workinonit
Elite Member
I have Kevlar on them now. The last 2 I bought were Kevlar. Prior to that it's always been standard belts which have always held up well.
So you were just going to napa and getting a B176 or whatever size?I have Kevlar on them now. The last 2 I bought were Kevlar. Prior to that it's always been standard belts which have always held up well.
I think it's safe to say then you have never ran a polyester belt.No. I buy mine OEM. From JD. It's just easier for me to go in and say give me belts and blades. They have my mower info since I bought them new there. I just take what they sell me. When I had my Caroni mower I bought those cheap belts from Agri Supply that wouldn't last a cutting season. The belts I get from JD last a couple of seasons at least. Same experience with their blades. I run mulcher kits on everything so that makes it a bit harder on belts.
Thanks for such a detailed response. My belt should be 143 3/4" long (outside measure) by 5/8" (.625").107 hrs isnt bad on a belt but it all depends on circumstances.
Constant starting and stopping of the deck are hard on belts. If you have to engage and disengage the mower 2 dozen times each time you mow it isnt gonna last nearly as long as if you only engage once....mow yard and done.
The new mowers that automatically disengage the deck when in reverse are the worst.
But kevlar belts are a must too. No standard industrial B-series or A-series belts. Those have polyester cords and wont handle the shock loads.
I have had good luck with Napa Bladerunner belts. (made by gates I believe). But they are hard to find and no good way to look up by size...and the belt numbers dont mean squat. I took the time a few years ago to go through the various 500+ blade runner belts and made a spreadsheet of them by size. If I knew the OEM and OEM part number of your belt or even a size I could give you a napa blade runner belt number in short order. And many times there are several belts close enough to work. For example sometimes if you need a given length....there might be 5 belts within +/- 1/2" and most mowers have more than enough tensioner play to make a belt 1/2" shorter or 1/2" longer work just fine with no ill effects