CalG
Super Member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2011
- Messages
- 5,095
- Location
- vermont
- Tractor
- Hurlimann 435, Fordson E27n, Bolens HT-23, Kubota B7200
I've got an old Mighty-Vac 48 inch cut walk behind mower. I guess they are all Skagg now.
I've had the mower more than twenty years and got it cast off from the previous owner. He wanted something new.
I've replaced the blade drive belt twice over these years, and each time with the closest V-belt from the local auto parts store.
Of course, a regular vee belt is not designed to be bent backwards as it runs over the tension pulley, so the inner belt V starts breaking up before the chord is shot.
The thing is, I have no information on the correct belt size/ length except for the belts that have come off. By the time the old belt gets replaced the flat side is so worn there is nothing to read regarding belt specs.
Last belt I fitted took three tries to get the length to run over the pulleys and get the lever actuated tensioner to fall within it's adjustment range. Fortunately the counter man was good natured, and I didn't scuff up the new belts during the fitting attempts. I wrote the belt size down on the sheet metal with a marker. 84" IIRC.
The mower needs a new drive belt now. There are more cracks on the inner V than there is good material. It's hanging by the cords, and I would like to get a real "mower belt" this time. There are no "full service mower shops" around that I know of anymore. Buying by guess over the internet isn't something I enjoy (unless the correct belt came the first time! ;-) There is no way of telling if the sizes will run true between the mower belts and the B series belts I've been fitting.
What might be a good path towards a new belt? I can't see carrying the belt around in the truck in case I happen to drive past a good mower shop. It's a bit of a task to refit the belt, and would really only like to do it only one more time. Using history as a guide, one more time aught to do it for either the mower or me. We will see who gives in first ;-)
TIA for you comments
I've had the mower more than twenty years and got it cast off from the previous owner. He wanted something new.
I've replaced the blade drive belt twice over these years, and each time with the closest V-belt from the local auto parts store.
Of course, a regular vee belt is not designed to be bent backwards as it runs over the tension pulley, so the inner belt V starts breaking up before the chord is shot.
The thing is, I have no information on the correct belt size/ length except for the belts that have come off. By the time the old belt gets replaced the flat side is so worn there is nothing to read regarding belt specs.
Last belt I fitted took three tries to get the length to run over the pulleys and get the lever actuated tensioner to fall within it's adjustment range. Fortunately the counter man was good natured, and I didn't scuff up the new belts during the fitting attempts. I wrote the belt size down on the sheet metal with a marker. 84" IIRC.
The mower needs a new drive belt now. There are more cracks on the inner V than there is good material. It's hanging by the cords, and I would like to get a real "mower belt" this time. There are no "full service mower shops" around that I know of anymore. Buying by guess over the internet isn't something I enjoy (unless the correct belt came the first time! ;-) There is no way of telling if the sizes will run true between the mower belts and the B series belts I've been fitting.
What might be a good path towards a new belt? I can't see carrying the belt around in the truck in case I happen to drive past a good mower shop. It's a bit of a task to refit the belt, and would really only like to do it only one more time. Using history as a guide, one more time aught to do it for either the mower or me. We will see who gives in first ;-)
TIA for you comments
