link belt on x300 mower deck and pto clutch operation?

[Diggin It]

So buy one and measure it.

Then do the same with generics.

 

[RickB]

Basically other boards like this. JD is said to use a steeper angle. Something like 32 degrees instead of 36-40.

I have sold aftermarket belts for a variety of brands over the years including Deere mowers of different models. Never had a width/angle issue, never had a customer complain about fitment (other than length) and never had a supplier suggest anything of the kind. My BS meter is pegged.

 

[Diggin It]

I agree generics will fit. I use them.

But if you read the stated specs, they're different. JD belts often list odd lengths in other than inch increments. Example is the belt for the X300 mower:

John Deere Deck Drive Belt - M154621

Measures:

146.244-inch effective length*
0.559-inch width

*Effective length is the outside circumference under tension

But the generics are listed at 1/2" x 146" and work fine. JD purists will insist they're not the same and won't work as well. It's all marketing BS.

The JD part number for the 17HP Kawaski engine in the X300 is listed as FH491V. My local small engine shop that is a Kawasaki repair shop insists that number is not valid. It does not come up in their system at all. But if they pull up FH451V, they find it and all parts are interchangeable. Some websites will pull up both numbers if you enter the JD number, but not all will. I don't know if there are any functional differences between the two or if it's just a number change for the JD system.

 

[Hill-Billy]

I had a problem with my X300 mower deck belt breaking, so rather than cut the threads shorter on the adjusting rod, I installed the bracket on the outside. It's currently installed on the inside and it's too close to the belt. This is the grass shoot side of the mower deck.
I removed the bracket, ground the weld and removed the existing pin, and welded on a new (longer) pin to the bracket, and reassembled. This allowed the threaded adjusting rod to be installed on the outside of the bracket, nowhere near the belt. Works great now. all I used was 1/2" dia rod x 2" long and a small piece of flat bar 1-1/8 long x 1/2 wide x 1/8 thick. I attached pics. Now I use a $20 kevlar belt from Ebay with no problems.

 

[freezmcnally]

I will look again but I could not find anything in the way. I have had the deck off many many times now. there are now adjustment bolts coming close. I can't figure it out. there's a bit of slop in the tensioner arm. im probably getting ready to either buy a new deck or a new mower.

View attachment 654572View attachment 654573View attachment 654574View attachment 654575
I had a problem with my X300 mower deck belt breaking, so rather than cut the threads shorter on the adjusting rod, I installed the bracket on the outside. It's currently installed on the inside and it's too close to the belt. This is the grass shoot side of the mower deck.
I removed the bracket, ground the weld and removed the existing pin, and welded on a new (longer) pin to the bracket, and reassembled. This allowed the threaded adjusting rod to be installed on the outside of the bracket, nowhere near the belt. Works great now. all I used was 1/2" dia rod x 2" long and a small piece of flat bar 1-1/8 long x 1/2 wide x 1/8 thick. I attached pics. Now I use a $20 kevlar belt from Ebay with no problems.

 

[freezmcnally]

guys thanks for the replies. I tried the link belt. it works, and when it throws it I can link it back together and put it back on instead of being out another 65 bucks....BUUUUT, it slips. I don't think its quite wide enough, or stretches too much, or is of a slicker material...but it did work, just not well in thick grass and starts slipping. (just picked another OEM jd one up last week. shredded it after several hours. put it back on. it broke when I engaged pto (at idle). im stumped....its a bad design I guess. the dish on the top makes the area where the spindles mount rust. the belt is over complicatedly routed etc. right now its costing me $65 per mow.
im looking at either buying a new deck for it (anyone know if I can buy a different size deck for x300?). or just a brand new mower at about twice the price of the deck.

 

[freezmcnally]

where can I get blue kevlar belts, Id be interested in the brand. contrary to what other guys are saying and having gone through this mess of a process, JD belts are only marginally better than the off brand ones. it is true they are wider, but it didn't keep the thing from flipping off and shredding and then ultimately snapping in two. I will be doing a search for 'blue kevlar belts now...just never happened on them yet.

The JD branded belts are junk. Very short life from the one I bought ... ONE. Never again. I switched to the blue Kevlar belts for $20 or so. To be fair, I ate one of those too, but my deck has more hours than most - just over 1,000 now.

 

[Diggin It]

D&D Powerdrive or Jason are two I've tried for different machines.

JD part number should be M154621; search that and add kevlar ( M154621 Kevlar ) and you should find some options. Should be a 1/2" x 146".

 

[freezmcnally]

D&D Powerdrive or Jason are two I've tried for different machines.

JD part number should be M154621; search that and add kevlar ( M154621 Kevlar ) and you should find some options. Should be a 1/2" x 146".

thanks, I will give these a try

 

[freezmcnally]

update
well I needed to mow and didn't have any more belts until I order more. I took the deck off. I re-bent the idler pulley so that it looked to line up with the other pulley a bit better. As others suggested I installed the lift arms on the OUTSIDE of the deck housing slot instead of where its supposed to go to allow for more bolt clearance. I Also reworked the governor and throttle assembly so that it almost stalls at idle when I engage pto to limit as much jolt as possible. I also reinstalled the link belt and retensioned. I just mowed some and it worked quite well....I just don't know how long it will be before something goes wrong again. the only bad thing about link belt is the potential slip in very deep or wet thick grass...otherwise it operates quite smoothly.....I will keep you posted