Belt Maintenance
Checking and Adjusting the
Belt Tension
Service Interval:
After the first 25 hours
Every 50 hours
1.
Raise the tines, stop the machine, stop the engine, and
disconnect the spark-plug wire.
2.
Raise the front of the machine to gain access to the
drive belts, and block it in place; refer to Tipping the
Machine (page 16).
CAUTION
If you do not securely block up the front of the
machine, the machine could fall on you during
service, injuring you.
Ensure that you place a jack stand or block
under the front of the machine to hold it up
securely.
Important:
Do not raise the rear of the machine.
Raising the rear of the machine will cause the
engine to flood and the air cleaner to be fouled
with gasoline.
3.
Push on a span of the drive belts (Figure 34) with 4.5
kg (10 lb) of force. If the belts flex more than 6 to 13
mm (1/4 to 1/2 inch), adjust the tension as follows:
1
2
G022401
Figure 34
1.
Straightedge
2.
6 to 13 mm (1/4 to 1/2
inch)
A.
Loosen the jam nut (Figure 35) on the traction
cable.
Figure 35
1.
Cable fitting
3.
Increased tension (more
threads exposed)
2.
Jam nut
4.
Decreased tension (fewer
threads exposed)
B.
Adjust the cable fitting (Figure 35) 3 mm (1/8
inch) at a time until the traction-cable spring
(Figure 36) is stretched about 10 mm (3/8 inch)
from the original (unstretched) position.
Figure 36
1.
Traction-cable spring
To increase the belt tension, turn the cable fitting
counterclockwise, so that
more
threads are
exposed. To decrease the belt tension, turn the
cable fitting clockwise, so that
fewer
threads are
exposed (Figure 35).
C.
Tighten the jam nut to secure the cable fitting.
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