Dixon 501 manual Page CARE AND MAINTENANCE - MODEL

Page 16

CARE AND MAINTENANCE - MODEL 501

DRIVE SYSTEM ADJUSTMENTS: Hydrostat Chains - Belts - Cable - Controls

Refer to the diagrams on the following pages for the location of adjustment points.

Step 1. Loosen the front and rear mounting bolts of the hydrostat, turn the rear adjustment bolt downward, which will tension the final drive chain to the rear wheel. Chain is correctly tensioned when at a point mid-way between the sprockets chain free play or movement is approximately l/16th of an inch up and down. Re-tighten mounting bolts.

Step 2. Loosen the (2) bolts which secure the front chain adjustment, refer to diagram, turn the front adjustment bolt downward using a 5/16th alien wrench. Correct tension is as in step #1. Re-tighten bolts.

Step 3. Repeat above procedures on opposite hydrostat.

Step 4. Tighten the (2) J-bolts on the T-box mounting plate until each belt has l/8th to l/4th of an inch free play or movement at a mid-point between the pulleys on the hydrostats and T-box.

Step 5. Position parking brake lever in the off or disengaged position. This will allow the belt idler used on the engine to T-box to swing fully and apply tension to the belt. At this time, check that the cable which pulls the idler to a neutral position has approximately 1-1/2 to 2 inches of free play. If adjustment is required, loosen the lock nuts on the cable block and turn cable sleeve in or out to achieve desired measurement. Re-tighten lock nuts. "NOTE" Cable must have the above dimension with parking brake released or drive belt may slip, causing a loss of power.

Step 6. Neutral adjustment must be checked at this time which will require the engine to be started and the parking brake released. Swing upper control levers outward and into neutral slots, start engine, use caution when releasing parking brake as mower may tend to creep or move prior to re-adjustment of neutral settings on each hydrostat. If adjustment is required, loosen lock nuts at each end of the control rods and back off the tension bolt on each spring block. Turn control rod in or out until neutral is obtained on each hydrostat. Re-tighten lock nuts and tension bolts on spring blocks.

Step 7. Stop engine, move levers to drive position. Lightly push each upper control lever forward until a resistance is felt on the lever. At this time, check that the forward lever stops are hitting against stop block. "NOTE: Do not allow levers to travel to completely forward without hitting stop blocks as damage to hydrostats could result. If adjustment is required, loosen lock nut on lever stop and turn bolt in to allow lever to hit the stop before resistance is felt in the hydrostat.

Step 8. Start engine. Drive mower forward and observe driving condition. If mower tends to pull to either side, re-adjust lever stop on fast side to slow that hydrostat down and even out the ground speed. Do not speed up slow side as over stroking of the hydrostat could result in damage to the unit. If upper control levers are slightly off-set after this adjustment, they can be realigned by bending them into alignment.