Mower deck belt cover

[Mechanos]

Since there have been several safety discussions as of late, I though I'd throw this topic into the fray...

I come away with the following from a couple of the recent "safety discussions":

It's bad to disable a safety interlock because it interferes with the convenience of performing a task.

It's ok to defeat the safety mechanism on the new fangled gas cans because it interferes with the convenience of performing a task.

So, now that I've pull the lid off of Pandora's box, I bring up the topic of belt covers on mower decks. When I bought my 322 w/ 50" MMM, I pulled the cover off to check things out, replace bearing on a spindle etc. When I removed the cover, I found entire area underneath the cover packed with grass clippings which trapped moisture and was starting to corrode things under the cover. Once I cleaned that stuff out and did my maintenance, I reinstalled the deck minus the cover and have been running it that way ever since. When I'm done mowing, I blow the machine and the deck off with compressed air to remove all the clippings that accumulate. I just recently put a reworked JD 272 RFM into service that had the same problem. Once the belt cover was removed, again I found copious amounts of moldy, rotting clipping trapping moisture and had allow some extensive corrossion to set it. After reworking the mower with new bearings, belt, rebuild gearbox, stripping and repainting, again I intend to leave the belt cover off this deck as well so debris can be cleaned off after use and not allowed to build up and cause other problems. I'm sure I hear what an idiot I am from some of you and how smart I am from others... let the fun begin.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Well, if you're going to get chastised, they're going to have to include me. I did exactly the same thing to a 455 60" deck. When I finished digging the crud out, cleaning up the rust and repainting I wasn't about to put that cover back on. I'm not quite as fastidious as you, though. I don't blow mine off after every use, but I blast it with the hose every few uses and have never seen any corrosion re-appearing where I cleaned it up. It would take a pretty bizarre set of circumstances for me to get tangled up in that belt (knock on wood that it never happens), so I am going to leave it off, pay attention to what I'm doing and take my chances.

 

[yelbike]

What about making new covers out of expanded metal?

 

[roush9799]

I left mine off my 855 when I had it. I was more scared of a fire with all the dried clipping in there. So far I have left them on my 2520, as one I need for a step with the 72" deck, but I think they have a much better fit, and not near as many clippings get under there.

 

[TripleR]

Our belt covers are easy to take off, so we just remove and blow them out after each use, works for us, my father in law left his off from the day he got it, worked for him.

 

[Gator6x4]

Add me to the list of those who removed the belt covers. I personally see no use other than collect grass and debris and rust out the deck.

 

[Ed L]

Haven't ran a deck cover on my 955's MMM for years...or a rops or a seat safety switch....

Ed

 

[MoKelly]

I just remove the belt covers when I clean out the deck and replace when finished. Takes a few minutes. I just don't feel comfortable seeing the belt spin while I am around that thing. Just me. Plus, I have kids (16 and 14) and, trust me, their brains don't quite work like some of us older folks regarding being careful.

Disabling a gas can spout ain't quite as dangerous as what can happen around a working, spinning tractor or mower.

MoKelly

 

[Scooby074]

I pull the covers off the deck belts too, for the same reason above. Namely holding moist grass and causing rust. Makes it easier to grease the spindles too,