Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

When the control bar is released and the auger stops spinning, is the idler arm supposed to be tight to the belt at the front tip of the idler arm against the auger or drive pulley?  In my mini-review of the PR621ES posted here at Reply #60 I noted a problem with the auger disengagement not working properly.  Turns out the idler arm's spring was missing.  Poulan / Husqvarna sent me a spring and a new belt (I'll keep the belt for future use.)  The manual shows different / conflicting versions of the spring installation.  I can only see putting the upper end of the spring in the V-notch of the frame.  There are no holes for the upper end of the spring to go into.  The spring's lower end seems best placed in the lower or outer hole of the idler arm, not in the upper inner one.

My concern is that when the auger is disengaged, the idler arm rests fairly tightly on the pulley of the auger.  The spring seems strong for its job or overly extended the way I now have it.  This allows the motor's spinning pulley to make some minor contact with the same spot on the stationary belt.  Would it not be better if the belt was afforded some freedom to move a tiny little bit when the auger is disengaged?  Or is this the way it is supposed to be, with the theory that if the belt is held tightly in place by the idler arm when the auger is disengaged, it allows the belt the maximum distance / separation and minimum burn / wear exposure to the constantly spinning engine pulley at the other end?

TIA for any help here with these conflicting diagrams and my lack of pulley / belt knowledge.

Your last picture seems to show the spring hooked on something down below the bend out.  Are there any holes under that V?

Your second to last picture shows the spring hooked on the arm where it is bent away from the main part.  Your last picture shows it hooked on the main part.  I can see how that would be confusing.

The angle of the spring doesn't look right how you have it.  It seems to be binding.  If you are going to leave it that way, maybe try turning it upside down so the top doesn't meet at that awkward angle?

I would not worry too much about the belt.  It seems to have plenty of slack in it.

I agree with Shyrp; based on the picture and the diagram, the spring is hooked to the wrong place. Now I'm saying that without a good look at the space between the bend in the sheet metal. Again, based on the diagram, there should be a hole to connect the spring.

Shryp and tkrotchko,

Thanks.  No other holes, would have been easier to drill one than to ask with pics.  Shryp, you were bang on, invert spring!  The h*ll with the manual's assorted and conflicting - and incorrect - illustrations.  Trust the gurus at Abby's.

I went to two Walmarts with my 3/8" driver and popped the covers on the two separate floor models.  Spring upside down in V-notch on both, at both stores.

All is well now on mine and I scored a future belt for my troubles / misadventures here.  Not a bad machine for CA$236.88 + 13% with free belt, though less the gasoline, time and head-scratching.  Thanks guys!

FWIW, the idler arm's forward "finger" still exerts a considerable force on the auger pulley / belt when the auger is disengaged at the control bar.

NotMoneyGuy wrote:
To me, looks like the finger is being used as a 'brake'.

What is that white stuff?  Toothpaste?

The belt looks fine to me.  If it were any looser it would probably fall off.

aa335 wrote:
White lithium grease.