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john deere 160 drive belt

9K views 13 replies 4 participants last post by  uncle al 
#1 ·
The drive belt came off today so I pulled the fenders, gas tank, and put it back on. While doing this I noticed a plug under the drive sheave is this where you check the unit for oil? Another thing I noticed was a spring hanging down from the frame, must have come off while I was pulling the fenders, don't know where it's supposed to be. Operators manual doesn't show much in the way of checking the drive, it's manual not hydro, or accessing anything. Thanks
 
#3 ·
If this is an '80s vintage JD160 (not a D160, sometimes people drop the D off), then I'd say that "plug" you're seeing there Uncle Al is either the neutral start switch or possibly the detente ball hole for the shifter...

Here's the transaxle out of my 160, is it one of the two in front of the drive sheave?



Here's a better pic of the top of the transaxle



These transaxles did not come with oil in them, its a thick bentonite grease. So there's no provision for changing it out.
 
#5 · (Edited)
That plug with the two brass posts on it is the neutral start switch, there's supposed to be purple wires going to and coming from it.



The little plug with the spring and ball is the detente ball that makes the shifter stop at each gear.



In this one, you can see a chunk of the shift quadrant, the little holes where the ball sits...



(you can also see the grease)

Not sure I can help you with the spring hanging down... Is it on the frame of the tractor, or is it hanging down from the fender deck? If its hanging down from the fender deck it may be the tensioner spring for the deck height adjustment.
 
#6 ·
there is two wires floating around on top of the gas tank. they have hooks on the ends and could hook up to the posts on that neutral start switch. As for the spring it is on the frame, not real big, but long and shiny. I'll get a pic today. thanks for the information about the no oil in the drive.
 
#8 ·
had issues all day cutting, everytime I stopped to turn around the belt would come off the transmission and I would have to lift the fenders and put it back on, (I left the nuts off after the second time) so I started mowing in circles just to keep moving which worked well. Now I have it parked in the garage and started to remove the drive belt. Not fun. I've gotten as far as removing everything,I think, except the shaft for the steering. Is there an easy way of doing this? The belt is all messed up, cracked in a couple places, fraying, so it's time for a new one.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Got a new belt and tried to put it on but it seemed too short so I measured it, 80in. cardboard sleeve said 87, back to the store. I fought with this all day yesterday, taking stuff off, putting stuff on, then found the new belt was short I put the old one on cause my grass needs cutting. Then the tractor wouldn't start, found that one of the bolts that holds a guide on the drive belt also holds the battery ground next to the engine above. I found it by holding the key in the start position, and wiggling wires till I found a spark. Then when the engine started and I got on the tractor and pushed the clutch in, the belt came off again. Anyone know where I can find a routing guide for the drive belt? I must be putting something on wrong. Thanks
 
#10 ·
Got the new belt on today, deck back on, took it out in the rain and mowed alittle bit just to see if things worked. I'd like to thank everyone that gave me positive advice, getting the belt off and back on again. still don't know what the spring is for in one of my posts, maybe tomorrow, it's supposed to rain again.
 
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