Troy Bilt 2016 13WM77KS011 deck

[KE4AVB]

Just wondering if anyone has seen the LH idler pulley mount broken out. This the newer style deck where they change the Idler pulley mount. I repaired one Saturday that just hanging by a thread. Don't appear to rust damage just appears to be metal fatigue from stress. Well anyway I re-welded things as close back the original location as I could get it. Repainted the area with rust resistant paint. If it does it again then I would either add a re-enforcing plate or replace the deck shell.

Customer also changed the fuel filter which lead to the carburetor leaking. Two possible causes here. 1> trash was found in the fuel bowl and 2> fuel solenoid was slightly loose by a half thread. Cleaned the fuel bowl and tighten the solenoid and no leaks overnight on that Ruixing carburetor. BTW the fuel solenoid uses a 12mm double flat instead of the 1/2" (13mm) version on the Nikki and Walbro carbs.

[Gerry]

I've seen 2 this year and both had failed due to being rusted out. Mowers were around 5 years old best I can recollect.

[KE4AVB]

That was what I expected but it was not the case here.

Update: While I was preparing to install the repaired deck I decide to the spindle bearings out of caution. Good thing they were noisy. Well it was a pain to get the shaft out the RH one, I actually ended up destroying it. Spacer was rusted solid. I couldn't use my bearing separator as I had sent it forcing screw to the machine shop so machinist could match my new cross bar to it. Designing an electric PTO clutch puller. I need one that have up to 9" spread and down to 5" , plus I need puller arms that can grab about 3/4" inbound. I found nothing commercially available out there. The strength of the arms is going to be my main problem but I will work it out as I use the tool. Just so tired try to get off stuck on PTO clutches. Got to be an easier way than having to cut them off just because of a little rust.

RH top bearing was failing but it was the LH spindle that had a completely failed lower bearing; balls went everywhere. It probably is what cause the idler pulley mount to break out or at least it help make things worst.