Mule drive pulley adjustment

Cjbdvm04 · #1 03-17-2013, 07:33 PM

i'm getting ready to install new pulleys on the mule drive of my 127 with 42" deck. i have read in previous a previous post (http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5) that the mule drive pulleys should be equidistant from the front of the mule drive and the pulleys should be adjusted so that the belt makes as close to a 90 degree turn when viewed from the side. When adjusting the tension nut on the right side (when looking at the front of the tractor) pulley, if the nut is tightened that pulley will move forward and the other pulley will move backwards. If it is loosened, the opposite will happen. What is the correct way to adjust these pulleys? The manual states that the pulley with the spring on it should be 3.5" from pulley center to inner face of hanger. What if you adjust so that you achieve the 3.5 inches but then there isn't enough tension on the belt? In this situation, if you tighten the adjustment nut on the other pulley, it will bring this pulley closer to the hanger and the springed pulley distance will start to be greater than 3.5". Furthermore, the pulleys won't be equidistant from the front of the hanger.

darkminion_17 · #2 03-17-2013, 09:03 PM

do you have the correct cub cadet belt?

sawdustdad · #3 03-17-2013, 09:49 PM

Despite the instructions that the pulley be a certain distance from the front I've never paid much attention to that on my 108. It's been cutting grass for 35 years. As long as neither pulley hits anything else and the belt is tensioned, it seems like it should work OK. Of course, the correct belt helps, and maybe that's why I've never really paid attention to this-I don't think I've ever had to adjust the tension on these pulleys. I just warp on a new belt when the old one breaks every 3 or 4 years.

ol'George · #4 03-18-2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cjbdvm04

i'm getting ready to install new pulleys on the mule drive of my 127 with 42" deck. i have read in previous a previous post (http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5) that the mule drive pulleys should be equidistant from the front of the mule drive and the pulleys should be adjusted so that the belt makes as close to a 90 degree turn when viewed from the side. When adjusting the tension nut on the right side (when looking at the front of the tractor) pulley, if the nut is tightened that pulley will move forward and the other pulley will move backwards. If it is loosened, the opposite will happen. What is the correct way to adjust these pulleys? The manual states that the pulley with the spring on it should be 3.5" from pulley center to inner face of hanger. What if you adjust so that you achieve the 3.5 inches but then there isn't enough tension on the belt? In this situation, if you tighten the adjustment nut on the other pulley, it will bring this pulley closer to the hanger and the springed pulley distance will start to be greater than 3.5". Furthermore, the pulleys won't be equidistant from the front of the hanger.

It is best that the pulleys are equal distance, that way you get max belt life and max clutch pulley life.

Yosemite Sam · #5 03-19-2013, 10:55 AM

I also agree that the pulleys should be adjusted as described in the service manual and that the correct belt should be used.

Call your Cub Dealer, tell them what model tractor you have and what deck you are using and they will sell you a $35 or $40 belt that will last 5 times longer than the ones you get at the Rural King for $20 (thus saving you money).

However, when push comes to shove, and you can't get them lined up the way you want them to be, it is my belief that the pulley that "feeds" the pto (the one on the left*) should be as close as possible to the center-line of the grove in the pto (without throwing the other pulley way out of wack). This helps to ensure that the belt won't "run out of" the grove in the pto pulley, and helps to reduce wear on the belt.

* This as with all vehicles left/right is determined from setting in the drivers seat facing the forward position.

ken6x6 · #6 03-19-2013, 11:59 AM

when i bought my 127 back in 99 it came with a 48 deck that the PO never used. never saw a blade of grass. the original belt was with it too. when i first installed the deck and mule drive i wasn't sure what was correct i just tightened it up to where i felt it was correct. to this day i am still using the same belt from 1970 on this mower deck. 29 years of the belt setting in a basement and another 13+ years in use. throw a belt on and tighten it up.

Mike McKown · #7 03-19-2013, 12:37 PM

If using a new belt, the instrucutions in the shop manual would apply for initial setup. Once the belt wears/stretches, that pulley alignment HAS to change or else you'll have to run with a loose belt.

When I ran those old tractors/decks, I never paid any attention to the pulley alignment, just the spring tension on the belt and never had any undue problem. I've cut a lot of grass like that!