tiller question

zippy1 · #1 05-19-2011, 10:48 PM

Got the A 1 tiller on the 123 rolling last night and took it out for a smoke test. Well I thought everything was adjusted right. I tightend the belts to the owners manual instructions. But the teeth seemed to stop turning quite often.
I know it said the drive belt should have about 2" of play (I'm paraphrasing) but to a layman like me, is that when you take your index finger and thumb and squeeze them together? Then measure between the two sides of the belt?
Or is it a more of a by the seat of your pants type of measurement that you guys just learn over time?
Thanks

Methos · #2 05-20-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy1

Got the A 1 tiller on the 123 rolling last night and took it out for a smoke test. Well I thought everything was adjusted right. I tightend the belts to the owners manual instructions. But the teeth seemed to stop turning quite often.
I know it said the drive belt should have about 2" of play (I'm paraphrasing) but to a layman like me, is that when you take your index finger and thumb and squeeze them together? Then measure between the two sides of the belt?
Or is it a more of a by the seat of your pants type of measurement that you guys just learn over time?
Thanks

Todd will it engage with the tiller raised up? Yes that's where they are talking about. How tight is the belt from the gear box to the tiller? I run the gear box to tiller belt tight. If I smoke a belt I want it to be the cheap one! I assume that the tiller turns over by hand. I think the tiller gear box to tiller belt is too loose.

zippy1 · #3 05-20-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Methos

Todd will it engage with the tiller raised up? Yes that's where they are talking about. How tight is the belt from the gear box to the tiller? I run the gear box to tiller belt tight. If I smoke a belt I want it to be the cheap one! I assume that the tiller turns over by hand. I think the tiller gear box to tiller belt is too loose.

Duke, it works fine until I get into harder soil then it starts to slip. The gear box to tiller it tight! The one I'm concerned about is the $87 one from the pto to the gear box, that's the one slipping as far as I can tell.
But maybe I'm just thinking it should do more at a time than it actually does. Dept wise I mean. It just seems to me that it shouldn't stop turning in the soil as it does, but I don't know how tight that main belt should really be.

Methos · #4 05-20-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy1

Duke, it works fine until I get into harder soil then it starts to slip. The gear box to tiller it tight! The one I'm concerned about is the $87 one from the pto to the gear box, that's the one slipping as far as I can tell.
But maybe I'm just thinking it should do more at a time than it actually does. Dept wise I mean. It just seems to me that it shouldn't stop turning in the soil as it does, but I don't know how tight that main belt should really be.

Todd, Hmm has this ground be worked up before? You've been hammered with rain too? If it's a fresh plot it might need to be plowed first but if you've been getting all the rain it should be soft enough to till without any problems. I would try to tighten the long belt some more. Is the tiller hopping when you go deeper? Oh check the gear box belt with the tiller all lowered. That belt tightness needs to be set with tiller down.

zippy1 · #5 05-20-2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Methos

Todd, Hmm has this ground be worked up before? You've been hammered with rain too? If it's a fresh plot it might need to be plowed first but if you've been getting all the rain it should be soft enough to till without any problems. I would try to tighten the long belt some more. Is the tiller hopping when you go deeper? Oh check the gear box belt with the tiller all lowered. That belt tightness needs to be set with tiller down.

Yes sir, been plowed first. No it's not hopping, it just stops turning. I was afraid I may tighten the belt to much, I have no idea what tight is other than what the manual said. The gear box belt was tight in the down position.
I think I don't have the main belt tight enough, that's my feeling, I try it when the wife is home and can help me get on, that 123 is pretty high, and I'm a little nervous about running it along and ending up on the floor. I know your laughing, picturing it

Methos · #6 05-20-2011, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy1

Yes sir, been plowed first. No it's not hopping, it just stops turning. I was afraid I may tighten the belt to much, I have no idea what tight is other than what the manual said. The gear box belt was tight in the down position.
I think I don't have the main belt tight enough, that's my feeling, I try it when the wife is home and can help me get on, that 123 is pretty high, and I'm a little nervous about running it along and ending up on the floor. I know your laughing, picturing it

I don't want you laying around for any reason.

Best to wait on her. My long belt is very tight and so is my gear box belt. Crank it a little more and give it try. If that doesn't help shut the tractor off and try turning the tines by hand. Make sure they turn all the way around freely.

zippy1 · #7 05-21-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Methos

I don't want you laying around for any reason.

Best to wait on her. My long belt is very tight and so is my gear box belt. Crank it a little more and give it try. If that doesn't help shut the tractor off and try turning the tines by hand. Make sure they turn all the way around freely.

OK Duke, it turns free, the tines that is. By you saying your long belt is very tight. Mine is now what I would call very tight, so I'll have to try it and get back to you and let you know.
Thanks for the help.

Methos · #8 05-21-2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy1

OK Duke, it turns free, the tines that is. By you saying your long belt is very tight. Mine is now what I would call very tight, so I'll have to try it and get back to you and let you know.
Thanks for the help.

Todd great news that it turns free. Looking forward to finding out how much fun you had tilling today! I'll be here all day waiting. No pressure tho!

JBIV127 · #9 06-09-2011, 06:31 PM

Well how did it till? I'm going through kinda the same problems and am really hoping I just need to tighten the belt.

zippy1 · #10 06-09-2011, 09:51 PM

I guess I kinda forgot the update on what it was. It was the PTO. It was slipping, shot would be a better term for it.
I rebuilt it with the rebuild kit along with new compression springs, and throw out levers. Works better than new now.
All the tightening of the belt wouldn't of done anything. What I did was paint a line on the belt that runs to the gear box and had the wife get on while I watched as it was trying to till, and when it got to the harder ground and I could see that it just would move now and again and the PTO was doing the same, ah, the problem solved.