c)Belt must be tight enough to not slip during heavy loads while cutting grass. Overtensioning will reduce belt and spindle bearing life. To adjust belt tension, loosen the 5/16" whizlock nut on turnbuckle and rotate the turnbuckle; rotate turnbuckle toward rear of mower to tighten, and toward front of mower to loosen belt tension (See Figure 12). Leave a minimum of 5/16” (.79 cm) of the eyebolt threads engaged on both ends of the turnbuckle.
For 48” Decks: If there is no adjustment left in the turnbuckle and the belt is still loose, the rear idler pulley can be repositioned in the front hole (See Figure 12). The belt guide located next to the pulley must also be repositioned in the front hole when the pulley is moved. The turnbuckle will need to be readjusted.
Check belt tension after the first hour of operation and at least twice during the first 24 hours of operation. Adjust as necessary.
48” Deck Shown
for Reference Only
FIGURE 12
MOWER DECK BELT ADJUSTMENT
d)Proper belt tension will require about 10 lbs. side pull on belt, halfway between pulleys (See Figure 12, Point A) to deflect belt 1/2” (12 mm).
e)Check belt guide under the engine deck to see that it is properly set. (See Section 3.2.7). Also check the blade brake adjustment. (See Section 3.2.6)
4.2.6Blade Brake Adjustment:
a)Stop engine and wait for all moving parts to stop. Remove key or spark plug wire(s).
b)Disengage blades.
c)Make sure the blade brake pad rests against the sheave. Adjust the spring mounting bolts to properly align the pad on the sheave (See Figure 13).
d)Check the distance between the spacer and the nut at the end of the blade brake rod. The distance should be between 1/8” and 3/16” (3 – 5 mm) (See figure 13).
e)Engage the blade control and check to make sure the blade brake pad clears the sheave.
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