Busted Fan Belt - One Thing Leads to Another?

[fredoroberts]

The fan belt on my B2150 broke the other day so I ordered two from my dealer and waited. Last evening when I tried to do the simple (it was simple the last time I did this on my VW bug fifteen years ago) task I had a hard time figuring out how to get the belt over the fan pulley.

It looks like is has to go over the fan, the hydraulics radiator, and through the hydraul. rad holder before you can get to the fan pulley. Am I missing something or is there an easier way to do this? Also as I was fooling around I noticed that the alternator pulley was extremely hard to turn. Is it supposed to be like that? Maybe the alt. pully bearing froze up and thus caused the belt to break in the first place? If the alternator bearing is frozen or too stiff, can it be repaired or should I get a new or updgrade to a beefier alternator? Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[W5FL]

Alternators should spin easily. You can take it to a place that rebuilds generators/starters and get them to replace the bearings and brushes for a reasonable amount of money or you can take it apart and MAYBE do it your self for 1/2 the money. Probably cost less than $75 for them to do it all.

I would guess that the new alternator is much more expensive. Also do not necessary think you can replace it with an automotive type. The last guy that did that has a wire run from the alternator to a switch near the steering wheel where he pushes the switch when the tractor is running to charge the field and then it charges after that. Easy solution and the alternator cost a lot less. Kinda messy if you didn't expect it. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[Thomas]

Fred.
Did you buy your Kubota with in the last year,if so I would contact the dealer.

Yes indeed your pully should turn freely,and your ower's manual should give you adjustment information.

If a belt is over tighten it will damage your bearing with in time,for it will strain one side of the bearing.
A over tighten belt will heat up and have a glaze on the inside,than after while it will come off or break,so check the inside of your belt.

Also any fluilds like oil & anti freeze will damage a belt,and anti freze will damage a bearing quickly.

I hope you have better luck.

 

[gordon]

Thomas and Wen covered it pretty good. If you do decide to go to an auto style and need to run a field wire just repost and I could explain a couple easy ways to do it.

First I would look into getting your alt. rebuilt by a shop that specializes in rebuilding alts. they would do a much better job and cheaper than the dealer. Not to put down any dealer but those are facts.

If you decide on new from an autoparts store try to get a lifetime warr on it just in case. Many rebuilt alts. from automotive stores will go bad in a short period of time under the adverse conditions of a tractor.
Gordon

 

[Alan W.]

Do you have an alternator or a dynamo on your tractor? My 2150 had a dynamo. They are smaller and put out less amps. They do not spin freely even when new. Mine went belly up last year. I can't recall what I gave for a new one plus overnight freight, but it was low enough that I didn't consider rebuilding the one I had. Plus I needed the tractor the next day. When it froze up the belt didn't break but it sure did smoke, replaced it anyway. When I took the old dynamo off it broke loose and could be turned by hand. I threw it in the spare parts bin, who knows?

 

[fredoroberts]

You are right!

Thanks for your input Alan. Yea, I have dynamo, not an alternator. I ordered a new one for about $200. When you say they are not free spinning, just how hard are they supposed to be to turn? Do you have an good tips on installing the fan belt? I have a loader on and it looks like the hyraulic pump is in the way. Also did you work from the top or underneath the tractor?

 

[Alan W.]

Re: You are right!

I paid $180.00 for mine and that included the overnight shipping. Yes they are expensive for the little thing. I can't remember how I went about replacing the belt. They are fairly stiff to turn and when you turn them they will feel jerky, this is due to the magnets inside pulling as they become aligned and unaligned.

 

[gordon]

Re: You are right!

Good call Alan I totally overlooked that call on the dynamo.
Gordon

 

[fredoroberts]

Dynamo wire reconnection

I'ts a done deal now. Actually the fan belt was a snap, just needed to thread it under the hydraulic radiator, not over. Was not sure about how to reconnect the dynamo wires since they all are the same color. Made the uncomfortable assumtion that since they were all the same color it didn't matter how they were connected (had a 50/50 chance). Everything seems to work ok, so far so good.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Alan W.]

Re: Dynamo wire reconnection

I did the same thing. I yanked the old one off without paying any attention to the wires. Then I did the same as you I just hooked it up and hoped for the best.