OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions On Ride On Mowers Questions on Rover Ride On Mower Rover Rancher 28166 help

Hello,

Does anybody out there have any pictures or diagrams of a working mower deck on a Rover Rancher 28166?
Mine is missing some parts and I need to know what a working mower deck looks like so i make mine look the same

Your deck, the 38"/965mm twin spindle 'Cutterhead Model No. 198', was used on quite a few Rover models.

This table from the Rover Model No. 108/109 Grass Catcher Manual lists them:


The Model 180 is the single spindle 30"/760mm deck, BTW.

Should make it easier to find a working example.

As I expected this confirms that the parts list diagram for the 18166's mower deck, which I posted a few days ago, applies to the 28166 as well.

Thank you so much for your help guys! Got it started today. Moves forward and reverse, now just gotta get that mower deck working correctly. I talked to a mower guy today and he seems to think all I'm missing is a spring. I will put some pressure on that movable pulley until the belt is tight then measure it and go buy a spring to suit. Fingers crossed we will be cutting some grass soon!

I've posted the part number of the Rover spring you need, in your other thread on this matter.

Thank you for all of your help, diagrams and part numbers you guys are awesome!!

Got the rover working really well.....I thought. Now it has decided to start throwing drive belts... The big belt that goes from the pulley under the inspection hole below the steering wheel to the two great big alloy discs under the seat to the other pulley under the mower. First thing I've noticed is the belt will not stay oriented the correct way that is thin edge of the wedge in and widest part of the belt out. Even if you are meticulous in installing the belt correctly...as soon as the mower is started the belt flips around the opposite way then eventually jumps off. The belt tensioner appears to be working fine and the belt is pretty snug....any thoughts or previous experiences similar?

It seems to be reported from time to time, riptus. I suggest you make sure the idler pulleys that belt runs around, are free (not half seized up) and not wobbly. Check that there is no bent mounting or poor alignment anywhere in the belt run. If all that is OK, check whether the belt is worn out, which is the most likely cause of the problem, but it makes no sense to put a new belt on a faulty belt run, since that would simply ruin another belt. Look on the flat bottom of the belt for signs that it has been bottoming in a pulley, and look in the pulleys for signs the belt is running too low in them. If it has, belt, pulley, or both are worn out. Usually you can wear out a couple of belts before the pulleys are worn out.

Thanks grumpy.
I will pull the belt off today, inspect the pulleys for play and wear and inspect the auto tensioner and make sure thats all cool. If it all comes up fine I guess the next step would be buying a new belt and trying that.

I think you need to make that inspection anyway, as part of the normal familiarisation process and initial service when you get a new machine. You may find things that need attention that have nothing to do with the rolled belt. Hopefully you'll come out of it with the machine working properly, and a more confident approach to it as well.

You should, of course, service the engine and take a close look at the chain, and the front suspension/steering, while you are at it. These are items that are usually neglected by previous tenants.

Thanks again Grumpy. Bought a new belt....works like a charm!!

It is all part of the process you have to go through when you buy a second-hand machine, riptus. First you fix everything messed up or neglected by the previous tenant, then you hope to be able to use the machine yourself. Fixing worn-out stuff is inevitable, but when the previous tenant has torn out the wiring, and made a whole new steering system out of chewing gum, it can be a bit frustrating.

I'll close this thread.