MTDean
New member
My Tank 48 has broken three PTO belts in the last several months. Any suggestions as to what may be wrong?
2003 Cub Cadet Tank 48 drive belt breaking
- Thread starter MTDean
- Start date
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RandyT
Elite Member
Worn pulleys causing sharp edges. Misaligned pulleys causing uneven wear. or possible a belt guide that is misplaced that is rubbing on the belt.
GBHRPS
Bronze Member
MTDean,
When I first got my used Z Force 48, I went through several PTO belts as well. Got to be an expensive routine. I determined that it was occurring when the deck height was either lower or higher than fully level alignment of the engine PTO pulley, and the deck drive pulley and deck belt tension pulley. By that I mean that if all 3 pulleys weren't exactly on the same level, the pulleys chewed up the drive belt as the mower bounced over rough ground.
The solution was to add two belt guides to the deck assembly to ensure that the belt didn't have the chance to come off either pulley and get damaged.
One guide was just a bolt long enough to be as tall as the deck drive pulley, and threads enough to allow a nut and washer above the deck, and another washer and lock nut on the underside of the deck. I drilled a hole through the deck to accommodate the bolt and placed it about a 1/4 of an inch from the side of the drive pulley, to prevent the drive belt ever having the chance to come off the pulley.
The other belt guide bolt was again just a bolt long enough to be as tall as the tension idler pulley, and still have enough thread to allow the above and below washer and nut combination. In my case I didn't need to drill a hole for this one, as there was a square hole already punched through the idler tension arm right next to the same quarter inch distance from the pulley.
Obviously in this setup, you have to install and route the drive belt on the deck, and then tighten the two guide bolts in place. To change the belt, just requires loosening the two nuts on the bottom of the guide bolts enough to lean them out of the way when replacement time comes. Since I've done this to my Z Force (4 years ago), I've not had a repeat of a damaged/thrown PTO belt.
Its dark here now, but I can get pictures tomorrow if necessary, and post them.
Gene
When I first got my used Z Force 48, I went through several PTO belts as well. Got to be an expensive routine. I determined that it was occurring when the deck height was either lower or higher than fully level alignment of the engine PTO pulley, and the deck drive pulley and deck belt tension pulley. By that I mean that if all 3 pulleys weren't exactly on the same level, the pulleys chewed up the drive belt as the mower bounced over rough ground.
The solution was to add two belt guides to the deck assembly to ensure that the belt didn't have the chance to come off either pulley and get damaged.
One guide was just a bolt long enough to be as tall as the deck drive pulley, and threads enough to allow a nut and washer above the deck, and another washer and lock nut on the underside of the deck. I drilled a hole through the deck to accommodate the bolt and placed it about a 1/4 of an inch from the side of the drive pulley, to prevent the drive belt ever having the chance to come off the pulley.
The other belt guide bolt was again just a bolt long enough to be as tall as the tension idler pulley, and still have enough thread to allow the above and below washer and nut combination. In my case I didn't need to drill a hole for this one, as there was a square hole already punched through the idler tension arm right next to the same quarter inch distance from the pulley.
Obviously in this setup, you have to install and route the drive belt on the deck, and then tighten the two guide bolts in place. To change the belt, just requires loosening the two nuts on the bottom of the guide bolts enough to lean them out of the way when replacement time comes. Since I've done this to my Z Force (4 years ago), I've not had a repeat of a damaged/thrown PTO belt.
Its dark here now, but I can get pictures tomorrow if necessary, and post them.
Gene
