Trac-Vac PTO heat

   / Trac-Vac PTO heat #1  

JonM

Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2003
Messages
32
Location
Petersburg, Indiana
Tractor
BX2200
I have been using the Trac-Vac to pick up all the grass in the beginning of the season. While I was done and cleaning it, my finger touched one of the pulleys and burnt my finger. I was amazed at the heat coming of those pulleys and wondered if the bearings might be causing it. I greased them before using it so I new that there was grease in there. They seem to spin okay, best I can do with the belts still on. Do other owners of the PTO Trac-Vac have noticed the heat and found it normal?
 
   / Trac-Vac PTO heat #2  
Hi JonM, I have a TracVac but not the PTO powered model. However, I would think the bearings would cause quite a bit of heat in the pulleys. Now how much is excessive? Beats me. Good luck
 
   / Trac-Vac PTO heat #3  
I bet the heat is from the friction of the pulley with the belt. Is the belt tension set correctly?
 
   / Trac-Vac PTO heat
  • Thread Starter
#4  
I don't know about the tension. It must have been set by the factory because the pto unit was fully assembled when I opened the box.
 
   / Trac-Vac PTO heat
  • Thread Starter
#5  
I took the guards off and checked the belts. They were slightly loose. I tightened them up a little. I mowed today but didn't use the Trac-Vac. I use it next weekend and check on the pulley heat again.
 
   / Trac-Vac PTO heat #6  
I have a pto trac vac. The gear box and pulleys get pretty hot after use.
 
   / Trac-Vac PTO heat #7  
Even with properly set belt tension, the pulleys will generate heat. The belt works against the "V" face as the belt settles into and out of the groove where it rolls on and off the pulley. There is a little friction at these points and heat is generated. On improperly tensioned belts, the problem is worse. If it is too loose, the belt slips on the pulley under load while it is in the groove as well as rolling in and out. If the tension is too tight, the rollin and rollout areas have more friction and generate more heat.
 
 
 
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