Sitrex SM-150 finish cut mower - HOW the *^%& do you change the belts on it??

[kebo]

My gosh, what were these Italian engineers drinking when they came up with this design.?? I bought this used mower last Feb. and started using it in April or so. Before that, I spent some time greasing it up and tightening the belts. I did notice they were pretty worn and would need replacing soon, but I hoped it would make it though the summer. I did go ahead and order new belts & blades for it, though, so I would have them on hand.

Well, last weekend one of the belts shredded itself so I had to park the 3pt mower and revert to using the riding mower to do all of the yard mowing. This morning I tried to replace the belts. I cut the old ones off, and then spent 20 minutes just looking at how in the world you put the new belts on. The only way I can see is to remove the six bolts that hold the heavy mounting plate for the 80lb gearbox in place, and raise it up a half inch or so, just so you can squeeze the new belts in place.

I have read the manual (which is online) and there is nothing in there about replacing the belts. Has anyone done this before? If so, how did you go about replacing them?

 

[Halftrack]

I have a larger model Sitrex (5 blade) and the gearbox is located on the front portion of the deck. I got by with only removing the 3 bolts to the rear of the mounting plate to slip the belts over the rear double pulley. I was able to slip them under the gearbox pulley as is. Used a pry bar to raise the rear portion. The 5 blade mower has 2 belts which both hit the drive pulley and the rear center blade pulley. If your mower has 2 belts keep in mind the order they mount each pulley- the top belt goes under the drive pulley first, the lower belt goes over the common pulley first. Hope this helps!!!!

 

[GManBart]

I have a larger model Sitrex (5 blade) and the gearbox is located on the front portion of the deck. I got by with only removing the 3 bolts to the rear of the mounting plate to slip the belts over the rear double pulley. I was able to slip them under the gearbox pulley as is. Used a pry bar to raise the rear portion. The 5 blade mower has 2 belts which both hit the drive pulley and the rear center blade pulley. If your mower has 2 belts keep in mind the order they mount each pulley- the top belt goes under the drive pulley first, the lower belt goes over the common pulley first. Hope this helps!!!!

That's exactly how I did it on my 5-blade model as well....was pretty easy actually.

 

[kebo]

Ok, sounds like I'm going to have to loosen those 6 bolts, whether I want to or not. I was hoping there was a trick I was missing that would avoid doing that. Thanks for the replies!