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How to Attain Idler Pulley in a 2010 Bolens 38 ” Mower Deck

Bolens riding lawnmowers are produced by the MTD company. Meanwhile, the 2010 Bolens 38-inch mower is equipped using one idler pulley and two blade spindle pulleys the mower deck belt rides on to power the mower deck. Rust and corrosion certainly are typical causes of idler pulley bearing failure, which demands replacement of the mower deck idler pulley.

Park the riding lawnmower on a hard, level surface and engage the parking brake to keep the mower from moving while you work. Disengage the blades and then turn off the engine. Disconnect the rubber spark plug boot and wire from the spark plug, and then remove the spark plug in using a socket wrench to ensure the motor can’t accidentally begin while you work.

Fix the mower deck to the bottom place, with the lever on the right, rear fender, to access the mower deck belt and belt pulleys.

Unscrew the mower deck drive belt Flush rod keeping bolt with a socket wrench. Pull the mower deck belt keeper rod from the rod’s frame hole; mark the belt Flush rod hole with a marker to use as a reference when re-installing the rod.

Slip the mower deck belt from around the motor crankshaft drive pulley by hand. Pull the belt toward the top rear of the mower deck. Slip it from around the deck idler pulley, and the left and right side mower deck blade pulleys. Pull out the belt away of between the mower frame and deck, pulling slowly to ensure it doesn’t snag on any other parts in the procedure.

Spray penetrating oil across the surface and bottom-side idler pulley bearing hub to loosen the hub bearing from the idler arm mount beam. Allow the oil to soak in the hub for 15 to 30 minutes to enable the parts to loosen.

Insert the square end of a ratchet wrench to the square hole in the idler pulley bracket. Turn the wrench setting knob to the “tighten” place to hold the idler pulley bracket set up when loosening the idler pulley retaining bolt.

Loosen the mower deck idler pulley retaining bolt with a socket wrench while holding the idler pulley bracket in place with the ratchet wrench. Remove the idler pulley from the idler arm bracket beam by hand. An automotive pry bar may be needed if the beam is stuck or obstinate. Slide the bar between the bottom-side idler pulley and idler pulley bracket. Push the pry bar handle down slightly to lift the idler pulley from the shaft. Pry the idler pulley, working across the pulley evenly, to loosen it from the beam.

Slide the new idler pulley onto the idler arm bracket beam. Turn the ratchet wrench setting knob to the “loosen” place to hold the idler pulley bracket in place when hardened the idler arm pulley retaining bolt. Hold the ratchet wrench with one hand and then tighten the idler arm pulley retaining bolt with a socket wrench.

Fit the mower deck belt across the left blade pulley, ideal blade pulley and the mower deck idler pulley. Pull the belt toward the front of the mower deck and then place the belt across the motor crankshaft push pulley. Push the mower deck belt Flush rod in the riding lawnmower frame hole. Tighten the rod using a socket wrench.

Screw the spark plug in the riding lawnmower motor cylinder head with a spark plug socket and socket wrench, and reconnect the spark plug cable. Start the riding lawnmower. Push the mower around slowly while stopping and starting the mower blades to be sure the idler pulley, belts and blades function properly.