B6200HST with RC60-72H problem

[the engineers]

I just finished replacing the tensioner on my deck when I noticed that the idler pulley and the mid-mount PTO U-joint come in contact with each other. I'm probably the 4th or 5th owner and it hasn't seen tons of love.

Any thoughts on what the permanent fix is?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Looks to me like someone has put a thick washer under the pivot point (just under the grease zerk).

Other possibility is the pivot point is bent so that the idler is up too high.

Take some purple cleaner and a hose to it so we can better see what you have going on.

Edit: looking over the picture again, I notice that there is a big welded patch to this side if the pivot point, so most likely the alignment of the pivot pin has changed.

 

[the engineers]

Any issues with simply raising the PTO gearbox by a like amount until after the mowing season? The deck probably has 10-15 welding rods buried in it from various repair attempts over the course of time. I plan to take it out this winter and restore the deck.

Until then, I'd like to figure out a good way to get by without creating more damage...

 

[coachgeo]

Could the idler pulley potential be installed upside down? hard to tell but there maybe a height difference the other way up or is there an angle that will end up wrong way if you put it other way around?

Is gear box mount slotted or straight hole mounted?

 

[the engineers]

I'm pretty sure the pulley is correct. There's probably 1/16" between the bottom of the pulley and the tensioner arm.

The gearbox is mounted to the deck with 2 short sections of angle iron that bolt to the deck. The whole assembly can be raised vertically if need be. I may go ahead with it and see if any obvious issues crop up. I think 3/16"x 1" flat bar shims would fix it for the rest of the summer.

Does anyone have pics of this deck?