thermoid belt

[38racing]

Looking at kubota belt fro RC40LTF deck on a t1400 and sear supercedes kubota 66071-6173-0 to hus 583786801 which seems to have 'thermoid' associated with it and linked to belt number TH5H700 which I'm concluding is a 70 inch belt although I found a forum saying kubota called for 68" and poster actually used a 67" . Tomorrow I will measure existing belt too. What is thermoid?

[38racing]

ok. Another google. It's just a brand name?

[KE4AVB]

Yes just a brand name. Actually appears to an USA made product. Supposedly it a high quality product and probably explains why the hydraulic return hose that I looking on a RTV900 is so expensive too.

Can't help as K-Pad only pulls up T1400H with RC40LT deck and the belt pn don't match up to what you posted. Of course it maybe that is their superseded number that I am looking at too. Actually measuring it is probably a good way to go.

[38racing]

it's a shame that my neighbour didn't look after this unit better.
deck is in rough shape.hopefully I can get it running for a bit of time. I did find another good parts list for it.turns out the engine to deck belt is 70 " and the deck spindle one is 67 " as a poster on another forum indicated. sear indicated lots of parts NLA but other list still showing lots. maybe out of date. spindle pulley for $165 usd. that's nuts. someone has a used deck for 375 cdn but I can't justify that much on an 89 unit with nla or pricey parts.

[hanz63]

On the Thermoid front, they are my favorite aftermarket belt. I had a distributor that had them, but no more. They make many belts, or did for OEMS. Now the OEMS are China or Hecko in Mexico. I liked the fact that an American made belt would be on the machine too.

[KE4AVB]

I was using Sunbelt/A&I belts which made in India until last year when every OEM spec belt started being nearly an inch short. That was after 6 years of them. I am now back with the Stens belts which labeled "Made in the USA" and they are as spec'd on the packaging. So they cost a little more, it not worth the hassles that those belts labeled one size and actually being another especially when dealing MTD items. Oh I do have a large supply of the Sunbelt belt and blades but most are before they over to the India manufacture.

Another problem I had with Sunbelt last year is that went with Rotary MTD spindles with a three point star instead of the normal 6 point star and the MTD blades that were selling were of the H pattern (double diamond) which wasn't compatible with the Rotary spindles. Supposedly they have gone back to a six point blade design but it be a while before I order a couple blades as a test run. The six blade would actually work of the Rotary three point spindle then using the H blade of the six spindle.

One benefit of the change was that I manage sign up with Stens as a dealer which is a plus. It take time me to build up the volume they would like me buying as to work out the older inventory as I switch over but so they have 500 of the 1500 that would have went to Sunbelt.

[hanz63]

I like Stens belts in general. I have a good HOP and MTD distributor, so they get OEM. Many of the Deeres and others get Stens. I used to think that they were Thermoid on the spec belts, maybe not anymore? The first year or two they signed me up with good discounts. Then i quit ordering their blades and my discount is, well- I can order Setns belts of Amazon if I need 1 part for close to the same pesos.