Checking And Adjusting Tension On Drive Belts

WARNING: Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the machine, shut off engine, wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage.

TINE	C
TINE	D
SHAFT		A


ENGINE
DENOTES CUTTING EDGE
OF TINE
B

Figure 5-7: Complete tine assemblies— holders, tines and hardware.

To Check and Adjust Tension on the Forward Drive Belt:

1. Checking for correct belt tension is the

same as that described in item 5, Step 4:

Attach Forward Clutch Rod. Before

checking, shut off the engine, disconnect

the spark plug wire, and allow the engine

and muffler to cool down. If, after follow-

ing the adjustment procedures, you can-

not get the correct gap on the forward

clutch rod adjustment bracket, you will

need to make a secondary adjustment as

described next.

2. Disconnect the Forward Clutch Rod (A,

Figure 5-9) from the swivel plate (B) by

removing the innermost hairpin cotter

(C).

3. Unthread the Forward Clutch Rod (in a

counterclockwise direction as viewed

from the front of the unit) until one or two

WARNING: This is a CRT (counter-rotating tine) tiller and its tines must be mounted in the direction shown in Figure 5-7. Failure to comply could result in personal injury or property damage.

2.When installing individual tines, install them in the reverse order from which they were removed. The two sets of inboard tines are installed so one tine faces to- ward the transmission housing and the other tine faces away from it. The single outboard tine on each side faces toward the transmission housing. Also be sure the cutting edges face so they will enter the soil first when the tiller is moving for- ward–this means the cutting edges face toward the operator position.

Checking And Adjusting Tension On Drive Belts

While checking belt tension, also check for cracks, cuts or frayed edges. A belt that is in poor condition should be re- placed.

WARNING: Follow the belt adjustment instructions carefully. An incorrect adjustment could result in the Forward Clutch mechanism engaging too soon. This could cause loss of tiller control and result in personal injury or property damage.

Maintaining correct tension on the drive belts is important to good tilling perfor- mance and long belt life. A loose belt will slip on the engine and transmission pul- leys and cause the tines and wheels to slow down – or stop completely – even though the engine is running at full speed. A loose belt will also result in premature wear to the belt.

The tension on a new forward drive belt should be checked after the first two (2) hours of operation. Thereafter, check the tension after every ten (10) hours of operation.

The reverse drive belt, because it is used infrequently, will not require an initial ten- sion adjustment until a significant num- ber of operating hours has passed.

threads on the rod extend above the rect-

angular nut (D, Figure 5-10) on the for-

ward clutch bracket.

4. Remove the belt cover.

5. Slip the forward drive belt (E, Figure

he engine-driven forward drive pulley by

pushing it off (away from engine) with

your left hand while pulling engine starter

rope with your right hand.

6. On the left side of the unit (from oper-

ator’s position) remove the hairpin cotter

from the clevis pin (F, Figure 5-11) that

connects the forward idler arm (G) to the

forward adjustable link (H). Push inward

on the forward idler arm (G) and remove

the clevis pin (F).

7. There are two holes in the forward ad-

justable link (H, Figure 5-11). Push in-

ward on the forward idler arm (G) and

install the clevis pin (F) through the inner

hole in the forward adjustable link (H) and

out through the single hole in the forward

idler arm (G). Secure the clevis pin with

the hairpin cotter.