KE4AVB wrote:It can and I think 96" will be too loose. I have a MTD that uses a 77-1/2 belt deck belt. If you put on a 77" you can not disengage the deck and it actually overloads the engine when engaged.
On the subject of being label a particular part I have seen some mislabel belts in the last. Example of this was the 42-3/4 belt I was receiving intended to replace the 43.2" on a walk behind trimmer. In this range even 1/4" is a world of difference. I manage to get a 43" to work but took heavy mods to the brake location so the brake would loosen enough to allow the belt to slip in disengaged position.
Common problem with Generic replacement belts and a PITA especially on the type of MTD mowers that use the deck lifting and a slight shift forward to loosen the belt method and then contact brake pads to stop the blade rotation.
I've have to keep a log of the belt manufacturer and vendor and have had to go to 1 inch longer belts on some MTD mowers
to get a blade stop with a new belt. The belt keepers will have to be in proper use and location as the belt wears in.
Kevlar type belts seem to be little bit more precise in their lengths and stay more precise in length during break-in when used on the mtd type mowers.
If Bubba has messed up the deck adjustments previously even a correct belt will not get a dis-engauge. Sometimes guy just have to knuckle down with a service manual and take time and confirm that all the adjustments are correct.
The blade brake pads and slight shift forward of the deck for blade did-engauge is not a very good safety design, but again that seems to be the norm when you see MTD type eq.
and I've seen when trying to go by a manu part number on a ebay search for a replacement v belt, the same seller may have as many as 3 different sizes for v belts belts
using the same part number in separate listings. (roll the dice )You really don't know what size generic belt you are going to receive from those type sellers)
I asked a ebay seller why they had 3 different size v belts listed using same OEM part number and even the seller honestly answered they did not know why????(and seller did not seem to care why and never did correct their listings about such)