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The carriage bolt that holds the idler pulley arm to the deck has worn the square hole in the deck to the point that it will not hold. It looks like the engine would have to be pulled to get to that bolt to replace it or repair. Anyone ran into this and is there some way to avoid pulling the engine? I would sure appreciate any help and thank you in advance> It is the idler on the drive belt.

It helps to know a little more about what machine you are working on and need help with.

Crystal ball is in the shop and my telepathic powers are failing me. LOL

Here is a generic approach that may work without having to remove the engine, just loosen it....

Loosen the engine bolts enough to get a large screwdriver or prybar in to apply pressure (force) down on the top of the bolt head dome, so the nut can be removed and pulley changed.

IF you have loosen the nut some before the carriage bolt started slipping pull down on the idler arm as the manufactures of carriage bolt don't fully make the square portion [only small portion is square] and they will slip if loosen slightly.

What Auto Doc want you to do would require you to be spider monkey and I don't think your arms are like that so would need a helper. Beside if the Hustler is anything like the 937763 Raptor here in the shop you would still have problems getting the bolt head. Simply no room to work.

What you need to do if the above trick don't work is to remove the engine guard, deck belt and PTO clutch, unbolt the engine so you can slide it back to gain access to the carriage bolt head. Then get a pair of vise grips clamped on the head of the carriage bolt so you can remove the nut. If the square hole is stripped out then it would need a little welding to make it square again.

Reinstall everything in reverse order.

Auto Doc's said:

It helps to know a little more about what machine you are working on and need help with.

Crystal ball is in the shop and my telepathic powers are failing me. LOL

Here is a generic approach that may work without having to remove the engine, just loosen it....

Loosen the engine bolts enough to get a large screwdriver or prybar in to apply pressure (force) down on the top of the bolt head dome, so the nut can be removed and pulley changed.

Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the info. I apologize for being so vague. Seems like a very poor design on this Hustler, but maybe they don't think they will ever need service!

I use vise grips for some things but not to mechanic . That's why i keep my 6" Ridgid pipe wrench around .