Mower Belt

David G · Oct 12, 2013

I broke a mower belt on my Scag after 75 hours.

I went into the store and the maintenance person told me that engaging the mower at lower RPM's allow the belt to stretch because it does not slip.

This was a $80 lesson.

notjustair · Oct 12, 2013

Maybe that's right, but I think it is hooey. I engage everything at lower RPM. All PTO driven equipment, the separator/threshing drive on the combine, the mower belt, everything.

The boys at Deere said you could engage the rear wheel assist on the 9500 at full throttle/speed. Learned that lesson quick, too. Stop and idle down or it blows the o-ring on the endplate every time.

I'll stick with idling to engage stuff. It will be interesting to see if your belt lasts longer, though.

LarrySTN · Oct 12, 2013

Is letting the belt stretch a good thing? I sell zero turn mowers and have customers that would go through a few belts a season then ask me what is wrong. I tell them to engage the PTO with the engine just above idle with the choke pulled half way out (just momentarily). They had been at wide open throttle to engage the PTO. I ask if they started their car, shoved the gas pedal to the floor then drop it in gear?

Anonymous-0 · Oct 12, 2013

My dixie chopper eats belts, if you engage at lower speeds. Buy your belts from burden's surplus, and you won't be paying more than 15 bucks, for the same quality belt the dealer sells!

James Williams · Oct 12, 2013

David,I use a Exmart and I run a lot of hours,I replace my deck belt once a year,I always engage the belt at idel

jimmy

504-1 · Oct 12, 2013

I have had belts break with two hours on them and the next one lasted four years, engage at idle only for me.

Big Mike · Oct 13, 2013

I (Usually) only engage the belt at low r.p.m....

Traditional Farmer · Oct 13, 2013

Always a good idea to engage any drive system at a no load low RPM,engaging a belt at high RPM is like holding the throttle wide open on a tractor and dropping the clutch.

David G · Oct 13, 2013

Thanks for the feedback, seems like it was a bad belt that the dealer did not want to fess up on.

Hay hay hay · Oct 13, 2013

The deck belt on my 60" zero turn has a big chunk out of the face of it, probably 1 1/2" long and almost down to the cords. I figured it would break at a bad time so I bought a new belt, $80, to replace it. However, the old belt was working fine so I thought why not run it until it breaks?
That was 3 months ago, lots of mowing, probably 60 or 70 hours. Still going! New belt is in the cabinet...waiting.

Mower Belt

David G

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notjustair

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LarrySTN

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Anonymous-0

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James Williams

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504-1

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Big Mike

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Traditional Farmer

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David G

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Hay hay hay

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