Riding mower belt issue....question...

[illinoisguy]

I'm somewhat challenged in this area...but....

I replaced the lawnmower belt less than a year ago. This is the one that spins the blades. I noticed that there was a single thread that unraveled out of the belt. I cut the thread off. However, the belt feels flimsy. I have already ordered another belt but...have any of you ever had that to unravel on you? Did it lose its stiffness after that?

[illinoisguy]

Maybe not flimsy but more elastic and stretchy.

[farmerDale]

Hmmm. Belts should last longer than that IMO. I would suggest a couple things. Check to make sure the pulleys are properly aligned with eachother so the belt is running true. Check the bearings as well that there is no wiggly pulleys, they should be rigid. Also, when you buy a new belt, go to a farm store and put some money down for a good quality belt. Like everything, there are weak and flimsy belts, and more tough, longer lasting belts.

For a belt to lose a thread, it could be running untrue, be too wide a belt, or just be really poor quality.

[JawjaBoy]

It's also possible that something got between the belt and pulley while you were cutting (rock, stick, etc.). I've found that it's worth the extra money to go with kevlar belts. A good source here is ACE hardware. They carry Rotary brand belts and these have been very good belts. Plus they are a lot less than OEM belts from Lowe's, Home Depot and such.

[Harry Chickpea]

Heh. I use a mower as part-time bushhog. Belts are supposed to wear and fall apart.

If the pulleys are in-line and not nicked, and the mandrels are lubed properly, don't worry about it. On a mower, the belt takes the place of the shear bolt on a tractor attachment as the weak point in the power transmission chain. If you hit a solid resistance with the mower, the belt needs to slip enough or give to prevent damage to the motor. Sometimes that involves a part of the webbing failing. The trick is to balance things so the belt doesn't wear prematurely from being too loose or the belt transferring each jolt to the motor from being too tight.

[plowjockey]

My 40 year old JD 110, manual states that "shreds" are normal wear, and should be trimmed off.

More modern belts, should not shred at all IMO.

Cheap belts are probably just that. Newer JD belts wear like iron, but are priced anything but cheap.

Buy a spare and run the one you have till it gives out .

[Larburlingame]

I was going thru 2 or 3 belts a summer. I was going to the dealer and getting new belts. My wife got fed up and told me to take the old belt to a discount place and find a belt. I did and the discount belt lasted years.

[o&itw]

I learned my lesson after having trouble wearing out belts from the farm store. Then I went to an auto parts store and paid a little extra. The belts last 3 times as long.

Make sure the tightening lever on the idler pulley is in the right position and that the spring has not stretched.

Actually, now I buy both belts and bolts from the local machine shop.

The belts and bolts are better than from anyplace else, and less expensive too.

[Ozarks Tom]

I found out the hard way you can't replace a mower deck belt with a run of the mill V belt from an auto parts store. Deck belts are considerably stiffer and stronger. Make sure ALL your pulleys are greased, and when you have the belt off check the bearings. I apparently missed a zert on the clutch pulley, and cost myself $250.

[simi-steading]

Gates Lawn and Garden belts tend to last longer than OEM belts..