Snowblower belt offset?

[hondaxr]

I have a Cub 127 with a QA42 Snowthrower! The left side of belt is touching frame(alignment off)! Why? I know how to adjust belt tension and other, but the belt is going to rub against frame there in pic! Should I grind some of that away to free up some room for belt? Can't get mounting plate or box gear to move to the right enough! Thanks!

[Yosemite Sam]

It looks to me like it's going to rub on the right hand side.

Also looks like the pto and the disengage lever are not at all lined up.

Is it possible that the engine is setting a little bit cockeyed.

I would work on getting the two PTO buttons lined up before I did anything else. The problem may solve itself once you do that.

[hondaxr]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

It looks to me like it's going to rub on the right hand side.

Also looks like the pto and the disengage lever are not at all lined up.

Is it possible that the engine is setting a little bit cockeyed.

I would work on getting the two PTO buttons lined up before I did anything else. The problem may solve itself once you do that.

Engine is correct position but the disengage lever has a little back/forth play as I corrected in picture(better picture)! Is that the way 127's up front lined up? Thanks!

[Alvy]

Still looks like engine isn't in there square unless it's the picture . Look underneath and make sure all the bolts are in. There are 4 of them, the 2 front bolts are in between the steer axle and the frame. Make sure all are there.

[J-Mech]

I agree that the engine isn't square.

Also, do you actually have a QA42, or is it a QA42A?? It matters.

[Yosemite Sam]

I hate to be the guy that keeps harpin the same old thing, but I would loosen the engine mounting bolts and twist the engine (front to the left) and tighten the bolts back down again.

The holes in the frame are just a little bigger than the bolts that go through them allowing for a little play.

It seems to me that someone had the same problem last year, but IIRC the belt was rubbing the other side. I dunno, too long ago for this old man to remember.

Good Luck.

[hondaxr]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

I agree that the engine isn't square.

Also, do you actually have a QA42, or is it a QA42A?? It matters.

I have the model Q42, NOT Q42A! Thanks, and I'll look at that engine too! Thanks!

[lj8119]

I had the exact same problem a few years back when I bought and tried to use a QA32A on my 147. I tried shifting the motor and the cast frame the belt was rubbing on with no luck. I pulled the snowthrower frame apart thinking I would be able to shift the gearbox. This didn't work. I verified the pulley diameter was correct. I checked various forums online and found people that had the same issue but never found a fix for my problem. I finally gave in and remove the cast frame. Ground a relief notch for the belt, approximately 1" wide and 3/8" deep (if I recall I left it a bit proud of the frame, that way if it did still rub it wouldn't wear into the frame). Then reinstalled everything. I haven't seen any draw backs to this fix.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by lj8119

I checked various forums online and found people that had the same issue but never found a fix for my problem.

Funny..... we only have guys ask about this every now and again. Must have been one of those "all inclusive" forums.
Most of the time, the issue is plain as day, people just aren't mechanically inclined enough to figure it out.

Originally Posted by lj8119

I finally gave in and remove the cast frame. Ground a relief notch for the belt, approximately 1" wide and 3/8" deep (if I recall I left it a bit proud of the frame, that way if it did still rub it wouldn't wear into the frame). Then reinstalled everything. I haven't seen any draw backs to this fix.

This seems legit.


You know it's funny. There are literally thousands of these tractors and blowers out there running in tandem that mount up just fine. If the belt hits, THERE IS A PROBLEM. How dang hard can it be to see why the pulley isn't in line? Bent frame, missing pieces, loose bolts..... there is a reason. Find it and fix it. If you can't find it, get someone else to look at it.

[cubs-n-bxrs]

I had the same issue with an old 125 when I mounted a QA36 on it that I used to own. The belt was rubbing on the right hand side of the casting as you are sitting on the tractor. Never did come up with a solid explanation as to why it was hitting. I bird dogged that tractor and found nothing broken,bent or missing as far as hardware is concerned.I just took a 1/4" die grinder and a carbide burr and removed enough material so as not to rub. Looking back on it I question the mounting position of the gearbox on the plate. A few could have slipped by quality control out of spec. I would sooner look at all the hardware on the snowblower. I would check that the adjusting slots and bushings are not worn out as well.