Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Gravely Mower Belt Tearing, inch bolt, clutch assembly

Question
Hi Paul,

My 36 inch Gravely walk-behind hydro mower has 92 hours on it. I typically operate the mower with an adjustable deck height of 3.5 - 4 inches, which is the highest setting. Last weekend, the original mower belt (i.e., the belt that turns the blades) broke.  I bought a new Gravely belt (not an aftermarket one) and put it on this past weekend. Its the correct belt for the machine and I'm sure that I've installed it correctly -- flat edge of the belt rides against the flat idler pulley. Also, the idler pulley is tightly bolted down, but turns freely.  After less than an hour of use, the belt began showing significant wear. In particular, during operation, the belt kept slipping to the bottom of the idler pulley and the bottom edge of that pulley appears to be cutting into the belt. In other words, the idler pulley is situated higher than the clutch pulley and, while running, the point on the lower edge of the idler pulley where the belt first makes contact with the idler pulley after coming off the clutch pulley seems to be where the tearing is occurring. A thin length-long strip of the belt has torn away and a torn flap along the lower edge of the belt now rides over the bottom edge of the idler pulley during operation. Also, the bottom half of the idler pulley is highly polished from coming in contact with the belt.  I don't know what the problem is, especially since everything else on the mower looks the same.  Gravely suggested that I make sure that the clutch bolt is tight, but I'm not sure where that is located. There is a roughly 5/8 inch bolt on the very bottom of the clutch assembly but when I try to tighten that bolt, although it turns freely, it doesn't seem to tighten; all that happens is that I can hear what sounds like the pistons compressing and perhaps the starter turning. Can you tell me where the clutch bolt is located and how to tighten it? (i.e., do I have to hold down something else while turning the clutch belt in order to tighten it?)  Other than that, any other thoughts on what might be wrong?  Thanks.

Pete

Answer
From my experience this mower is really not capable of mowing at 4".  The angle to the idler is just to extreme.

Don't worry, your clutch bolt is tight.  Set the deck to 3" and add 5 pounds of air to all of the tires, this will give you the extra 1/2" you are looking for.  The tire sidewalls will say max inflation for seating the beads is probably something like 35 PSI. Running them at 20PSI won't hurt them a bit.

Does the mower have spacers on the front caster forks? I don't know whithout a model#. If it does move a spacer to the bottom from the top and this will also give you a little more height.

Personally I think it's your dealers responsibility to solve this problem for you.  You have a machine designed to mow 160 hrs. a month. You have 92, raise hell, be nice I mean vomit and puke nice, but make him solve the problem.

If you are out of the 2 year warranty period there are avenues for the dealer, if he gets off of his lazy ass (pardon my French), to pay him for the work.

The clutch bolt is on the bottom of the clutch. If you are turning the engine over it is not the problem and it is tight.