NEED HELP, got a pulley that locked up and shreaded the belt?

[jkski]

I need some help/advice..... We use my 2005 JD 317 skidder for pushing snow and it is getting a lot of use this winter but the pulley on the upper right locked-up on my operator last night and it fried the belt as well. So, my questions are: (I have not been out to look at the machine yet and want to get parts ordered fast so I am hoping you guys can set me straight on what I need): 1) when looking at the machine from the back, is the pulley on the upper right just an idler pulley? If not is it a tensioner? The machine does not have AC. 2) How hard is it to put a new belt on? Do I have to remove a lot or can I simply sneak it in and around then tension it? Thanks in advance.

 

[jerry]

I cant really help except to say go to the john deere parts site. It shows the belt routing but not the separate pulleys ,such as the alternator. It does show the belt tensioner but separately not where it is in the belt routing. There are 2 engine numbers for the 317 also. Maybe you will have better luck navigating the site but it does have all the part # 's on it.

 

[jkski]

I cant really help except to say go to the john deere parts site. It shows the belt routing but not the separate pulleys ,such as the alternator. It does show the belt tensioner but separately not where it is in the belt routing. There are 2 engine numbers for the 317 also. Maybe you will have better luck navigating the site but it does have all the part # 's on it.

Thanks Jerry. I checked out the parts site early this morning and ended up talking to a dealer to order the parts that "I think" I need but as you pointed out, the diagram really does not show much. More than anything, I just need to verify that the upper right pulley is indeed just the idler pulley as opposed to being the tensioner and then at the same time, where is the tensioner? I have not had a chance to actually go and see the damage in person (that will happen later today) but from what my operator said, it literally melted the plastic pulley. I am hoping to just be able to take it off and to the dealer with me to match it up with the parts I ordered but it sure would be nice to know any tricks to doing the job easily, especially since it will be about 5 degree's in the parking lot while I am trying to fix it!

 

[jkski]

Thanks Jerry. I checked out the parts site early this morning and ended up talking to a dealer to order the parts that "I think" I need but as you pointed out, the diagram really does not show much. More than anything, I just need to verify that the upper right pulley is indeed just the idler pulley as opposed to being the tensioner and then at the same time, where is the tensioner? I have not had a chance to actually go and see the damage in person (that will happen later today) but from what my operator said, it literally melted the plastic pulley. I am hoping to just be able to take it off and to the dealer with me to match it up with the parts I ordered but it sure would be nice to know any tricks to doing the job easily, especially since it will be about 5 degree's in the parking lot while I am trying to fix it!

In case anyone else out there runs into this issue and has the same questions, here is how things turned out. The upper right pulley was indeed just an idler pulley and comes off easily with 1 bolt. The belt then snakes around everything (pay close attention to when removing the old belt or be sure to look at a diagram) and there is a tensioner pulley on the lower left of the engine that can easily be moved with a 3/8" breaker bar. My advice, put the belt on everything, including the tensioner and leave the alternator for last. Once you get it to that point, push on the breaker bar, moving the tensioner forward and pull the belt up and over the alternator at that point. If you try to leave the tensioner for last you will find if very difficult as the belt comes on from the backside of that pulley and there is not much room to work with. All total, about 20 minutes and I had never done one before so if ever I have to do it again I would think 10 minutes.