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John Deere D105

#1

R

Ranch.Hand

There’s very little tension on the belt when engaged. It’s so loose the blades do not engage.
The mower is only 3 years old. Gets used probably three times on just over an acre each time per year.
The belt is in good shape.
The real confusing part... the L bracket for the cable and spring to provide tension on the belts is welded to the mower chassis, instead of bolted like the manual indicates.
Help? How do you adjust the engaging points to provide tension to the belts?
Basically, (B) is welded, and there aren’t any (A) parts in the attched image from the online manual.
BB9BBF96-B307-4A7F-8F74-649DE90C1150.jpg


#2

BlazNT

BlazNT

Does the cable have an adjustment nut?


#3

R

Ranch.Hand

Does not appear to have an adjustment nut.

One photo shows the cable in place on the L bracket (welded to the deck),the other I have removed the cable from the bracket.

ADE5A300-918D-4D28-9BE6-E45211396603.jpg276DD419-A4CD-487E-86B2-2194493E4302.jpg


#4

BlazNT

BlazNT

The silver hex part may be an adjustment part. Try turning it while it is installed on the deck to see if it moves the cable at all.


#5

S

shiftsuper175607

Ranch.Hand said:
Does not appear to have an adjustment nut.

One photo shows the cable in place on the L bracket (welded to the deck),the other I have removed the cable from the bracket.

When you move your engagement handle...does that big spring move?

As in stretch out and pull the bracket that has the tension idler toward the bracket...thus taking the slack out of the deck belt?

Seems that it does not....
Click to expand...


#6

R

Ranch.Hand

BlazNT said:
The silver hex part may be an adjustment part. Try turning it while it is installed on the deck to see if it moves the cable at all.
Click to expand...

That appears to be something for strength, it does not turn.


#7

R

Ranch.Hand

shiftsuper175607 said:
When you move your engagement handle...does that big spring move?

As in stretch out and pull the bracket that has the tension idler toward the bracket...thus taking the slack out of the deck belt?

Seems that it does not....
Click to expand...

Yes. The big spring pulls up SOME slack, nowhere near enough to provide good belt tension.


#8

S

shiftsuper175607

Ranch.Hand said:
Yes. The big spring pulls up SOME slack, nowhere near enough to provide good belt tension.
Click to expand...

The bracket and tension pulley the spring is attacked to...can you move it enough to take up the slack?

that spring is big for a reason.
It takes a fair amount of force with your handle (you should feel that spring pulling when you engage) to pull that spring...move that bracket, and the tension pulley to tighten the belt.


#9

R

Ranch.Hand

shiftsuper175607 said:
The bracket and tension pulley the spring is attacked to...can you move it enough to take up the slack?

that spring is big for a reason.
It takes a fair amount of force with your handle (you should feel that spring pulling when you engage) to pull that spring...move that bracket, and the tension pulley to tighten the belt.
Click to expand...

I can move the lever from full stop to full stop.
I have used this mower quite a few times since we bought it new.
It’s odd that it no longer pulls the tension sufficiently.
Even stranger that John Deere changed a proven/simple design by removing the adjustment hardware, and welding the bracket in place.
Worse, the owners manual still indicates removing two nuts, adjusting the bracket, and reinstalling the nuts.


#10

S

shiftsuper175607

shiftsuper175607 said:
The bracket and tension pulley the spring is attacked to...can you move it enough to take up the slack?

that spring is big for a reason.
It takes a fair amount of force with your handle (you should feel that spring pulling when you engage) to pull that spring...move that bracket, and the tension pulley to tighten the belt.
Click to expand...


If the cable is moving the spring and bracket... You should be able to see how much the cable should move by looking at the handle end and watching the cable move when you throw the handle...3 inches etc...and the bracket with the tension pulley moves that much toward where the cable bracket is..
If all this looks right...

then the belt is routed wrong or off a pulley underneath a cover and you can not see it.


#11

B

bertsmobile1

Nope the Hex is just the cable crimp.
That is the 2nd JD with a welded on deck cable anchor plate so it looks like the factory may have made a modification.

