Author [expand]	[Modern View]
Smigle 05-24-2005 20:05:25 69.128.192.4 424145 Report to Moderator	Can anyone tell me if there is supposed to be bearing material for the center section of the Varidrive pulley to slide back and forth on?? There is nothing in the one on my machine and therefore the center section does not stay parallel with the 2 outer sections of the pulley. [Reply]   [Send Email]
GregCo 05-25-2005 12:13:38 209.98.53.62 424212 Report to Moderator	Re: Craftsman GTV-18 Varidrive in reply to Smigle, 05-24-2005 20:05:25   Yes there should be a bushing on the side that slides in and out. There are also three roll pins that are commonly broken off that the outer pulley side runs (you can see the slotted holes on one half) on. When they break off the sliding side will spin on the shaft and the machine will not move very well if at all. To change those you will need to drill a small hole on the opposite side and drive out the broken ones and install new ones and she will work again.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Smigle 05-25-2005 15:05:13 69.128.192.190 424233 Report to Moderator	Re: Craftsman GTV-18 Varidrive in reply to GregCo, 05-25-2005 12:13:38   Thanks to you both for the information. You have made my day. There is no bearing material in this one and I can see the remains of the roll pins. Is there a way to take these apart so that I can have the machine shop make a new bearing or are they put together with a 50 ton press and therefor have to be replaced once they are worn out??   [Reply]   [Send Email]
GregCo 05-25-2005 15:35:46 209.98.53.62 424241 Report to Moderator	Re: Craftsman GTV-18 Varidrive in reply to Smigle, 05-25-2005 15:05:13   They are all pressed together and do not come apart unfortunately. The bushing can be pretty bad (mine wobbles all over the place) and with the new pins put in it will still work. Mine is pretty sloppy as well and I just keep putting in new pins about every two years and she just keeps on going. Sears built a bunch of those things and I bet you could find a good working used one when the time comes. Last I checked they still had the part available but the price made it not worth it. More than the machine was worth. I also put just a tiny bit of high temp grease on the bushing shaft and it works nice and smooth until I bust off the pins again. I have had this machine for over ten years and it was well on its way to being worn out when I got it. All it has ever been used for is mowing weeds so you can imagine the life it has lived. Good Luck with it.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Smigle 05-26-2005 17:21:44 69.128.192.9 424378 Report to Moderator	Re: Craftsman GTV-18 Varidrive in reply to GregCo, 05-25-2005 15:35:46   Thanks for the info. I was able to drive out what was left of the roll pins without drilling any holes. I clamped the moving center section to the slotted side and drove out as much as I could and then cut off the exposed piece. That made it possible to drive out what was left. I will try replacing them and see what happens. 1 1/4 inch X 3/16 inch pins seem a little short to me so I am going to use 1 1/2 inch pins.   [Reply]   [Send Email]
GregCo 05-27-2005 08:36:25 209.98.53.62 424464 Report to Moderator	Re: Craftsman GTV-18 Varidrive in reply to Smigle, 05-26-2005 17:21:44   I Don't remember how long they are for sure but if they are long enough to stick out the slots on the other side you should be good to go.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Glenn F. 05-25-2005 03:35:03 4.254.65.109 424155 Report to Moderator	Re: Craftsman GTV-18 Varidrive in reply to Smigle, 05-24-2005 20:05:25   I don't know just how they're constructed, but just last week I replaced one on my Craftsman. The old one was opening up too far on one side and chewing up belts as fast as you could put them on. I was able to find a good used one for $10. Works perfect now. I live in Green Bay, WI.   [Reply]   [No Email]