Mule drive pulley out of alignment

[bkschoonover]

Gang, I lost a pto to deck belt a few weeks ago and after replacing it, I noticed that the new belt jumped off the idler on the mule drive as soon as I engaged the pto. Both pulleys seem to be perfectly vertical but the one with the spring acts like it has slid over to the center a little bit. Is there some kind of compression pin that could have fell out and caused the pulley to slide over?

 

[digger]

Gang, I lost a pto to deck belt a few weeks ago and after replacing it, I noticed that the new belt jumped off the idler on the mule drive as soon as I engaged the pto. Both pulleys seem to be perfectly vertical but the one with the spring acts like it has slid over to the center a little bit. Is there some kind of compression pin that could have fell out and caused the pulley to slide over?

No way that could have worked, LOL
What tractor is that on? Looks like you need to move the pulley to align with the belt coming down from the PTO.

 

[cubs4lifeofme]

Looks like someones been in there with all those nuts. like Digger said alignment looks way off.

 

[dschwandt]

Take the mule drive off and get some better pictures.
Like Digger said, what tractor are you working on?
Something is really out of whack there.
Is this a "new to you" Cub??
What model deck?

 

[bkschoonover]

It is a mid ‘70s 1450. I’ve have had it for 2 years. It’s definitely out of alignment. I’m wondering if the old belt stayed in better if it was a 3/8 wide one. I did start thinking about why it even had all those nuts on it. It definitely has something cobbled up on it. I have an old 1200 here that I should be able to compare it to. Here a pic of my 1450.

 

[dschwandt]

Did this combo EVER work for you? Or are you just now trying to figure out the deck?
Which deck and what ser# is the Cub.
Info needed to figure out just what you have.
Or are you just now trying to figure out the deck
According to the parts look up, there were 3 families of decks that would work on that 1450
We need to figure out just which one you have\
Is the main drive spindle on your deck under the center the center of the tractor?
Or is it offset a bot to the left side?
If so, you probably have the 44 or 50 inch deck which require angled idler pulley hangers
The ones in your picture look like straight hangers
Most of the early decks used the 3/8" belts.

• 44A 44", 50A 50" 3 Blade Deck
• 38" 3 Spindle Mower
• 38", 42" 3 Spindle Mower

 

[bkschoonover]

It is a mid ‘70s 1450. I have had it for 2 years. It’s definitely out of alignment. I’m wonder if the old belt stayed in better if it was a 3/8 wide one. I did start thinking about why it even had all those nuts on it. It definitely has something cobbled up on it. I have an old 1200 here that I should be able to compare it to. Here a pic of my 1450.

 

[Greg Riutzel]

I have 2 mule drives for my 75 1650. The mower's mule drive has the spring pulley on the outside of the arm. Here's a shot from the manual:

 

[bkschoonover]

Did this combo EVER work for you? Or are you just now trying to figure out the deck?
Which deck and what ser# is the Cub.
Info needed to figure out just what you have.
Or are you just now trying to figure out the deck
According to the parts look up, there were 3 families of decks that would work on that 1450
We need to figure out just which one you have\
Is the main drive spindle on your deck under the center the center of the tractor?
Or is it offset a bot to the left side?
If so, you probably have the 44 or 50 inch deck which require angled idler pulley hangers
The ones in your picture look like straight hangers
Most of the early decks used the 3/8" belts.

• 44A 44", 50A 50" 3 Blade Deck
• 38" 3 Spindle Mower
• 38", 42" 3 Spindle Mower

View attachment 149579

I have 2 mule drives for my 75 1650. The mower's mule drive has the spring pulley on the outside of the arm. Here's a shot from the manual:

Take the mule drive off and get some better pictures.
Like Digger said, what tractor are you working on?
Something is really out of whack there.
Is this a "new to you" Cub??
What model deck?

I’m grateful for the help and information. I’ll post more information including pics tomorrow evening.

 

[kphill]

Measure the width of your old belt... You say the new one is 1/2" so if the old one measures 3/8" then it was probably setting deeper in the pulleys and staying in place better... Some of those decks took 3/8 and some styles took 1/2.. You need to measure the pulley widths and figure out the one you have... Also get rid of the cobbled nuts on the pulley shaft and put it back to stock...

 

[bkschoonover]

Here is some more info on the tractor, mower deck and mule drive assembly. The tag on mower deck has the serial number but the model number cannot be seen. It has three 15 inch blades on it.

 

[bkschoonover]

As I study the picture that Greg attached, it appears the the spring assembly is like mine but my pulley is on the wrong side of the bracket. Can anyone tell me what is the measurement between the two pulleys?

 

[dschwandt]

Put the pulley on the other side of that hanger and your issue should be solved.
The manual page picture posted shows that.

 

[jkoenig]

Viewing your mower I.D. tag photo in paint, and then zooming in let's me see that the deck is a 44A model I can make out both 4s, and the left upright of the A). 3 blades @ 15" with some overlap makes sense to equal a 44' deck.

You should be able to look up the proper belt from there.

 

[bkschoonover]

Did this combo EVER work for you? Or are you just now trying to figure out the deck?
Which deck and what ser# is the Cub.
Info needed to figure out just what you have.
Or are you just now trying to figure out the deck
According to the parts look up, there were 3 families of decks that would work on that 1450
We need to figure out just which one you have\
Is the main drive spindle on your deck under the center the center of the tractor?
Or is it offset a bot to the left side?
If so, you probably have the 44 or 50 inch deck which require angled idler pulley hangers
The ones in your picture look like straight hangers
Most of the early decks used the 3/8" belts.

• 44A 44", 50A 50" 3 Blade Deck
• 38" 3 Spindle Mower
• 38", 42" 3 Spindle Mower

View attachment 149579

I got it put together correctly. I replaced the idler pulleys while I had it apart. Thank you for the advice!

 

[bkschoonover]

I have 2 mule drives for my 75 1650. The mower's mule drive has the spring pulley on the outside of the arm. Here's a shot from the manual:

Greg, thank you for the help. The picture from your manual that you posted was the biggest eye opener. Someone put the pulley on the wrong side and I’ve been using for 2 years that way.