[cls540]

Hello all,

I just picked up a power flow for my old JD 185. I am having difficulty getting enough tension on the fan belt to drive the power flow. The deck is 46". pic included. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Wayne195]

Welcome to the forum!

Do you for sure have the correct size belt?

 

[fixer]

fixer

i am not fimilar with this piece of equiptment but it does look like the belt is routed wrong. it looks like there should be another idler pulley mounted on the deck post on the left near the support bracket. i could be wrong???

 

[Mark / Ohio]

I'm not familiar with them either and I might be totally off the wall. But my guess would be the belt need to be flipped on the blade spindle so it crosses itself and the back side of the belt runs on the lower idler on the blower. (Looks like the way you have it now it would drive the fan backwards. Also generally narrow pulleys and idlers take the V-grove down in them, wide pulleys and idlers take the V-grove pointed up and ride on the back of the belt.)

Checkout the dotted line for the belt on this image I pulled from John Deere Parts Catalog:

 

[bwdbrn1]

It does look like the narrow side of the belt should fit into that top pulley, and the wide part in the bottom pulley with a twist in the belt so that it goes from the top pulley, to the left side of the pulley on the deck ( as you look at the picture) crossing over the top of it as it returns to the bottom pulley. If that makes sense.

 

[cls540]

Gentlemen,

I believe you solved my issue. I am away from home for about a week, but when I return I will make the adjustment to the belt. After seeing and hearing your input, it is pretty clear that you guys nailed it. Thanks to you all. I will confirm once I'm back home. You guys rock. Cheers!

 

[Austen]

Gentlemen,

I believe you solved my issue. I am away from home for about a week, but when I return I will make the adjustment to the belt. After seeing and hearing your input, it is pretty clear that you guys nailed it. Thanks to you all. I will confirm once I'm back home. You guys rock. Cheers!

Good deal!