by KE4AVB » Tue Jun 11, 2019 6:46 am
Check for bent engine pulley. I had one recently that one area was bent and it was just enough to the drive belt to move. Kinda stood out as it was shinier than the rest of the v-groove.
When it comes to belt sizes places like Stens are using +- 1/2" when they spec a belt. The last MTD replacement belt I got from Stens was 104" to replace a 103" belt. I could engage the deck and slip the pulleys which I already knew was a problem as the OEM belt was 103". I end having to put on a 102"; though, 102.5" would have been a better fit but none in the size available. I had MTD 46" cut in a row that I had to put the 102" on.
Unless you measure the v-belts you don't know if you got the right size any more. I still having problems with being on the short side even with OEM belts but at they are a lot closer to the specs. Even when you find that they sent you that wrong size they will argue with you that it is right and that the belt measurer is wrong. Stens even told me that the tool is no good for measuring the belts even though they sell the tool to customers for that purpose.
Currently I only use OEM belts because I had so much problems the last two years with belts being short most times and a few that were too long. I even was getting poly belts in place of Kevlar belts. Those literally melted in use and failed. That was Husqvarna that I had nothing but deck belts problems with. After I got my measuring tool and got the right belts on the mower the customer so far hasn't had any more problems. Doesn't mean they will not break a belt today.
The truest measure of society is the how it treats its elderly, its pets, and its prisoners.