Toyboy
Platinum Member
After following Czbilly's saga about loose pulleys, how many of you release the tension on your mower deck belt over the winter as recommended???
Mowing Deck belt
- Thread starter Toyboy
- Start date
- Views: 4839
srs
Veteran Member
Toyboy, I had my old Kubota B1550 with a belly mower for about 21 years, give or take a year or two, can't remember exactly. Anyway I always released the belt from tension when I put the mower away for the winter. I would thoroughly clean the underneath of the mower deck, scraping away all the grass and then sprayed a liberal amount of WD40 to the metal area. I had the ORIGINAL belt on the mower when I sold it two years ago. It was pretty nicked up from running through piles of leaves and the occasional twig or two but it never failed me.
asylum575
Platinum Member
At over $100 for a replacement belt, I will be taking the tension off of mine this winter.
BTW,
The mower stands are nice, but since I have an extra handtruck. I've found that with two patio blocks under it, the deck stands nicely on the hand truck. A bungee to hold the shaft down and a bungee to keep the deck on the handtruck. I was able to take the pulleys and shafts off of mine easily like this.
BTW,
The mower stands are nice, but since I have an extra handtruck. I've found that with two patio blocks under it, the deck stands nicely on the hand truck. A bungee to hold the shaft down and a bungee to keep the deck on the handtruck. I was able to take the pulleys and shafts off of mine easily like this.
Attachments
B2400
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2003
- Messages
- 586
- Location
- Western Illinois
- Tractor
- 2016 B2650 ROPS, 1998 B2400 (sold!)
I follow srs's routine, along with throwing a coat of paint around the edges where it rubs away. I also check for any cracks that need welded up, a good greasing and a change of blades to ready it for spring.
I use brake spring pliers ( drum brake tool) to realease the spring and to reinstall.
I use brake spring pliers ( drum brake tool) to realease the spring and to reinstall.
Last edited:
OP
Toyboy
Platinum Member
Since this BX is new to me, is there a quick & easy way to relieve the belt tension??
asylum575
Platinum Member
With the deck off, you can push the tensioner pulley with the heel of your foot while you undo the belt from the outside pulley. It's not that easy, two man job.
What I've been doing lately is using a prybar's curved end, the one to take nails out to grab and pull(really hard) on the tensioner spring until the spring is off the hook. I put it back together the same way.
Two people make any job easier.
What I've been doing lately is using a prybar's curved end, the one to take nails out to grab and pull(really hard) on the tensioner spring until the spring is off the hook. I put it back together the same way.
Two people make any job easier.
oldballs
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2009
- Messages
- 4,536
- Location
- Kansas...USA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2620 , Case 448 , Kubota B2650
Well, half way thru the winter, I read the Manual about relieving the belt tension. So I uncovered the thing and was able to do it with some heavy leather gloves by just pulling the belt over the edge of the outer pulley at the same time turning the blade from underneath. Then came the hard part. To mount the belt took me about 2 hours. I'm 77 years old and 145 lbs and ain't nearly the man that I thought I used to be. Being alone (wife is dead and kids all gone) leaves one to use his head for a change. I wish I had a camera like you other fellas do. Anyway, I took a pipe furniture clamp and found two places where I could mount up without harming anything. And simply stretched that spring out without even a grunt. 
Stradbash
Silver Member
I've only had mine for a year but did release the tension over last winter. I could not say exactly where I pry without looking..., but I use a 3 or 4 foot length of 2"x2" as a lever to move the tension idler and slide the best off one of the pulleys. It's not really easy, but I have long arms and can do it alone.
Stradbash
Silver Member
I took a pipe furniture clamp and found two places where I could mount up without harming anything. And simply stretched that spring out without even a grunt.
Great solution!
actionaj
Gold Member
I have never released the tension on mine in the three years I have owned it. Original belt still looks brand new. Never did on previous mowers also.
rdsaustintx
Veteran Member
I do it. 15 seconds with a good prybar.
