" belt but say 101" or 102" long. I don't know this # right know.

I see what your saying about washers BELOW the large idler pulley. The kit comes with only one washer and that goes on top. I actually had 2 or 3 washers on each idler pulley up until say 2 months ago. I figured this was a hack that I did say last year and I got rid of them not know the consequences. NO Sears parts diagram calls for washers on top of the mower deck frame and then the idler guide and then the large idler pulley then the "brand new washer" then the locking nut. Or maybe it is get the belt guide on top of the frame first. And then the customer supplied washers.

Jim

Forest for the best belt to use.
1.Stay with the 1/2" belt, jst get a new one since the red kevlar is shreded but check all others things to.

2. Go with the 5/8" belt it fits perfect, it is just a little short. Get a longer length!

Please reply 1 or 2, I am getting confused here.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[JimP2014]

Forest for the best belt to use.
1.Stay with the 1/2" belt, jst get a new one since the red kevlar is shreded but check all others things to.

2. Go with the 5/8" belt it fits perfect, it is just a little short. Get a longer length!

Please reply 1 or 2, I am getting confused here.

Thanks,
Jim

Here is what Sears says as of right now;

Husqvarna Lawn Tractor Ground Drive or Blade Drive Belt, 1/2 x 100-1/2-in 592855001​

There is no way in hell that is correct, they might mean

Husqvarna Lawn Tractor Ground Drive or Blade Drive Belt, 5/8 x 100-1/2-in or maybe even Husqvarna Lawn Tractor Ground Drive or Blade Drive Belt, 5/8 x 101-1/2-in​

I have a 1/2" x 100.25 belt, and it is way to long.

 

[JimP2014]

Here is what Sears says as of right now;

Husqvarna Lawn Tractor Ground Drive or Blade Drive Belt, 1/2 x 100-1/2-in 592855001​

There is no way in hell that is correct, they might mean

Husqvarna Lawn Tractor Ground Drive or Blade Drive Belt, 5/8 x 100-1/2-in or maybe even Husqvarna Lawn Tractor Ground Drive or Blade Drive Belt, 5/8 x 101-1/2-in​

I have a 1/2" x 100.25 belt, and it is way to long.

Okay so for the current belt which is 5/8 in wide by 100 in Long I pressed my finger onto the belt right where the small idler pulley would Mount and I can tell you I was able to press the bolt the belt rather directly over the center point of that square notch that's cut into the mower deck itself so this 5/8 in belt is 100 in long according to the manufacturer so I'm wondering if the correct length is 102 in 103 in I don't know but I also believe that for any spindle the height of the v-groove which is metal should fit the belt perfectly in other words the half inch belt I've been using it kind of swims inside of that pulley whereas the 5/8 in belt fits that pulley groove perfectly so that's an assumption on my part I don't know what the engineers did who designed any of the stuff but the other thing is you should be able to take any engineer who built this freaking mower deck and have them look at the situation and have him say this is how long the belt should be this is how thick the belt should be in all that stuff

Jim

 

[sgkent]

also make sure the brakes are not so worn that they allow the pulley to loosen the belt.

 

[JimP2014]

also make sure the brakes are not so worn that they allow the pulley to loosen the belt.

Sk kent,

Everything on this mower deck is new except the mower deck itself.

Jim

 

[JimP2014]

 

[JimP2014]

View attachment 71569

I bought this in 2024 and these are the dimensions the manufacturer states I bought the same exact one again in July

 

[JimP2014]

I bought this in 2024 and these are the dimensions the manufacturer states I bought the same exact one again in July

And basically in 2024 it was a little big so I don't know how Sears it's saying get a bigger one and half inch wide