Befco tiller problem

[Kalka]

Here it is.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Check to see if that bottom sprocket isn't on backwards... OR needs to be shimmed out for proper alignment. OR the top sprocket is too far out, I can't tell from the picture.

SR

 

[Kalka]

Here it is.

 

[Kalka]

Will try. Thanks.

 

[Kalka]

Only problem is that I can’t seem to budge any thing. The chain is under lot of tension and tensioner is is stuck in present positio and I can’t loosen it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Looking better I see, that top sprocket is held on by a C clip, so I bet the bottom one had one too.

Spray everything with a good penetrant, that bottom sprocket should move back and forth on the shaft. Push it on and C clip it in place.

EVERYTHING needs to be freed up! That dry lube didn't do you any favors.

SR

 

[ericm979]

It looks like the tensioner is up against a hard stop- that bolt looking thing on the lower left side of the tensioner arm. You could try to remove that to let the tensioner come back some but if it's threaded into the body of the mower and there's a lot of tension on it, removing it might damage the threads. With the chain under tension you probably can't remove the sprockets.

You should probably replace the chain and probably the sprockets. I think the chain is worn so much that the tensioner could not keep it tensioned and that's why it derailed. Also that master clip is near to falling off! The sprockets don't look too bad. I think the dry lube was not appropriate and that made the chain wear out.

The usual measure for chain stretch is to pull it tight and measure some distance between the pins. Most chain has the pin to pin distance as some fraction of an inch making it easy to check with an SAE ruler. For example bicycle chain should not be stretched more than 1/8" over 1 foot. I dont' know the values for industrial chain like this.

If you're going to replace the chain, then the easy way to get it off would be to cut it with an angle grinder.

Industrial roller chain is sized in pitch (pin to pin distance) and width. When I have replaced it I found tables on line of the common sizes and matched mine up. It was not hard to do. Cut it by grinding off rivet heads and pushing the pins out. Cut a section with an inner link on each end and connect with a master link. Size the length by counting the outer links on the original (a full link is one inner and one outer).

 

[Gregster613]

I'm certainly no expert but it also looks as if you could shorten the chain one or two links. Then "maybe" the tensioner will be able to do its job. The master is right there with a loose clip on it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

IF, that chain has stretched so much that it needs shortened, then it needs replaced, not shortened.

Stretched chain ruins sprockets...

SR

 

[ericm979]

When a chain has worn a lot, it wears the sprockets faster. Industrial chain is pretty inexpensive.