TheKid
Gold Member
oldballs
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2009
- Messages
- 4,536
- Location
- Kansas...USA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2620 , Case 448 , Kubota B2650
Say, Kid, that looks quick and simple. Nice picture too. Thanks.
OP
Toyboy
Platinum Member
Sure does, lots of good replys here from those who do and those who don't. I'll have all summer to think about it. Thanks guys
radioman
Super Member
I have done both. First couple years never messed with belt. Last winter I took it off. I agree it a PITA to remove, put back. Its another one of those inconsistant things with the KUBOTA manual. It never explains why.
EE_Bota
Elite Member
I got the mower stands a few months ago, and I got a JD rider a few months back, so I popped mine off for the first time, since I knew it would be off a while.
I just took the right pulley cover off, and pushed on the idler with one hand and rolled the belt off the right pulley with the other. I am not a strong person in my opinion, so maybe I just got lucky.
I am not certain why they recommend taking it off, but I will submit this so that maybe more knowledgeable mechanical folks might correct me, and we will have our answer.
I thought it was so you could lightly grease the shiny parts of the pulleys that the belt keeps polished so that it would not rust in the off season, and possibly over the years, pit the pulley where the belt runs, making a surface eventually that would tend to gnaw on the belt as it runs.
I popped mine off because I didn't want to risk the belt somehow "taking a set" in that position, and thought I was committing a cop-out by not putting a protectant on the pulley face.
It is a cop-out I plan to studiously continue, but the way. It is in a garage, on it's new axles, and in plain sight, so I thought instead, I would simply watch out for rust, and if it happens, arrest it immediately.
There is a process called brinnelling that I will leave to each of you to look up on your own.
Brinelling - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I never have understood when it is likely to happen, and when it is unlikely. But if someone wishes to offer an opinion on that as a possibility, I would appreciate reading it. If no one does, my opinion per the definition on Wikipedia is that it is unlikely.
The source of my confusion is the idea of rotating the shafts of motors in storage for fear of the bearings will fail just sitting there. I may have fallen for a myth so where along the way. But I rotate the shaft on my PTO generator whenever I think about it. At work as I pass a motor in storage, if I am not in a hurry, I rotate the shaft. So, if it is a myth, I am superstitious.
I just took the right pulley cover off, and pushed on the idler with one hand and rolled the belt off the right pulley with the other. I am not a strong person in my opinion, so maybe I just got lucky.
I am not certain why they recommend taking it off, but I will submit this so that maybe more knowledgeable mechanical folks might correct me, and we will have our answer.
I thought it was so you could lightly grease the shiny parts of the pulleys that the belt keeps polished so that it would not rust in the off season, and possibly over the years, pit the pulley where the belt runs, making a surface eventually that would tend to gnaw on the belt as it runs.
I popped mine off because I didn't want to risk the belt somehow "taking a set" in that position, and thought I was committing a cop-out by not putting a protectant on the pulley face.
It is a cop-out I plan to studiously continue, but the way. It is in a garage, on it's new axles, and in plain sight, so I thought instead, I would simply watch out for rust, and if it happens, arrest it immediately.
There is a process called brinnelling that I will leave to each of you to look up on your own.
Brinelling - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I never have understood when it is likely to happen, and when it is unlikely. But if someone wishes to offer an opinion on that as a possibility, I would appreciate reading it. If no one does, my opinion per the definition on Wikipedia is that it is unlikely.
The source of my confusion is the idea of rotating the shafts of motors in storage for fear of the bearings will fail just sitting there. I may have fallen for a myth so where along the way. But I rotate the shaft on my PTO generator whenever I think about it. At work as I pass a motor in storage, if I am not in a hurry, I rotate the shaft. So, if it is a myth, I am superstitious.
Bingo!!! I have never do it since 2000..Heck my brother has an older JD 455 from 1998....never done it...
