Rear Finish Mower King Kutter 48" XB Finish Mower Belt Replacement Help Needed

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I ran over a limb and it jumped into my belt and tore it to pieces. So, I ordered a new B-108 (size per King Kutter) and tried to replace it today. However, it seems to be slightly short. I tried to adjust the belt adjustment assembly by loosening the nuts per the manual. I got a little happy with it and tried to get the assembly to retract more than it was intended. Thus, I broke the threaded rod on the outer side of the L bracket. The adjustment this bracket provides seems to be minimal (movement of idler pulley).

Two issues:

Anyone have any belt replacement tips for this model? Similar models? or general belt replacement tips or tricks that could help?

As far as the threaded rod on the L bracket for the belt adjustment assembly; integral for operation? Easy to replace?

 

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Anyone?

 

[Exscriptor]

I have had several KingKutter finish mowers, all bigger, but they are all very similiar. The 48" has only one idler pulley that is adjustable. If you got the belt as a KK replacement part, then it will go on; the trick is to place the belt properly into all of the pullys except the last one (doesn't matter which one, but I always finish with a spindle pulley), then use either a flat tip screwdriver or 1/4" piece of flat steel to insert between the belt and the pully as you rotate the pully. You need to rotate the pully about 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn and it will go into the pully groove. Complete the rotation and the steel pieces will be free when it goes far enough around. You can then adjust the idler pulley as needed.
As for the threaded rod, yes you need it to adjust the belt tension. It should be easy to fix by getting the same size threaded rod, cutting to length and welding it to the idler pully bracket again. Hope this helps.

 

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Thanks!

 

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Okay, I finally got around to replacing this belt. I wanted to provide an update to this post for any other King Kutter owners that run into this problem:

First, to adjust the idler pulley with the tensioner, loosen the nut on the pulley. You will have to lift the mower up and hold the bolt from underneath to do this or it will not loosen enough. I had to use square tubing and a mini hand sledge to force the bracket over since I had broken the threaded rod. I then loosened (almost to removal) the other idler pulley. The belt was wrapped around all pulleys, except for the v-groove pulley next to this idler pulley.

Forcing the belt with one hand while I rotated the blade with the other gave me enough force and leverage to get the belt in the v-groove pulley. I then tightened the idler pulley with an impact wrench. DDONE!