JD 359 chute turning issues

[rss2363]

My chute stopped turning, so I took off the cable shield and discovered that the cable "loop" that goes around the center bolt had broken. I replaced the cable and discovered that the center bolt (that attaches to the hydraulic cylinder) was bent at about 45 degrees. I got a new one of those, hooked up the cable and everything worked great - that night. The next day, the chute again wouldn't turn. I've taken it all apart again and that new bolt is bent again.

I'm confused. Why is this happening? When I run the controls without the cable, I can see that the hydraulic cylinder's bolt hole runs the full length of the "slot", however when the cable is on the bolt, the metal "clamps" that make the center "hole" of the cable run into the end pulleys before it gets all the way to the end of that slot. Seems like something isn't right here ... any ideas?

 

[wdchyd]

Welcome RSS

How about some pics?

 

[rss2363]

What would you like pictures of? The bent bolt is no longer! ;-D Here is a link to a schematic (hopefully that works). I did notice that mine has extra washers underneath the center pulleys - I'm guessing the previous owner put them there. They seem to make sense because it makes the middle pulleys about the same height as the end ones.

I did notice that the ones on the end were "frozen" - pretty much rusted up. I have them freed now and am planning siliconing them (is there a better option? ... maybe graphite?).

I appreciate any thoughts (and I can try pics, but right now it's all apart).

 

[rss2363]

OK, so here are some pics.

The overhead: . The bent bolt: . The eye-level view: .

So, I broke apart the side pulleys and lubricated them with silicone. I also didn't tighten them all the way down so they could still spin. Same thing with the middle bolt - I left it loose so the pulleys could turn.

I am wondering though:
1) Should the cable be this loose? See this - - before I squeeze the cable and how far they come together when I squeeze them:

2) If not, any advice as to how to get it tighter? I was pulling on the cable with a vice grip while trying to tighten the bolts, but it sure wasn't very "scientific".

3) Should I be leaving those 3 bolts somewhat loose - so the pulleys can turn?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[rss2363]

FYI - I ended up leaving those pulleys' bolts loose and it's been working fine ever since (even with that "slack" in the cable. Hope that helps someone!

 

[Looking4new]

You will get more mileage out of your cable IF you shim up the near pulley (pic#2) to the same level as the middle pulley. So the bottom sheave on the near pulley is at the same level as the top sheave on the middle pulley.