Adjustments - Ariens 18 Series Owner's Manual

Belt Speed
To change speeds, drive belts is shifted from one
sheave groove to the other groove. (Refer to
instruction decal on belt guard.)
Remove nuts at top of Belt Guard and take guard off
unit. (Main clutch must be in "NEUTRAL" to move
belts.)
Lift and roll belt to desired speed. If drive belt is in
small groove of engine drive sheave, move belts on
large drive sheave first, then on engine sheave. If
drive belt is in large groove of engine drive sheave
move belt on engine sheave first, then on large drive
sheave.
Belt Finger(s)
Belt fingers are preset. The belt finger(s) clear belt(s)
by about 1/16 inch on the drive side, and about 1/16
to 1/8 inch on idler side of belts(s) when clutch is
engaged.
1
2
4
5
1. Low Speed Groove
2. High Speed Groove
3. Reverse Belt finger
4. Forward Belt
5. Reverse Belt
6. Forward Belt Finger
7. Reverse Idler
Figure 6: Drive and Reverse Belts

Adjustments

3
7
6
13
Drive Belt Tension
Before checking tension - Engine must be turned off
and spark plug wire must be removed from plug.
After the belts have seated in from use, check the
tension adjustment on the forward belt. To check the
tension put the forward/reverse lever into forward.
1. Check and set the bolt head clerance to the
lower pivot. Loosen lock nut at upper pivot and
adjust to 1/8 - 1/4 inch clearance between the
bolt head and the lower pivot and tighten the lock
nut.
2. Measure the spring length between washers and
adjust length to 1 7/8 to 2 inches using the
tension adjustment nut.
This will allow forward to operate properly. Reverse
tension is applied by pulling the clutch rod toward the
rear as long as reverse is required to back up.
6
1 7/8 - 2
1/8 - 1/4
5
1
2
Forward Engaged Position
1. Lower Pivot
2. Bolt Head
3. Lock Nut
4. Upper Pivot
5. Spring
6. Tension Adjustment Nut
7. Alignment Holes In Bracket
8. Pivot
Figure 7: Belts and Handlebar Adjustment
3
8
4
7