Mower Question on 126
 

I left my manual at home and have an issue with the deck I can't solve. Mower has been mowing well but...now everything engages, belts seem to have proper tension and I can see them turning but either blades aren't turning or are turning so slow no grass is getting cut. Any thoughts on where to start?

Check the deck spindles. Also make sure the pto linkage is set properly so it is fully engaging and shutting off.

I have had the belt from the mule drive wedge itself between the double stack of pulleys on the center spindle before. Enough tension to keep the belt "in place," but not enough to spin the deck in any meaningful way. Quickly destroys the belt, too. Culprit was a piece of debris that the belt pinched into the v ov the pulley, making it jump. Worth giving a quick look-see.

Doublecheck
 

Ok thanks for the responses....I should have mentioned that I also see what I believe to be the tensioner.........I haven't taken the covers off but it seems to be ok with just a little tension or "play"...is there a way to know for sure its good? Also, how do I check the spindles?

Sounds like it could be the torsion spring on the deck idler pulley. More likely could be the pto belt itself. Facing the front of the mule drive check the pulley that you tighten with a 1/2" nut. Those pulleys should ideally be at about the same position if the belt is correct and in good shape. If it is a cheaper belt it may have stretched over time, had that happen. Check the spindles by removing the deck and moving the deck blades up and down to check for play in the spindle bearings just as you would move a tire and wheel top to bottom to check for wheel bearing play. Also make sure both of those mule drive pulleys are spinning freely.

I don't know if this is the correct manual but you can learn a lot from these.
http://ccmanuals.info/pdf/QA%2038-42...20Manual-3.pdf

If the tension pulley on the deck isn't working, the center blade should still be cutting/spinning properly. If none of the blades are spinning, or spinning slowly, then check tension of main mower drive belt.

Still checking but here's what I have
 

Ok I have checked the belts and they are on the correct spindles. I sm going to wait until the last resort to pull the covers to check the spindles but will do that tomorrow since I will have remove belts etc...

I have not checked the PTO lever adjustment but noticed when I pushed the handle forward slightly, something changed in the speed of the main pulley, but not significantly. I will double check adjustment.

I went ahead and cranked down the 1/2" belt adjustment nut 1 turn to tighten the belt and that did not help.
While I was there I did check the pulleys and they are not equally spaced from the front of the machine. The right pulley (as you face the grille and the one that is retracted by turning the nut inward), is much farther ahead of the pulley that is spring loaded. Would the pulleys in this configuration be indicative of a problem?

Thanks again for your time and comments.

manual
 

Ambrola, thanks for the manual

[QUOTE=Also make sure the pto linkage is set properly so it is fully engaging and shutting off.[/QUOTE]


Ok thanks for your responses. I finally decided to try the pto linkage and after adjusting so that the lever disengages the clutch just a little bit further, it started spinning like the good old days. Now I am just hoping its not too far out and not dis-engaging the clutch the correct amount when I return the handle to the home position. Seems to be working though.