Well I have in less than week ran into after market belt length problems. Both of them were from Sunbelt/A&I Products. The first was labeled as being 35-1/4 actually measured 34-3/4 and most know how picky MTDs are. Of course now they are showing their B17540241A as being 35.8". Well while repairing DYIer's mower that couldn't get the drive belt on I ran into another bad belt. Well the 1/2 x 95" belt he was using to replace a 1/2 x 95-1/4" on an AYP wasn't 95" but instead was 94". No wonder he couldn't get it on.
I called my vendor and asked if they came out with a new version the measuring tape; where inches don't measure inches. Maybe those Indians broken the end of tape off and kept measuring with the broken tape. Or maybe they are doing the same as the fastener companies are doing. I ordered some 7/16-20 x 4-1/2 hex bolts. Well they are not 4-1/2 but are 4-3/8". Good thing I was needing them on a project that needed 4-1/4" bolts.
Either way now I got to check every new belt against the specs before I put them away; more wasted time. Come on vendors we depend on the parts we're ordering are as described and not something just to fill an order.
I reckon it is just being a bad month for me with the parts screw-ups. Delays because of re-ordering is going over well with the customer either.