Spring-extension G.t. 165X138MA

1. Drained and removed gas tank to gain access to attach PTO handle to spring holder.
2. Removed screws that attach PTO handle to the spring holder.
3. Attached new PTO handle using screw removed above.
4 Reinstalled gas tank.
5 Attached new spring between PTO handle and idler pulley..
6 Replaced gasoli ... Read more ne, started engine and tested blade engagement which worked just perfect.

Hooked one end of the spring into designated hole.
Hooked the other end around vertical nut on mower deck.

My big problem was that the old idler spring was just lying on the deck and I had no idea where it went. I knew the short end hooked to the idler pulley arm but nothing else seemed like an appropriate place to hook the other end to.

This is more or less how it went:
I removed the mower deck, marking the various arms and ... Read more mounting pins so I knew where everything when. I dragged the deck away from the tractor, cleaned it thoroughly, primed the bad spots, and repainted the deck with matching paint. I masked all of the decals so they still looked sharp when I pulled off the tape.

I replaced the secondary drive belt and the primary belt. Once it was roughly in place, I fooled around with the spring until I found a place that would hold it under tension and seemed far enough to stretch it.

I hooked one end to the bracket and using a tool I made of a thick piece of wood and a piece of 550 cord, I stretched the spring until I could hook the other end. (Be careful not to aim the spring at your head in the event it comes loose.) I had no problem slipping the 550 cord from behind the spring.

I double checked the operation of the spring and pushed the deck back under the tractor and placed the drive belt around the drive pulley. As I had marked the deck supporting locations, I had no trouble putting it back on the tractor.

Once the deck was back under the tractor, I leveled it while it was parked on my driveway.

I think removing the deck was the simplest thing to do; I might have been able to do everything with the deck on the tractor (I don\'t know) but this way everything was free and clear and I could repaint the rusty spots.