Well my Evo 3 12.5hp 30 inch cutter belt clutch assy did turn out to be different to the one 2 posts above in the Owners manual for the mk 2a.
There was no way to remove the cutter clutch idler pulley spring with a pick hook from the rear, the spring is fastened into the bracket with a nut on the end.
The forward anchor for the spring could be easily unhooked by removing a split pin, but I didn't. Couldn't see any advantage in messing with the spring at all.
I removed both idler pulleys and got the belt around them and into the guide things, it was quite a struggle with the clutching pulley to get the belt over it as the deck mount brackets run very close to it.
Then removed belt guide from the deck around the main cutter pulley and got the belt over that, then got the belt from the idler pulleys up to the engine pulley, dropped the bracket that runs across under it with the belt guide pins, and managed to push the belt over and into the groove with the handle of a big screw driver.
See pics, couldn't get a pic to show the rear end of that spring, but will try again later.
Next, new main drive idlers go on, then drop the big drive plate assy back in. But after Easter..
So close but no mowing today, got to start up stage, but motor would not keep running, fuel leak in the line just before carby, too close to exhaust for comfort !!
Got clutch pack in, first attempt to start there was a bit of a drag on the plates and belts, centralised pedal carefully, and then it was ok, engine just caught and fired, but would not keep running, found the fuel leak.
Getting the drivechain joined up was a pain, took a while, also getting old cutter blades off took a while.
I used the long hooked part of a silicone caulking gun as a spring tool to get the tensioner puller set up.
It starts up and idles good, slight pedal pressure gets it moving, forward and reverse, manouvers easily on light pedal at low revs, and gets up a good speed with more throttle and pedal, doesn't sound like there is any slipping.
But.... I can't mow...when I engaged the cutter there was clanging and banging and severe shaking of the deck, something is not right. Found the end of the blades were hitting the inside of the deck at one point, so I ground the ends of them a couple of mm and it was slightly better, but then threw the belt off.
The hanger for the clutch idler pulleys can be put on so the pulleys are more to the front, or more to the rear, maybe I put it back wrong way round? these are hitting the cutter idler pulley when its engaged. I can see shiny marks on the edge of the cutter idler.
My instant thought on reading your description is that the spindle bearings that support the cutter disc are collapsed or some other significant issue with the spindle mounting etc. But that is only a theory. Photos, as always, are a the thing here.
Try grabbing the cutter disc and try giving it a good solid wriggle up and down to see if there is play in the bearings or some other problem. Best done with the cutter disengaged so your not fighting the belt tension.
Good idea. I did check the cutter shaft for movement when I had everything apart earlier on, and I had the blades off twice on Sunday trying to trouble shoot this mess, and the cutter plate wasn't moving around unusually then.
Looking at pics 1 and 4 of my post above, #90743 on 31/03/18, see how the shaft with a nut and washer on it hangs close to the cutter idler pulleys.
That is the shaft for the clutch drive idler pulleys (which are absent in the photo, because the shop gave me the wrong pulleys.) I had removed and replaced that hanger to have a closer look and see if the raised section came off the shaft, allowing a different size pulley to slide on, it didn't.
On final reassembly, I went from this pic as the template of how everything fitted, not realising I had taken the photo after I had refitted that hanger so that the pulley shaft is more to the rear than the front.
I think this is the problem. Statically, the pulleys had clearance, but with everything running, they have been interfering with each other.
Will photo it when I pull it all out yet again. Im getting good at remove and replace on the clutch assembly....
I know little about sit on mowers, but have learnt that these Greenfields are well regarded on here. Looks like a nice unit well worth the persistence to get right. We're with you moweasy!!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
moweasy, in the photos you mentioned above do you think there is evidence of wear on the cutter pulley? It looks like it has been radiused off (?) - suggesting there may have been rubbing in the past?
Something else to consider is play in the cutter height adjust mechanism. If it is all loose and floppy it will allow the whole deck to move around and move forward under belt tension. This includes looking at the deck mounting for play. Also, has your machine got the lateral stay bar at the back? It's a bar that mounts on the deck and goes into a slot in the chassis at the rear of the machine? Pretty sure your model is supposed to have it?
Of course none of this accounts for why the blades were physically able to contact the deck.
If I can post this pic from phone, there are 2 bars on LHS coming from the deck to a chassis mount just in front of LR wheel, looks like a repair has been done in the past to the mount plate there.
Two bolts, one loose and the other has nut missing. Two other nuts very loose where those bars fit as well. All that allows left side of deck to pivot forward if you give it a push.
Looks like you've got some wild 'home repairs' going on there too! It might be that you need to strip all that off and work out what you're dealing with.
Looks like you've got some wild 'home repairs' going on there too! It might be that you need to strip all that off and work out what you're dealing with.
Cheers,
Hi and thanks prd for your advice and input.
Last night I managed to get the new idler pulleys for the cutter clutch that I bought yesterday, and the new main drive idler pulleys fitted up, had to get some bushing done, everything on this seems to be a different size! The mower shop I got them at looked after that for no extra charge..
Tightened up all the loose bolts and replaced missing nut on that repair work and the deck struts, deck is now solid as a rock, just slight side to side movement.
Re fitted clutch pack and went to start it up and test... forgetting I had plug lead off, and severely flooded it... its a good battery i got...
Had to leave it, will get to it again tonight or in the am. Want to try it before I go on to a new plan.
How does the 12hp Briggs like to be started after a severe flooding, full choke still, or back it off a bit?
Thank you to ODK and prd in particular for all your help and support!
ODK is a great resource indeed.
It wasn't really a DIY, but anyone looking at a clutch job will hopefully pick up some ideas from this.
If you are a novice like me, don't pull anything apart without taking pics first, at least you know how it goes back together again .... (ask me how I know)
How much does it cost I hear you thinking ? I was at about $300 till I bought the cutter idler pulleys on a whim at the end.. that added another $100.
Then I got lazy and bought a battery, $120 at Supercrap.. so about $520 total...
You could do it a lot cheaper if you just replaced the bearings in all the pulleys, instead of buying new pulleys...if you have the right gear...
Thank you again ODK
ps prd: the fumes might just be my sensitive lungs getting the exhaust smell?
Originally Posted by prd
It goes!
Ya gotta be happy with that after all your effort! Well done that man.
I tell myself (quite rightly, I think) that the mulch is good for the soil - it's saved me a lifetime of emptying catchers
Take a bow moweasy! It was very much a DIY. You've brought back a machine that the.....ahem.....previous owner had flogged to within an inch of its life! And with a bit of care once in a while will live for a a long time to come.
Your observations about the cost highlight the cost effectiveness of keeping these older Greenies in service.
I see this thread has a lot of views, so I thought I would post an update to say it is still mowing well and the clutch and belt job is holding together nicely. Cheers and happy new year to all.
Thanks for posting the update. We so rarely get feedback on jobs like this. It�s always good to get feedback - and even better when it�s all good news!
