Help Lx277 pto/deck problems.

[oldnslo]

In looking at the top view of the mower deck I am questioning the long spring running from idler arm to hook on front of the deck. Does the deck belt idler tensioned by that spring move independently from the the main drive jack shaft tensioned by the arm on left side of mower deck.

If yes this is totally different than 54” deck on my X540

As an FYI I recently had an incorrect length belt from Deere. It was supposed to be approximately 146 inches long and measured 150 inches. Might want to see if Deere lists length of belt in question and check that it is correct.

 

[tomplum]

Specifically, did you use the M143019 primary belt M154958 secondary belt? The spindle pulleys OEM M131814?

 

[DIESEL-FUMES]

My hearing is shot, but I hear more of a grinding than a squealing. I see from the evidence the belt is rubbing the tensioner arm, as in the black paint is removed, exposing yellow and bare metal. But that would happen only if the deck was adjusted wrong, so it would only happen if the deck was at full height when engaged. To me, it sounds like grinding, which tells me the clustch in the engine mounted pulley is having issues. Is the PTO a switch? or a lever?

The pto is a switch and I just put in a new oem switch..as for the paint..you are correct. That happened before I leveled the deck and I did have the deck up at the time...

 

[DIESEL-FUMES]

Specifically, did you use the M143019 primary belt M154958 secondary belt? The spindle pulleys OEM M131814?

To be honest it dont remember the part number on the belt.. I thought that I compared it to the old one and they where the same...however, I'm not sure if I did it on that belt or not... I know that I did it on one of them.

 

[DIESEL-FUMES]

My hearing is shot, but I hear more of a grinding than a squealing. I see from the evidence the belt is rubbing the tensioner arm, as in the black paint is removed, exposing yellow and bare metal. But that would happen only if the deck was adjusted wrong, so it would only happen if the deck was at full height when engaged. To me, it sounds like grinding, which tells me the clustch in the engine mounted pulley is having issues. Is the PTO a switch? or a lever?

It also made the same noise with the old pto. I have taken the clutch off 3 times so far. I also felt the clutch after I shut it off. Plus before I put the new clutch back on I ran the tractor for a while then I checked the main shaft to see if it was hot. Which would tell me somewhat if the main bearing was bad. But it wasn't hot. Little warm but not hot....

 

[tomplum]

To be honest it dont remember the part number on the belt.. I thought that I compared it to the old one and they where the same...however, I'm not sure if I did it on that belt or not... I know that I did it on one of them.

Well, these are things that you need to know. There is a common like belt used on the X series 48C deck which is just a couple inches longer than the one you require.

 

[DIESEL-FUMES]

I did get one for the lx277 with the 48" deck. They did give me the right deck belt. But that doesn't mean that they gave me the right one.. I will take it off tomorrow to measure. If I remember right it does have the part number on it. But my big concern is the pto..

 

[DIESEL-FUMES]

Specifically, did you use the M143019 primary belt M154958 secondary belt? The spindle pulleys OEM M131814?

I will check the belt tomorrow. If I remember right it has the part number on it.. the deck turns just fine. The big thing is the pto that makes the noise. Because that is also how the old one sounded before I changed it....

 

[oldnslo]

I will check the belt tomorrow. If I remember right it has the part number on it.. the deck turns just fine. The big thing is the pto that makes the noise. Because that is also how the old one sounded before I changed it....

If PTO noise is the main concern have you tried isolating different parts of the system to see noise shows up.

1) Run PTO without the belt to the mower deck. This will check the PTO under no load.

2) Remove belt on deck that runs the blades. Then attach deck to the tractor and install primary deck drive belt from tractor to deck. NOTE: triple check the deck idler can not hit deck input or jack shaft.
Run PTO is there noise. This would check PTO with side load from belt tension.

3) Install secondary blade drive belt and run. If noise shows up it would point towards some problem on the deck itself.

If memory serves me correctly on the 54 inch deck on my X540 the secondary idler and the main input tensioner arm can loosen and tilt a little allowing the spring to rub on the pulley under certain conditions. I noticed shiny wear marks on the spring which lead to that discovery.

 

[DIESEL-FUMES]

Thank you ! I have tried no load and Load on the pto manytimes. I also have taken the pto off to check everything out.. the deck itself spins no problem. When its off I can roate it by the drive belt. Also, after I run it and shut it off I have felt every spindle and idler arm to see if anyone of them are hot. They are all cool..
My son in-law is here today so I am going to do a better video.. its somewhere in the pto area.. I just hope its not the main bearing... thanks for youre imput...