John Deere 140 mower deck spindle tightener spring question

[Dromunds]

I have a 48" deck on a JD 140 garden tractor. The tightener spring on the main belt on the top of the cutting deck broke. There is a hole to insert one end of the spring under the tightening spindle, and the other end of the spring appears to go under the spindle for the outside blade. I cannot get the nut off holding the spindle. What is the best method for removing that nut? I've never removed a spindle from a deck so I appreciate your help. Thanks in advance.

 

[T.R.K.]

It sounds like you are saying you need to get the big nut that holds the pulley on the spindle off to replace that spring that broke. Although I am not terribly familiar with that 48" deck, I am pretty certain that the spring should have a hook on the deck shell or a bracket with a hole in it to hold that end of the spring. I don't think you should have to remove the outside spindle, or any part of it, to replace that spring. Do you have your owners manual and are there any pictures in it that could help you?

 

[timcasbolt]

It sounds like you are saying you need to get the big nut that holds the pulley on the spindle off to replace that spring that broke. Although I am not terribly familiar with that 48" deck, I am pretty certain that the spring should have a hook on the deck shell or a bracket with a hole in it to hold that end of the spring. I don't think you should have to remove the outside spindle, or any part of it, to replace that spring. Do you have your owners manual and are there any pictures in it that could help you?

I don't happen to have one of these decks in front of me, but what you say sounds right. Also, and this is unrelated, I have had to bend the arm that the tensioner pulley is mounted to and shim underneath to get the belt to ride in the center of the pulley.

 

[Dromunds]

TRK: Yes, I have the manual for the deck, but it does not show the connection to the outer spindle. It shows the connection to the tightening spindle but not the other spindle. It just shows the spring going under the outer spindle, so it appears to connect under the spindle somehow. Of courser, the other end of the spring connects to a hole in the bracket holding the tightening spindle, and I could easily remove that spindle. When I was at the John Deere dealership to get the new spring, I looked at their computer drawing of the parts break-down and it also showed nothing regarding the connection to the outer spindle. The drawing from my deck manual is why I assume the spring connection at the outer spindle is somewhere under the outer spindle. That big nut that holds the outer spindle in place is what I am assuming I must remove, I could be mistaken but I see nowhere else on the deck itself that the spring could attach to and still have sufficient tension to keep the belt taught. I appreciate your responses above and would welcome any further advice or comments.

 

[timcasbolt]

The only other thing I have to add is that a lot of times you can find springs and other components used on ebay for a fraction of the cost of new.

 

[Loosehandle]

I'd consider just fabing a new attachment point for spring

 

[Ray,IN]

Check this deck out.. https://shop.deere.com/us/product/GX21582:-Extension-Spring/p/GX21582

 

[Dromunds]

Thankfully, my deck is nothing like that!

 

[Jim.ME]

Thankfully, my deck is nothing like that!

Can you tell us the JD model of your deck, not just the tractor, so we can all look at the same one?

Pictures?

 

[MM-TX]

I have a 48" deck on a JD 140 garden tractor. The tightener spring on the main belt on the top of the cutting deck broke. There is a hole to insert one end of the spring under the tightening spindle, and the other end of the spring appears to go under the spindle for the outside blade. I cannot get the nut off holding the spindle. What is the best method for removing that nut? I've never removed a spindle from a deck so I appreciate your help. Thanks in advance.

There doesn’t seem to be much on the internet on your mower but I would suggest it doesn’t connect to the spindle you are trying to take off. Seems like that would rub. Is there a leaver that engages the belt? If so it would probably need to connect to that somehow.

I see some pix now and looks like the pulley is part of the mule drive at the back of the tractor, completely different than the newer ones. It does look like there is probably a hanger behind that pulley. Soak it with penetrating oil and let it sit. If this is what you are looking at you can get on both sides of that pulley with a big wrench and with it off probably tell what that spring hooks to.

Is this what you are trying to replace?

 

[MM-TX]

OK I'll bet this is the spring you are trying to replace. I'd say there is probably a hole or tab in the frame right where that spring wants to go. Maybe part #17. Yep #17 is called a spring retainer.

 

[Ray,IN]

OK, my shot in the dark failed. I'll quit and let the rest of you guys guess, until he posts a picture of his deck.

 

[Dromunds]

My apologies, fellas, I've been given' 'er with haying every available hour it seems and I'm totally bushed when I get in at night. Anyway, here's a photo of the deck which is a Model 48. I am hopefully also attaching a photo of the outside spindle which may show the end of something under the spindle that a spring could attach to, but I don't think I'll be able to tell unless I take the spindle off? And the outside spindle is what I cannot get off, at least at this point. If I need to take the spindle off, I'd appreciate any thoughts on how to best do that.

 

[Blackhole49]

My apologies, fellas, I've been given' 'er with haying every available hour it seems and I'm totally bushed when I get in at night. Anyway, here's a photo of the deck which is a Model 48. I am hopefully also attaching a photo of the outside spindle which may show the end of something under the spindle that a spring could attach to, but I don't think I'll be able to tell unless I take the spindle off? And the outside spindle is what I cannot get off, at least at this point. If I need to take the spindle off, I'd appreciate any thoughts on how to best do that.

View attachment 152874

Instead of risking ruining the spindle, another option would be a shorter spring and a new anchor bolt up thru the deck out of the way. All you need is something for the spring to loop over without coming off and tension on the belt.

 

[MM-TX]

My apologies, fellas, I've been given' 'er with haying every available hour it seems and I'm totally bushed when I get in at night. Anyway, here's a photo of the deck which is a Model 48. I am hopefully also attaching a photo of the outside spindle which may show the end of something under the spindle that a spring could attach to, but I don't think I'll be able to tell unless I take the spindle off? And the outside spindle is what I cannot get off, at least at this point. If I need to take the spindle off, I'd appreciate any thoughts on how to best do that.

View attachment 152874

See my post #11. Maybe you are missing #17. There are more views in my link below if you poke around.
If you stop the idler bar from pivoting you should be able to just take the nut off. you can see in the diagram the shoulder bolt has a square where it goes through the bar. Also you could take the whole idler assembly off at that pivot bolt. Just have to get a wrench on both sides of it.

Parts catalog for JD 140 here

 

[Dromunds]

Thank you kindly, fellas, for the thoughtful responses. I'll let you know how it goes.