Cub 5000 MMM eating belts

Cub5k · Jul 14, 2005

Cyberkrazze, I called the Cub dealer this morning and found out that there is a retrofit kit to prevent the belt slapping problem. Apparently they have a kit that adds another idler pulley to the deck. Hope it solves the problem. Thanks to everyone for all the replies. This group is a great resource.

viking65 · Jul 14, 2005

hey bill, let us know the part number for the retrofit kit. I'm going to ask the my dealer about it and see if I can go ahead and have it installed when I take my tractor in for service. Thanks

Cub5k · Jul 15, 2005

Viking, Its probably a good idea to go ahead and get it asap because Cub accessories are only warranted for a year. I assume that the deck is an accessory even though it was a "bundled" deal with my tractor. I asked my dealer whether there would be a charge and he said he would check with Cub. Hope I don't have to pay for it. I had a 3204 before this tractor and had terrible problems with the deck. You wouldn't think mower decks would be that hard to design properly the first time. Anyway, hope this helps.

cyberkrazze · Jul 15, 2005

When we got the 5000 series tractors in, we were one of the first dealers to get them. We sold many of them and they all had this belt problem. After many hours of testing and trying different things, I changed the tensioner pulley to make it a deeper pulley and then added two other pulleys on the deck. I did this to about 10 decks. I filed warranty claims on every one and emailed Cub the pictures of what i did to the decks. After about a year, the decks started coming in with improvements, not the same, but they haven't been breaking belts. There is a service advisory that was out last fall to all Cub dealers. I don't have the service advisory number on me now. This also should be covered under warranty since Cub knows that there is a problem. i've neve had a problem with a warranty issue like this. Hope this helps.

Cub5k · Jul 16, 2005

Cyberkrazze, do you know if the idler pulley that they use takes care of the problem? Sounds like your solution was more elaborate. What design change did they make in the new decks? I picked up my belt today and it was $55. I really don't want to be replacing them anymore unless its from regular wear.

JimR · Jul 16, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Cyberkrazze, do you know if the idler pulley that they use takes care of the problem? Sounds like your solution was more elaborate. What design change did they make in the new decks? I picked up my belt today and it was $55. I really don't want to be replacing them anymore unless its from regular wear. )</font>

Take your new belt and measure it. Go to your local auto parts store and see if they carry a replacement for it. Sometimes they can get the belt for a lot less money. Also check out www.cheapmowerparts.com for parts.

OhioGuy · Jul 16, 2005

Good advice Jim,
My Woods finish mower takes a 180" belt! It's was around $90 at any tractor supply I checked on. A friend suggested I try an industrial supply place in the area, they had it in stock for about $35.

I've got a year and a half on the new one with no visible signs of wear.

Curt

Cub5k · Jul 16, 2005

JimR, I did that last year when it broke a belt. I got one that was exactly the same length but I think it was slightly thinner. Anyway it broke almost immediately. If I can get the belt tension problem fixed I shouldn't need to buy a belt very often.

OhioGuy · Jul 16, 2005

Bill,

There is a pulley on my 5252 that seemed to me to have no purpose, I'll bet it limits the travel on the long side of the belt.

I'll bet your deck doesn't have this pulley.....

Curt

Cub5k · Jul 17, 2005

Other than the one drive and 3 spindle pulleys, my deck has a spring loaded idler pulley on the right (passenger) side of the deck and one static idler pulley adjacent to the center spindle pulley. There is a long run from the spring loaded idler pulley all the way across the deck to the left spindle. Thats probably where you are saying there is an additional pulley.