Check the other end of the cable for an adjustment.
Also check the arm on the PTO lever.
It is held on with a single M6 high tensile bolt and they have been known to break or come loose then flog out the hole so the arm on the lever does not swing full distance so cable never moves full travel thus tension arm remains too slack to drive the belt.

Double check that the belt is actually on the pulleys properly by taking the covers off and then check the idler pulleys are bolted firmly to the deck & the bearings have not collapsed.


#12

R

Ranch.Hand

bertsmobile1 said:
Nope the Hex is just the cable crimp.
That is the 2nd JD with a welded on deck cable anchor plate so it looks like the factory may have made a modification.

Check the other end of the cable for an adjustment.
Also check the arm on the PTO lever.
It is held on with a single M6 high tensile bolt and they have been known to break or come loose then flog out the hole so the arm on the lever does not swing full distance so cable never moves full travel thus tension arm remains too slack to drive the belt.

Double check that the belt is actually on the pulleys properly by taking the covers off and then check the idler pulleys are bolted firmly to the deck & the bearings have not collapsed.
Click to expand...

Checked all mentioned.
The upper end of the cable is th same as the end point on the bracket.
The lever moves smoothly and uniformly within the guide.
Double checked the belt and pulleys. All seems clean, dry, and serviceable... nothing out of sorts. Just loose.
Odd thing, my bride used the mower a couple weeks ago without any problems. This is one of those “sudden” developments.
Head scratcher.
I was hoping to avoid the local JD dealership (horrible customer service)...I may have to swallow my pride and beg them to take my money.


#13

R

Ranch.Hand

shiftsuper175607 said:
If the cable is moving the spring and bracket... You should be able to see how much the cable should move by looking at the handle end and watching the cable move when you throw the handle...3 inches etc...and the bracket with the tension pulley moves that much toward where the cable bracket is..
If all this looks right...

then the belt is routed wrong or off a pulley underneath a cover and you can not see it.
Click to expand...

Moving the lever, certainly actuated the pulley and spring as one would expect... just falls short in applying adequate tension to the belt.

Double checked th belt, pulleys, and wheels. All seems in the right place, secure, and spinning freely.

Definitely has me confused. Can’t imagine the belt suddenly stretched since the last use. I’d estimate that there’s more than 4” of slack in the belt with the mower engaged.


#14

S

shiftsuper175607

You posted some pictures...how about posting pictures of the belt and its routing around the pulleys.


#15

B

bertsmobile1

Belts do not strech, they wear thin so sit deeper in the V groove thus become loose.
Take the belt off and check it for burned patches or extreme wear as can happen if it is just not quite tight enough on the drive pulley
Check the drive pulley for polish marks at the bottom which means it is worn beyond its limit & needs replacing.
Take the deck off and check for cracks in the spindle mounts.
And also check all of the deck mounts in case one has fallen off which would allow the beck to slide too far forward and thus the belt to loosen
JD had some problems with the rear deck mounts cracking along the side of the welds which in turn allowed the deck to move too far forward.


#16

A

alanohio

My deck has a factory welded cable holder (There is no adjustment). The listed belt size is wrong! Go with a 1/2" x 102" and the belt will last. If you ever have to change the cable; be aware that Deere also changed it and you need to match up your old cable by looking at the cable. In both cases; the parts list numbers are NOT updated. I'm finding all sorts of things about this mower since I bought it.


#17

Cool-Ace

Cool-Ace

Ranch.Hand said:
There’s very little tension on the belt when engaged. It’s so loose the blades do not engage.
The mower is only 3 years old. Gets used probably three times on just over an acre each time per year.
The belt is in good shape.
The real confusing part... the L bracket for the cable and spring to provide tension on the belts is welded to the mower chassis, instead of bolted like the manual indicates.
Help? How do you adjust the engaging points to provide tension to the belts?
Basically, (B) is welded, and there aren’t any (A) parts in the attched image from the online manual.
View attachment 39577
Click to expand...
The whole cable assembly has to be replaced as that cable stretches out why they started welding them is one small problem ! I too just started having same issue but have seen it many many times on other JDs and Craftsman , Poulans and other AYP made mower decks ! My problem is I don't have the parts manual for the D105 and don't have a clue what that cable is called or the pn needed to find one. Ebay is most the time best place to find at a good price! I think what I will do for the time is cut a spacer to lay over and crimp to take out this extra slack ! Best of luck Cool-Ace


