Raider 12 6 Speed PTO Issue

[cdeturk 4]

I start the Raider 12 6 Speed and activated the PTO. The mower acts as if there is excessive drag on the mowing system. The PTO and mower deck turns but you can hear the engine slowing and it eventually conks out. 

 

With the mower off, I rotated the belt by hand on the mower deck. While there is friction, it does not seem to be excessive. Here is the odd thing: I rotated the belt by hand at the POT-with the belt side facing the driving being pushed in the down position. There is excessive drag when doing that. I do not understand how there can be no drag when I rotate the belt on the deck, which also turns the PTO, and there is excessive drag when rotating the PTO belt. 

 

Any thoughts?

[ri702bill 9,670]

There is a double pulley on the center deck spindle, correct?? I have seen the PTO drive belt drop to the area between them if too loose.... does not give good drive at all that way....

[cdeturk 4]

That seems to be OK. Thanks for responding.

[953 nut 60,978]

 

back off on the belt tension a bit and check the pullies that the drive bely passes over on the way to the mower deck. Could be bearings are going bad on one of these pullies.

[cdeturk 4]

Thank you 953 nut. I did that and found that the center pulley, the horizontal one above the center blade, seems to be the culprit. It is very hard to turn.

Do you have any advice on what to do now? I assume I should remove that pulley but I'm not sure what happens after that.

[953 nut 60,978]

Sounds like it is time to remove the deck, take out the spindle and replace the bearings on it. If your mower deck is the late 1960s or early 1970s deck with hard to find parts it may be more practical replace the deck with a newer one with easy to find blades.

@squonk, @rjg854 and others live in the Finger Lakes area and may be able to help you find one.

[peter lena 9,342]

@cdeturk  done a number of decks , plows , related  movement areas , on W/H , think a  break down schematic  drawing  , is your best  look at what's going on . and and all bearings , are usually at fault,   my initial  test is how does it  move by hand ?  at mule  drive down belt from  pto clutch , how easily does that move , BY HAND  ?  that single point is showing you  the entire movement function . my mule drive , does not  squeal  or  make any noise , at engagement point , lots to look for / at . agree with @953 nut  on deck replacement , an experienced  eye in your area  , might help , pete

[cdeturk 4]

Found it the source of friction.

 

Thank you, gentlemen.

[953 nut 60,978]

Stuck by a stick.             

[kpinnc 14,928]

4 hours ago, cdeturk said:

Found it the source of friction.

 

That has absolutely never, ever, ever happened to me. 

 

But I have wrapped a foot-long piece of rebar around a spindle, wound up a garden hose the wrong way, and picked up more hay bailing twine than I believe has ever been used in this state. 

 

And one 5lb piece of wayward tree root... 

 

But NEVER what you have pictured!