Belt Size on 60" MMM Rear Discharge

jwstewar · May 23, 2005

Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

Man it was a rough day mowing today. Started out by doing some push mowing around stuff that I hadn't done in awhile. Hurt something in my leg and have been hobbling around since. Gave up on that and went to "ride" on the tractor and mow. Started mowing, but thought something looked a little funny with the front pins (I'm a little bit cautious of those /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). Got down to take a look. The pins were in place just fine. But I noticed the belt had a big chunk out of it. It was about 4:30 so I decided to finished mowing, I would just "baby" it along so as not to put any extra stress on the belt. In between the rain showers, I almost made it to get the yard finished. I backed up to make a turn and all of a sudden I hear a loud racket. I thought, great, the belt didn't make it - wonder what I damaged. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I push the clutch in immediately. Shut everything and take a look. The belt is still solid, /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I then see that the PTO shaft has come apart - not come off the PTO, come apart. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I then see what had happened the mount that is mounted to the tractor that the mower deck mounts to is held on by four bolts. These came out. This has happened before. I had replaced the bolts, lock-tighted and tightened as tight as I could. Thought I had checked them when I put the deck back on for the summer. Guess not. But anyway, I still had to put the tractor away. I couldn't go forward, but I could go backwards. Couldn't have been any farther from the garage. I had to back the tractor all of the way, probably about 750'. Took awhile.

I haven't had a chance to take the deck apart yet, but I want to get a belt so that when I do I can stick one back on. Any body know what size this is so I can stop at NAPA and pick one up?

Looks like I'm going to spend Saturday putting the deck back together and doing the 300 hour maitenance. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

hazmat · May 24, 2005

Re: Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

Bummer. Can't help you on the belt size, probably the best idea is to bring it with you /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

jwstewar · May 24, 2005

Re: Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

OUCH, it just got worse /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. I had seen there was one bolt left in the lift assemply last night. I went out to get it this evening so that I could go buy more, it wasn't a complete bolt. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif The front 2 bolts came out, the rear 2 then broke off flush with the transmission casing. I've now got to get a bolt extractor and try to get these out. I guess a new belt is the least of my concerns. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

SacandagaBrad · May 24, 2005

Re: Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

Ouch is right! I think I will take a close look at mine tomorrow. I just put the deck on and mowed once so far this season, but never gave it a thought to check the mounting plate. Sorry to hear all the trouble - I've always wondered if I would have been happier with a rear mounted mower. I have finally figured out the cushion lift system, but its still a complicated system with a lot to go wrong and now hearing about the mounting plate....

I checked the manual, no listing for the belt size or even a part number to cross ref/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Keep us posted on getting it back together.

Brad

jwstewar · May 27, 2005

Re: Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

Today started out kinda bad /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif but then it got better. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Didn't wanna go to work, it was just one of those days, but I went any way. I didn't pack my lunch so I decided to run out to KFC for lunch. Was going to grab lunch and head back to work to surf for a little bit. While I was in there (maybe 5 minutes) someone managed to pack into the side of the car and damaged both left doors, about $1600 damage. Fortunately there was a witness there that got a license plate number. I've been able to track the guy down - Lord only knows I don't need another insurance claim - though none have been our fault. I decided I had had enough at work and left about 2:30 or so and got the estimate on the car.

I then came home and fixed a couple of the little problems the kids were having with their new little Chinese made ATVs we got them. So that made me feel better.

Finally decided to start tackling the tractor a little bit. I disconnected the mower deck and then I lifted the front of the tractor with the FEL and was able to slide the deck out then. I then disconnected the other half of the PTO shaft. Took out the grease zirk when it was flopping around so I'll have to replace that. Though not a big deal - lucky considering the circumstances.

