Combines Broken idler spring on hydro belt

[Tom_Russell]

Now we know why JD owners brag about warm cabs. Thats a bummer! How did you get it home or did you repair it in the fieldIJ My current R60 had a badly misaligned hydro idler that took quite a bit of time to align. I dont remember exactly what I did but I do recall doing a lot of bending and cussing the former owner. I dont know if all of them were that way or if somebody else doctored it up for some reason. Your post makes me think the former owner wasnt completely at fault. Without looking at the idler I dont recall if a worn bushing would cause the spring to move into a sheave or belt. Is that a possibilityIJ I am going to look at mine later today to see how much clearance there is. 2 more days to finish corn if the weather holds and the Good lord is willing. It has been a crop year to forget. Tom in MN

 

[PETE]

Tom, I found one off a salvage machine an 1 1_2 hour drive away and repaired in the field. Unfortunately the new spring did not solve my problem, the new spring is also hitting the bolt heads on the hydro pulley. When I got the machine home I noticed that the arm that the spring hooks into is slightly bent inward. I will take the idler bracket off tommorrow and try to bend it out a little. The idler is running dead nuts on the belt, Hyper II adjusted the idler when I had my machine to Hyperland this summer, well worth the six hour drive. I never knew that most of the brackets that the idlers mount to the machine are mounted with three adjusting bolt to to adjust the idler alignment. Pete Hinrichsen

 

[Illinois_Gleaner]

I have a R72 that had the same problem. At least they havent changed that Idler for the better till now . We no longer have the hydro belt down there on the 75's. On that Idler check it because on my 72 if it pushs the belt off it cleans that side of the combine. Believe me I know. Illinois Gleaner

 

[daren955]

If it is like the old l2's you might want to check the bolt and bushing that it pivots on. This may be worn and letting the bracket get out of align. Neighbors 8820 John Deere had the same thing happen a couple of years ago. Saved the combine, but burned up his semi with a load of beans on in the field.

 

[Gleaner_Guy]

Sorry to tell you this now that you have made the 1 1_2 hr. drive, but you can tension that belt with about four bungee cords. It will be an adequate repair to allow you the 24 rows and get you home too! "Believe me, I know". When you get it home, you might want to consider an improvement on the spring. Take the upper half of the broken spring, screw the threaded plug from the lower half into it. let it hang about straight down, and weld an angle iron bracket to the inside of your frame in such a position that the draw bolt will go thru it and into the spring plug. You will gain more leverage on the idler, you will never have to buy another one of those $$$ springs, and you won't have to move the spring to replace the hydro sheave quill shaft or bearings. I have done this to 2 of my N6s and am going to do the other one this winter. The 2 I have done this to have not given me one second of trouble since.

 

[PETE]

If what I did on my post above does not solve my problem I will try your solution. The trip was not a total waste as the place I got the spring from has some salvage machines that I think I can harvest some good parts from for next years summer project. Thanks, Pete