Mowing MMM belt life?

[TripleR]

I visited our 2003 BX2200 yesterday and with 700+ hours of heavy use it has the original belts.

 

[mozark]

My first belt on the BX2350 only lasted less than 100hrs. I didn't always mow at near WOT and the parasitic oscillations that set up on the belt at the different rpm's literally beat it to death. I installed a couple of idlers on the long span of the belt (along the back of the deck where the belt goes between both outside pulleys) just in case, but probably always mowing at or close to WOT (which I always do now) would probably have kept it from happening again too.

 

[carlcroom]

I have a 2001 BX2200 with about 850 hours on it and the mower belt is original. I bought a new one last summer, intending to replace it. But the old just keeps going and going.

 

[LBrown59]

Abe - I have over 1,300 hours on my 2003 B7500. About 85% of that time was mowing with the RCK60-24B MMM, including mowing my horse pasture and meadow until this year. Still on original belt. No signs of wear/tear.

I have just over 1400 hours and 7 years on My BX23 .
Belt is just fine.

 

[sw03]

For those of you that use your Kubota's with a MMM to mow, how long would you expect the belt on the deck to last? I got about 60 hrs. out of mine when it went on me. I believe my deck is an RC60-25 mounted under an L2250. I was hoping to get more life out of it. Price of a new belt from Kubota was about $98.00. I ordered one from CBS equipment for about $51.00.
Abe.

I have had a bx22 and now a 24...Never releave tention in winters and new had replaced a belt yet.

Was the mower set-up correctly?

 

[638]

Low RPM and dull blades will make the belt slip. A belt that slips won't last very long. Sharp blades and wide open throttle are the way to go.

 

[AbeK]

650ish hours on our B7500. Couple hundred on the BX2660.
What went on the belt?
I would ONLY get a kevlar wrapped belt for a mower. Seen too many "cheap" non-wrapped belts shredded and one kevlar wrapped one last for a long time (in commercial mowing with a 61" Husky ZTR)

Aaron Z

Hey Aaron; I was cutting last Saturday when I noticed smoke coming from under the belt covers. Opened it up and found a badly frayed belt. I don't know whether this was an oem belt or not, I bought this tractor in October of last year and was told it had a brand new belt. Are the oem belts from Kubota kevlar wrapped?
Abe.

 

[AbeK]

Low RPM and dull blades will make the belt slip. A belt that slips won't last very long. Sharp blades and wide open throttle are the way to go.

Hello Ron; my blades were in need of sharpening, I'm planning to get new blades for it tomorrow, Gator blades if I can find any made for this mower. My RPM is always @ 2400 and the pto @ 1000. Would you rev up your rpm's and then engage the pto for the deck or engage the pto first and then rev up? Are you saying that the combination of low rpm and dull blades will make your belt slip or would the belt slip if blades are dull even @ 2400 rpm?
Abe.

 

[aczlan]

Hello Ron; my blades were in need of sharpening, I'm planning to get new blades for it tomorrow, Gator blades if I can find any made for this mower. My RPM is always @ 2400 and the pto @ 1000. Would you rev up your rpm's and then engage the pto for the deck or engage the pto first and then rev up? Are you saying that the combination of low rpm and dull blades will make your belt slip or would the belt slip if blades are dull even @ 2400 rpm?
Abe.

Low RPMS while mowing (not while engaging the PTO) will cause the machine to have to work harder and can cause the belt to slip in some cases (compare splitting wood with the ax 6" from the block to using a full swing).

Same with dull blades.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Hey Aaron; I was cutting last Saturday when I noticed smoke coming from under the belt covers. Opened it up and found a badly frayed belt. I don't know whether this was an oem belt or not, I bought this tractor in October of last year and was told it had a brand new belt. Are the oem belts from Kubota kevlar wrapped?
Abe.

I think so. Look at an unbroken section. Is there a cloth looking material on the sides and "bottom"? If so, yes.
I can look at our BX tomorrow.

Aaron Z