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Section5:
Before inspecting,cleaningor servicing the machine, shut off engine, wait for alJmoving partsto come
to a ¢ompJetestop, clis¢onnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Remove ignition
key, ifso equipped,
Failure to followthese instructionscanresult in serious personalinjuryor propertydamage.
Drive Belt Maintenance
Measuring and Adjusting
Drive Belt Tension
Ona newtiiier (or if a new belt is
instaIied),the belt tension wiii probably
needto be adjusted after the first two (2)
hours of operation. Thereafter,check belt
tension everyten (10) operating hours=
Maintaining the right tension is important
to good tiiier performanceand iong beit
life= If too ioose,the bett wiii slip on the
puIieys,and be unableto deiiverfuIi
powerto the wheels and tines. A loose
beltwill also wearprematurely.
Whiie checking belttension, also inspect
the belt for cuts, cracks, deterioration,
etc. Don't continue using a bettthat isn't
in good shape. You're sacrificing tiller
performanceby doing so.
Tips on keepingthe drive belt in top
condition include:
o Alwaysput the Wheels/Tines/PTODrive
Leverin NEUTRALwhenthe tiller is not in
USe.
e Keeptension adjusted correctly.
e Don't "speedshift" when moving the
Wheets/Tines/PTODrive Leverbetween
FORWARDand REVERSE.
flow to Measure Bdt Tension
t. Beforetaking a measurement,besure
the iinkages and pivot points on the
Wheets/Tines/PTODrive Leverare clean
and iubricated. If there is any binding,
you won't get true measurements. Also,
you'ii needthe bett adjustment tooI you
receivedwith your newtiller (Figure
5-ff).
2. Movethe Wheels/Tines/PTODrive
Leverfuliy down to the FORWARD
position. Thedutch roiier atthe bottom
ofthe levershould be positioned under-
neaththe beltadjustment block (Figure
5=12). Don't let the clutch roller move
during the next few steps. If it moves,
you'll get a false belttension reading.
3. The belttension is correct if the front
of the clutch rolier is 1/4"=to-5/16"away
from the face ofthe upright bracketthat
holds the adjustment block inplace
(Figure5=12). To measurethis distance:
a. Without moving the clutch relier,try
inserting the 1/4"=thick,slotted end
of the bettadjustment tooi in
betweenthe roller and the upright
bracket. (Thefiat edgeof the tooi
must be facing the roller.) Referto
Figure5=13.
h. if onlythe slotted portion ofthe tool
will fit, the belttension is correct.
¢. If the slotted part of the tooI will not
fit in,the belt is too ioose.
d. If the fulI thickness (5/16") of the
tooI easily fits in, the belt istoo
tight.
Figure 5=11: Use this belt adjust=
ment tool to measure and adjust
drive belt tension.
Figure 5=12: Shift into FORWARD
and measure distance between
roller and upright bracket using the
belt adjustment tool
4. If the belttension is correct, move the
Wheels/Tines/PTODrive Leverback to
NEUTRAL.
Figure 5=13: tnsert slotted end of
belt adjustment tool between roller
and bracket, with the flat side of the
slotted end facing the roller.
How to Adjust Belt Tension
1. As describedin the foiiowing steps,
drive belt tension isadjusted by moving
the adjustment block up or down.
Moving it down wiii tighten the belt;
moving it upioosens the belt.
HINT: The distance the block moves
approximately equals the distance the
roller moves.
In most cases,the ciutch roiier wiii not
havebeenvery far out of position, sothe
adjustment block wiii only needto be
movedslightly (up or down).
2. Movethe Wheets/Tines/PTODrive
Leverto NEUTRALposition. Theclutch
rolier wiii cometo rest anywhereon the
face ofthe beltadjustment block,
depending upon drive bett length and
current belt tension adjustment.
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