#18

D

david t

Here's what I did to mine: IMG_0897.jpg


#19

D

david t

Cool-Ace said:
The whole cable assembly has to be replaced as that cable stretches out why they started welding them is one small problem ! I too just started having same issue but have seen it many many times on other JDs and Craftsman , Poulans and other AYP made mower decks ! My problem is I don't have the parts manual for the D105 and don't have a clue what that cable is called or the pn needed to find one. Ebay is most the time best place to find at a good price! I think what I will do for the time is cut a spacer to lay over and crimp to take out this extra slack ! Best of luck Cool-Ace
Click to expand...


#20

D

david t

You should be able to find the manual online in pdf form for download. See image above for what I did to increase tension.


#21

T

Telesis

Just wanted to mention that this thread is from 2018! Also, JD Technical Manuals are not online and available for free download. They aren't cheap, but they are very well written and worth the investment IMHO, if you own a JD tractor and are going to keep it. FWIW!


#22

Cool-Ace

Cool-Ace

david t said:
You should be able to find the manual online in pdf form for download. See image above for what I did to increase tension.
Click to expand...
I pull off cable from the deck end and push inner cable back until the ball on end came out then I dropped a small rock down inside the spring then hooked it back up. Has been working fine so far. Going to find some small steel bearings when the rock wares out.
:cool:-Ace


#23

Cool-Ace

Cool-Ace

Telesis said:
Just wanted to mention that this thread is from 2018! Also, JD Technical Manuals are not online and available for free download. They aren't cheap, but they are very well written and worth the investment IMHO, if you own a JD tractor and are going to keep it. FWIW!
Click to expand...
I download them free @ https://www.manualslib.com/ I do believe you got to set up a free account.
:cool:-Ace


#24

B

bertsmobile1

Cool-Ace said:
The whole cable assembly has to be replaced as that cable stretches out why they started welding them is one small problem ! I too just started having same issue but have seen it many many times on other JDs and Craftsman , Poulans and other AYP made mower decks ! My problem is I don't have the parts manual for the D105 and don't have a clue what that cable is called or the pn needed to find one. Ebay is most the time best place to find at a good price! I think what I will do for the time is cut a spacer to lay over and crimp to take out this extra slack ! Best of luck Cool-Ace
Click to expand...
Why do people refuse to go to the manufacturers web pages ?
JD have all of their IPL's on line for free access
Down side is you can only print / save one page at a time .
Good side is they do update it regularly.


#25

T

Telesis

With all do respect, JD technical manuals are not available on manualslib.com. Perhaps I'm just not smart enough to find them! (a distinct possibility in my old age..LOL) For example the manual for the D105 is JD part number TM113219. Search for any of the following: "John Deere", "JD", "D105", "TM", "TM113219" . No joy! The only manuals they have that include JD in any form are for 3rd party accessories like a "Cozy Cab" for your 4410 farm tractor. The current retail price for the manual in question is $141. You can find pirated or used copies on ebay for less but caveat emptor! (For example, the 2012 dated version of this manual does not include the D105 as it was introduced into the D series lineup after that. The 2017 dated version of the same manual does include it. Important to pay attention to what you are buying!)

As Bert indicated, IPL's and also Operator Manuals are available right from JD's own site. Technical Manuals(TMxxxx) which are JD's service manuals are not available for free download. Likewise, their Engine Manuals are not.

FWIW! Enjoy...


#26

B

bertsmobile1

IT costs a small fortune to make a good technical manual , excellent ones are even more expensive.
Archiving them so they are available 30 years latter is even more expensive.
Some one has to pay for it.
Thus cheap skate manufacturers like MTD & AYP do not even make one & just send dealers the odd service email when they are made aware of a problem .
Toro add the cost to the ticket price of their mowers so every one pays regardless of weather they need it or not
JD put the price on the manual so only those who need it pay for it.
Nothing on the planet is free .
All that changes is how you end up paying for it .


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