I then drove the back tires up on my wooden ramps I have. Picked the front back up with the FEL and set it back down on jack stands - but I also left the FEL stuck in the dirt floor of the garage to help stabilize the tractor. I thought I was just going to mess around for a little bit, but I grabbed the cordless drill, drill bits, and the E-Z Outs that I had picked up at TSC. Started out with a 3/32, then went to 1/8, and then finally 5/32. Stuck the E-Z Out up in it, tapped it with a hammer. Brought the first one out. Had take go start taking the E-Z Out of the bolt and I start drilling the second one. Got the 5/32 drill bit wedged in the 2nd bolt and backed it out before he got back with the E-Z Out. I must have done something right or somebody finally felt sorry for me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I then grabbed the bolts and tried getting the plate back up in. It was tough. Took a few tries and and twisting of the body and pushing with the legs, but Dad was finally able to get one bolt started. I then got 2 others started. Put Lock-Tight on the 4th, and then I backed the other 3 out 1 at time and Lock-Tighted/lock washered them. Finally. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Now tomorrow morning I'll see if I can get the belt off and see if I can purchase one w/o going to the dealer - save a couple hours round trip. But before I put the deck back on, I'm going to do the 300 hour maintenance - especially since the tractor is still up in the air. But man do I feel better with that plate back up on the tractor.

I'll try to get a couple of pics of the plate and new bolts. I wanted to get some tonight, but once I took the deck off, my hands were too dirty and I wasn't about the touch the camera.

thcri · May 27, 2005

Re: Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

Yeah get some pictures so we can see what you had to go through. I want to get under mine and make sure mine are tight before I have the same trouble.

murph

TMAC · May 28, 2005

Re: Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

Jim sorry to hear about all the problems. Glad to here your not letting it get the best of you. Man the car issue probably just topped it right off huh?

Hope you get the insurance out of the guy. There's got to be some forensic evidence on his vehicle. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I've been watching to much forensic files lately as you can tell by that last comment. Hope the belt don't cause to much of a problem. Speaking of belts that serpentine belt I put on my wife's escort a month ago was almost impossible. There's no room on these vehicles anymore.

jwstewar · May 28, 2005

Re: Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Man the car issue probably just topped it right off huh? )</font>

What is funny about this, I feel sorry for our car. Before I met my wife, her and her then boyfriend hit a tree trying to dodge a deer, another deer into the side, 2 broken winshields from rocks, while she was pregant for our son she was rear ended going to work one morning, she was on a way home from school in Columbus and was rear ended in Circleville and shoved her into the car in front, she had a car come left of center and take out the mirror, I played Dukes of Hazzard with it a few months ago when I hit a dead deer and jumped the car about 4 feet, and the final - it has been broken into 3 times. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'm not sure if I'm proud that the car has stood all of the abuse or I'm scared that it is jinxed. Either way I'll be glad/disappointed when I get to retire it to the junk yard - hopefully a few more years though. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Now, back to the problem at hand. I forgot to mention what a guy at work and I came up with. I'm going to buy another set of bolts. He is going to weld a little lip or something on them that I can drill a hole in them. I will then run a pretty stiff wire (I'm thinking clothes hanger unless I can find something thinner/stiffer) between all for bolts that won't allow them to spin. Obviously the Lock-tite doesn't work in this scenario because of the different metal and the constant heating and cooling.

But, at least everytime there is a problem I get to know my tractor a little bit better. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

TMAC · May 28, 2005

Re: Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

Yes, I guess that's how we all learn... on hand experiences. You break something, you fix it, and you learn. You break something, have someone else fix it, you don't learn and you pay more. That is unless you bought the extended warranty but, you still don't learn as much and for some jobs that's more than welcomed. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Man your car sounds like it has just a little run of bad luck.

Are you sure someone hasn't wrote violate me on the back windshield? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jwstewar · May 28, 2005

Re: Belt Size on 60\" MMM Rear Discharge

Ended up making the trip to the dealers. The largest NAPA had was 156". Turns out the belt is 159.8". Maybe could've made it work, but didn't feel like taking the chance. Any time I "make something work," it usually costs me more. The belt was $50, didn't think that was too bad compared to the belt on the old pull behind mower from Agri-Fab. It was $80 and it was only 122.5".

I managed to get everything back together tonight and I got all of the fluids and filters changed for the 300 hour maitenance. I hoping to get the rear tires loaded yet this weekend - of course I want to work on the garage some too and the grass needs mowed. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Just glad my baby is all back together.