Export thread

need help with JD X540 mower belt

#1

J

JBBILS28L

Hi all, I'm working on my recently widowed neighbor's X540. In the process of routine maintenance, I removed the 54" mower belt. Now I'm putting it back together, and the belt is rubbing on the deck mounting bracket (1). For the life of me, I can't figure out what I've done differently in putting it back together. Also, the main pulley is lightly riding on the idler pulley tension bar (2) and spring (3). I don't think it should be doing that, but there is a wear mark (4) that looks like it could've been worn by that pulley riding on it. If that's true, why does that mark now fall ｽ" away? Can anyone help me? I think I can solve this whole thing by putting a spacer washer under #5, but that certainly wasn't there when I took it apart.






#2

exotion

exotion

JBBILS28L said:
Hi all, I'm working on my recently widowed neighbor's X540. In the process of routine maintenance, I removed the 54" mower belt. Now I'm putting it back together, and the belt is rubbing on the deck mounting bracket (1). For the life of me, I can't figure out what I've done differently in putting it back together. Also, the main pulley is lightly riding on the idler pulley tension bar (2) and spring (3). I don't think it should be doing that, but there is a wear mark (4) that looks like it could've been worn by that pulley riding on it. If that's true, why does that mark now fall ｽ" away? Can anyone help me? I think I can solve this whole thing by putting a spacer washer under #5, but that certainly wasn't there when I took it apart.

http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/J...f-47e7-a263-f3b15c7c0083_zpsc3668a2d.jpg.html

http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/J...e-4ec1-9427-e94f4a49a127_zps7f626d1e.jpg.html
Click to expand...

By number five in the second picture there are two bolt holes in the ARM what happens when you use the second bolt hole


#3

exotion

exotion

exotion said:
By number five in the second picture there are two bolt holes in the ARM what happens when you use the second bolt hole
Click to expand...

Also here is the diagram http://www.google.com/search?client...1.7.871.WMq1dYf_2Qk#biv=i|2;d|jtitGpuqCESxLM:
And how worn is the belt


#4

J

JBBILS28L

exotion said:
By number five in the second picture there are two bolt holes in the ARM what happens when you use the second bolt hole
Click to expand...

The second "hole" is actually an indentation that protrudes on the opposite side. In the bracket is a hole that the protrusion fits into. That forces the alignment to be correct. But, I also wondered about that. Even after I cleaned up the bracket, I could still tell by the wear marks where it had been bolted together before, and just aligned it based on that, which is really the only way it would fit. I'll take a look at your links and see what I find. Thanks.


#5

J

JBBILS28L

exotion said:
Also here is the diagram john deere x540 deck belt diagram - Google Search
And how worn is the belt
Click to expand...

I found this from your link:

Anyone have this happen spring rub x540? - MyTractorForum.com - The Friendliest Tractor Forum and Best Place for Tractor Information

It addresses part of my problem, but not the belt rubbing, so I'm still on the hunt. I was borderline on replacing the belt, but decided to keep it. I have no experience with it; do you think it looks worn? I've got more pics. :rolleyes:


#6

exotion

exotion

JBBILS28L said:
I found this from your link:

Anyone have this happen spring rub x540? - MyTractorForum.com - The Friendliest Tractor Forum and Best Place for Tractor Information

It addresses part of my problem, but not the belt rubbing, so I'm still on the hunt. I was borderline on replacing the belt, but decided to keep it. I have no experience with it; do you think it looks worn? I've got more pics. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Can't really tell from pictures does it have any cracks sit to far into pulley loose or the idlers pulley nearly all the way tight. Although I am not convinced that's your problem. Seems like the belt may not be routed correctly or something is screwy with the pulleys ? The spin freely and do not wobble ?


#7

J

JBBILS28L

exotion said:
Can't really tell from pictures does it have any cracks sit to far into pulley loose or the idlers pulley nearly all the way tight. Although I am not convinced that's your problem. Seems like the belt may not be routed correctly or something is screwy with the pulleys ? The spin freely and do not wobble ?
Click to expand...


The integrity of the pulleys all seem fine, and the owner's manual has a diagram so I'm confident the belt is installed properly. :confused:


#8

exotion

exotion

JBBILS28L said:
The integrity of the pulleys all seem fine, and the owner's manual has a diagram so I'm confident the belt is installed properly. :confused:
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity when you engage the blades does the pulley move I think it does when engaged does the belt rub? Because if that's at rest that should be fine as long as when you engage the belt doesn't rub


#9

J

JBBILS28L

exotion said:
Out of curiosity when you engage the blades does the pulley move I think it does when engaged does the belt rub? Because if that's at rest that should be fine as long as when you engage the belt doesn't rub
Click to expand...

That's a good question. I'll have to reinstall the deck to find out that answer, but that may be where I'm at.


#10

PJ

PJ

JBBILS28L said:
Hi all, I'm working on my recently widowed neighbor's X540. In the process of routine maintenance, I removed the 54" mower belt. Now I'm putting it back together, and the belt is rubbing on the deck mounting bracket (1). For the life of me, I can't figure out what I've done differently in putting it back together. Also, the main pulley is lightly riding on the idler pulley tension bar (2) and spring (3). I don't think it should be doing that, but there is a wear mark (4) that looks like it could've been worn by that pulley riding on it. If that's true, why does that mark now fall ｽ" away? Can anyone help me? I think I can solve this whole thing by putting a spacer washer under #5, but that certainly wasn't there when I took it apart. http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/J...f-47e7-a263-f3b15c7c0083_zpsc3668a2d.jpg.html http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/J...e-4ec1-9427-e94f4a49a127_zps7f626d1e.jpg.html
Click to expand...



I have a 48" deck and I can not see from you photos if the belt is installed correctly ensure that it is correct good luck

PJ


#11

Fish

Fish

Here are blowups from JD, I think tht if you install the deck and belt to the engine, it won't rub..

Attachments







#12

J

JBBILS28L

Fish said:
Here are blowups from JD, I think tht if you install the deck and belt to the engine, it won't rub..
Click to expand...

Thanks for the schematics, Fish. I've re-assembled it according to the diagram, so that's my hope now- that when I re-attach it to the PTO all my problems will go away. I'm doing maintenance to the tractor now, so won't be re-attaching the mower till I'm done with that. Thanks for the help.


#13

R

redfish9

On my deere the belt does rub unengaged but when you engage it ,the belt will pull off the bracket


#14

Fish

Fish

JBBILS28L said:
Thanks for the schematics, Fish. I've re-assembled it according to the diagram, so that's my hope now- that when I re-attach it to the PTO all my problems will go away. I'm doing maintenance to the tractor now, so won't be re-attaching the mower till I'm done with that. Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

So you will be cutting some grass this week?


#15

J

JBBILS28L

Fish said:
So you will be cutting some grass this week?
Click to expand...


Probably not this week. We have 10" of snow on the ground and are forecast to go below 0º for the next two nights. Hopefully next week though.:laughing::laughing::laughing:


#16

J

JBBILS28L

redfish9 said:
On my deere the belt does rub unengaged but when you engage it ,the belt will pull off the bracket
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, redfish9. With help like this, I've become confident that I have no problem, and never did. It was pretty disconcerting to get it all back together though, and see that belt rubbing!


#17

J

JBBILS28L

Just a follow-up in case somebody has this same problem and has found this thread. With the mower reassembled, the belt was rubbing on the deck mounting bracket. As redfish9 suggested, when I put the mower back on the tractor and put the primary drive belt to the engine back on the mower, it pulled the belt tighter. The belt is now more than an inch from the bracket. Thanks all for your help.


Footer Links 1

Top