Urgently Need Help

[Jmathis337]

Hi I have a 345 John Deere 1998 54 inch deck original deck. The mower has almost 3000 hours ok so the problem. I had been mowing started the season off great ran like a champ. Then one day the belt that goes from pto to the deck just snapped I was like ok maybe it is old and needs to be replaced. I replace said belt for the lovely price of 30 dollars then I mowed a couple of yards one yard had pretty high grass. I then go back to my families yard where it broke and would you believe it broke in like the same exact spot what is going on?

 

[davesl708]

Hi. Welcome.

Verify the belt routing is correct and not dragging or binding up.
If correct check the sheave and spindle bearings on the deck. If seizing will burn the belt.
Inspect the sheaves for damage or sharp edges.

 

[Jmathis337]

Belt routing is correct it just goes from one pulley to the next pulley sheaves what are sheaves sorry for the question but i have no idea my initial thought was the lever on the deck for removal of pto belt was bad or loose but I can tell the belt have a piece missing when it snapped but wasn't really hot to the touch

 

[davesl708]

sheaves same as pulleys.
If it snapped something is snagging and breaking/cutting the belt.
Are the bearings on the mower deck moving freely or is there a grinding feeling when you move them?
Are the bearing taking grease?

 

[Jmathis337]

the deck bearing I greased yesterday right before I mowed and they all took grease fine there is not grinding all I did notice was a slight deck cavitation

 

[davesl708]

Not sure what you mean by deck cavitation. The bearings on the deck should move with little resistance. Are the pulleys lined up correctly?
Did one of them loosen and slip out of alignment?

 

[Jmathis337]

I haven't went as far as to check that currently what I mean by cavitation is the deck started to wobble or get a vibration in it that wasn't there then snap goes the belt

 

[davesl708]

That sounds like a bearing seizing up or a linkage is loose or disconnected. Something is putting a heavy load on the belt to get it to snap.
Are the belts on the deck routed correctly and not rubbing a guide?
Is there a clutch/brake on the deck to stop the blades when you disengage the belt?

 

[Jmathis337]

As far as I know it is a electronic pto the belts are routed correctly as last year it ran just fine with zero problems the only linkage problems I could think of would be the tension spring which looks like it is from 1998 that you have to pull to take slack off the pulleys to replace the belt the only thing I can think of is it is giving the belt slack then instantly popping back causing the belt to flex hard once under a load again?

 

[Walt 2002]

Don't know what you problem is but if you live near an oil field supply store, very likely you can get you expensive belt there much cheaper and it will be good quality, at least that is the case here.

Walt Conner