46" deck. 2004, I think. This is my 3rd Murray wide body 46" mower since buying my 1st one in '98. I really like them.
I know the decks well, I've replaced numerous spindles, blades, pulleys, belts ..... but I've never dealt with this before. How do I tighten up this slop at the arm pivot bolt?
(See video).
This deck has been in my ownership for about 4 or 5 years. I use and abuse it greatly ... mowing twigs, sticks, small branches and even rocks on occasion.
I have some incidental spindle bearing slop, but this tensioner pivot is a HUGE problem as it causes the pulleys to rub together and occasionally throws a belt at certain angles.
I'm going to remove the deck this weekend and do some annual preventative maintenance and would like to address this pivot point.
I can see shimming the shouldered bolt with washers, but it will lose the auto tensioning function if I do that.
Maybe a sleeve over the shoulder to take up the slop in the deck hole????
Any guidance?