Mower belt troubles

[Iplayfarmer]

I went out and checked and the pulleys are seemingly correct. There is no slop in them now and no wobbles. One thing about hot. The belts were getting hot, smell and feel. I have a small IR non-contact temp checker and used it on the crank mounted PTO pulley. Horizontal shaft engine. Just flipping it on and running the mower around the back yard (1/2 mile circle) the pulley got up to 178F. It's the same temp as the front of the engine basically. I flipped on the pto and turned it with the crank snout by hand (wrench) and it felt smooth.

It's got me stumped. I was hoping to find something semi -obvious before poping for a new belt.

Oh well, leaving for cub scout camp in the AM so it will have to sit for a bit.

Thanks for the inputs.

I'm just guessing here, but could the PTO clutch be a little loose and be allowing just enough slippage to create heat?

Heat will definately accellerate the demise of a belt. 2 hrs. just doesn't cut it. (no pun intended)

 

[alchemysa]

My Local belt shop didn't have a 73" green belt for my Viking ride-on. So I bought a standard black belt. Quite a bit cheaper. Fitted it on the weekend and it felt and sounded good. I'm starting to wonder if the green fabric coated belts (to allow slippage) are such a good idea after all. Slippage creates heat.

Time will tell if I'm going to have problems in other areas.

 

[bontai_Joe]

Did this tractor loose some of the sheetmetal shrouding around the engine compartment that directs cooling air (air cooled motor right?)? Or is there an accumulation of grass clippings, leaves, etc up underneath holding in heat?

 

[doxford jim]

Hi,

Usually a hot belt indicates slippage. Are there any adjustments that could be out?

Tw oweeks ago my belts started slipping - I noticed it when going into long grass, the blades slowed down and I got some squeelng (not normal). When I checked I found the belts had started to deteriorate a little from slipping. I sprayed belt dressing on all the pulleys I could reach and no more slippage - at least for now. They will be replaced soon, but I am hoping to get another month or two before replacing completely. The belt dressing made a big difference.Might be worth trying out on your machine.

Jim

 

[zzvyb6]

On another thread there is mention of a Cub deck problem solved by adding another idler pulley. It looks like the belts is slapping itself. (That's Always a bad sign).

 

[TedLaRue]

If the PTO pulley is hotter than the engine block, then the belt must be slipping.

A belt slips when it's not under enough tension (or is old and worn, which doesn't apply to you).

The belt probably passes over an idler pulley which is mounted on a spring loaded pivoting arm. If the spring is weak (unlikely) or the pivot point is frozen up or stiff (more likely), then the belt won't be kept in tension, causing the belt to slip on the PTO pulley. It may be under tension when the deck is up, but not when it is down, or vica versa.

Check the belt tensioner.