U-Blower Installation

Belt Installation:

Pull forward on Idler arm (flat idler) to install belt. This will reduce tension on the belt allowing the belt to be installed on the deck drive pulley.

Space between idler pulleys should be just barely enough to pass belt through. Space up the flat idler with washers to reduce the gap, if more than 1/4" inch.

For proper belt tension, adjust the v-idler bracket forwards or backwards so there is a 3/4" to 1" gap in between idler arm and blower pulley bracket.

Belt Adjustment:

Loosen the 4 flange nuts at the vertical slots on the blower pulley bracket as well as the flange nuts holding the pulley bracket support so the blower pulley bracket can move up and down. This adjustments the angle of the belt.

Adjust the height on the blower pulley bracket so the belt is nearly level between the deck drive pulley and the idler pulleys. (preliminary adjustment)

The flat idler bracket, and the v-idler bracket both have slots. The blower drive pulley is secured with a 1/4" key and a setscrew on the fan shaft. Position the flat and v-idler pulleys and the blower drive pulley so that the belt runs perpendicular to the fan shaft. Be sure that the belt clears any obstacles, such as chute deflector brackets. A bit of grinding on the outside edge of a deflector bracket is probably necessary to ensure enough clearance.

After the readjustment, tighten the setscrew on the blower drive pulley. Make sure the key is in the keyway.

Final Belt Adjustment:

As noted above, the slots in the front mount and rear support bracket will allow optimal positioning of the blower. Tighten the carriage bolts on the front mount and rear support bracket to secure the blower against the discharge. Place the bridge pin through the top hole in the deck mount. Make final adjustments to the blower assembly so there are no gaps between the blower and discharge.

Have an assistant engage the blower at low rpm.

If the belt will not stay on the drive pulley, adjust the blower pulley bracket up or down. Retighten all mounting brackets. Make sure that pulley bracket support is bolted on and fastened to the blower pulley bracket, and tightened at the back blower cover plate. Also if necessary, reposition blower drive pulley for proper belt alignment.

Engage the blower. Notice that the belt travels slightly downwards to the blower drive pulley. For final adjustment, the belt appears to run at the middle of the flat idler pulley when observed from the front, and when observed from the back, the belt runs near the top lip of the flat idler.

Install the blower belt cover. Attach the belt guard extension with the belt guard leg bolted on the tab.

Adjust belt tension after the first 20 minutes of use, as a new belt will stretch. Re-adjust the belt within the first few hours of use.

Belt Path:

Belt comes off the top of the blower drive pulley and twists 90 degrees to ride in the V-idler pulley. Belt then comes around the deck drive pulley from the back to the front, then back to the blower, with the flat side around the flat idler pulley, then twists 90 degrees and travels back to the bottom of the blower drive pulley

Maintenance:

Retighten deck drive pulley after first hour of use.

Bearings on the blower housing should be greased every 25 hours of use.

Check deck drive pulley periodically (every 25 hours) to make sure it is tight. Be sure that the pulley is straight and has no dents.

Check the belt tension before each use. Belts have the tendency to stretch.

Remove any foreign objects from the belt.

Periodically check the bolts and nuts that hold bearing flanges, as well as all blower and mounting hardware since they might come loose from vibrations. Use of blue thread lock product is advised.

Always engage the blower at low rpm.