2.Use a 15⁄16” wrench to hold the hex nut on top of the spindle assembly when loosening the hex nut securing the blade. A block of wood may be placed between the deck housing and the cutting edge of the blade to help in breaking loose the hex nut securing the blade. See Fig. 7-7.

Wood Block

Hex Flange Nut

Spindle Assembly

Figure 7-7

3.When reinstalling the blades, be sure they are installed so that the wind wings are pointing upward toward the top of deck.

4.Tighten the blade nuts to 70-90 ft. lbs.

5.Reinstall the deck (refer to Deck Installation on page 31).

Transmission Drive Belt

If the transmission drive belt becomes worn and causes the drive transmissions to slip, the drive belt must be replaced. To replace the drive belt, proceed as follows:

1.Remove the deck drive belt from the PTO clutch on the bottom of the engine following the instructions in Deck Removal.

2.From beneath the rear of the tractor, insert a 3⁄8” drive ratchet into the square hole of the drive idler bracket. See Fig. 7-8.

3.Using the ratchet for leverage, pivot the idler bracket and idler pulley away from the backside of the ‘V” belt; then lift the belt off and above the engine pulley and off the idler pulley.

4.With the belt loose, lift the belt off, up and over the two transmission drive pulleys. Remove the belt from the engine and idler pulleys.

5.Loop the new belt and slide over and onto the two transmission pulleys.

6.Route the belt above the idler bracket back to the engine drive pulley. Lift the belt over the PTO pulley and above the engine drive pulley.

7.Using the ratchet for leverage, pivot the idler bracket and idler pulley against the spring tension; then slip the belt down into the engine drive pulley and onto the idler pulley.

8.Release the idler bracket so that the idler pulley tightens against the back side of the belt and tensions the drive belt.

9.Reinstall the deck drive belt.

Tractor Creeping

Creeping is the slight forward or backward movement of the tractor when the engine is running at high idle and the drive control levers are opened out in the neutral position.

If after operating the tractor for some time, it begins to creep while in the neutral position, adjust the transmission control rods as follows.

1.Place the front of the tractor against an immovable object

(e.g. wall, post, etc.).

2.Jack up the rear of the tractor so that both rear wheels are approximately one inch of the ground.

3.With the engine running at high idle and the drive control levers opened out in the neutral position, and the parking brake disengaged, check the rear wheels for rotation.

4.If only one wheel is rotating, locate the transmission control rod beneath the frame at the front of the rear tire. If both wheels rotate, locate both control rods. See Fig. 7-9.

Transmission

RH Transmission

 

Drive Pulley

Control Rod

 

Idler

Flange

 

Pulley

 

 

Lock Nut

Hex Screw

Square Hole

Drive

Transmission

Belt

 

PTO

Control Arm

Idler

 

Pulley

 

Bracket

 

Engine

 

Idler Bracket

 

Pulley

 

Spring

Figure 7-9

 

Figure 7-8

Section 7 — Service

 

31