Max28 MMM belts

[roughcut]

I have smoked 2 belts in the last 2 weeks on my Max28 MMM. It is the small belt going from the gear housing to the blade drive belt. The number on it is 012761. Another number on it is 0512. Dealer charges $56.00 for one and I would like to find an aftermarket belt that may cost a bit less. If anyone has found one please let me know where I can get one.
The reason for burning them up is when mowing through heavy grass the front of the deck can actually get lifted higher than the set point and the pulley comes into contact with the cross brace for the FEL. There is a stop bracket on the back of the deck but before I mow again I will be adding another stop for the front of the mower. I tried flipping that brace over but there was not enough room without some modification. By turning it over I could get about 1 1/2 inches more clearance for the deck to move up so that may be another option. A concern would be how it might effect the support for the FEL.
Another question I have is why is the pulley on the gear housing is so skinny compared to the pulley for the blade drive. I am wondering if the "V" opening of the pulley could have been closed when it came into contact with the FEL brace? Any thoughts?

Dave

 

[oldpilgrim]

take the broken belt to any good auto parts store...not the box stores but the private ones that sell to local repair shops. They'll be able to measure it and get you a proper belt. I've gotten them like that many times.


Most likely you'll need something like the Gates green belts, that are made for heavy duty use.

 

[Browneyesvictim]

Look up Goodyear Agri-Torque belts if you want one that will last. They definitely cost more but worth every penny! Sorry I cant give you a part number or belt length at the moment.

I also know on the Max 25 there are two rubber bumpers screwed into each side of the frame on the bottom of the tractor where you are talking about that stop the deck from coming up (in addition to the one you speak of in the back). Dunno if there are supposed to be any of those for the 28.

<Edit- Additional information>

To answer your question on the pulleys... When you route the belt, you will notice the belt wraps around some pulleys with the belt taper on the inside, and some wrap with the backside of the belt in the groove of the pulley. That's why some groves are thicker.

 

[roughcut]

Thanks for the responses. I took the pulley off last night. It is the one on the front that is the double pulley. Sure enough when the deck got pushed up and the pulley hit the cross bracket the pulley got flattened out on the top. I haven't got a price for a new one yet but I'm sure it isn't going to be cheap. I brought the one I took off to the shop this morning to see if we can bend the angle back to where it should be but I have my doubts.