Mystery part picked up while mowing

[e40]

I was on my Gravely ZTX-42 (42" ZTR with the Kohler 7000) this afternoon. While making a turn, I see this in the grass. I pick it up and it was warm, almost too hot to hold with my bare hands. So whatever it is, it must have been riding along with me and making contact with something hot off the engine or exhaust.

I don't see anywhere obvious that it came from. I removed the deck and all the spindles and blades look good. And there is nothing obvious missing off the engine or the transmissions.

All I can think of is it I picked it up from either the neighbors yard or from mowing my side of the fence along an outlot next door, which is mowed by the village. (With larger Ferris mowers)

 

[dvblanch]

Shield off of a bearing somewhere should be making noise soon

 

[flanso]

Part of a V-belt pulley?

 

[Gus_Mahn]

It looks like a guide for a pulley that has a belt that loosens/tightens to turn PTO on/off.

 

[oldcodger]

Crimped end for an exhaust muffler?

 

[brillo54]

Part of a V-belt pulley?

I agree. You're looking for the opposite side and the center bearing assembly. By the size, I'd guess it's an idler pulley.

 

[e40]

Thanks all, you were right. It's the stationary idler pulley for the transmission belt. New pulley ordered!

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Very simple. If you start hearing bearing noise from you're machine, it came from you're machine. If not, mow on

 

[Exhaustgases]

It fell off a ufo, I'm sure.

 

[Opelman]

That is an odd failure. Some of those models have transmission belt issues due to the position of that idler, a different shim between the pulley and frame is the suggested repair. Check your belt carefully and only use OEM, the aftermarket ones have been problematic on that application. Be careful to keep all the shims and washers in their original positions when you replace the pulley. Don't worry that the belt isn't exactly straight across, it is like that by design. That pulley is there to lift the belt a bit across that span to keep the belt from vibrating and coming in contact with the transmission cooling fans.

 

[Mazomopar]

Shaft measures 8 picas. Must have fallen of an old printing press.