What would cause the MMM belt to "self-destruct"?

[JayC]

What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

The machine in question, as some may know, is a 2166. I was cutting the grass when all of a sudden I heard what sounded like a belt falling apart underneath me. I immediately stopped the PTO, throttled down, and turned it off. I got off and looked. I found a piece of the mower-deck belt (not the belt for the spindles) on the ground. I drove it back to the garage and took the belt off (and the MMM). I thought as long as the belt broke, I might as well take the deck off and clean it. There is a point where I can clearly see the area where it broke. In two other spots I can see where it looks like it was sliced and really close to breaking. What could have caused the other two "slices"? This is the third year I have been using the 2166. It only has 96.1 hours. Aren't belts supposed to last longer than 3 years? I'm just glad there are two lawn tractors. The other one was able to finish the job. The other lawn tractor is an MTD that is about 11 years old. It is 14 hp with a hydro. It has never had the MMM belt replaced and still cuts good. The rest of it, however, is another story. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I guess my main questions are, how long is the mower-deck belt supposed to last? Also, is there anything that coule have caused it's untimely demise? Right now, I'm more concerned with what caused the belt to break. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Btw, I almost forgot, how much does the belt cost?

 

[B2400]

Re: What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

I take it your talking about the drive belt from PTO to the deck? My old 1650 Cub REQUIRED 1 new drive belt per year. Seemed like clock work, belt replaced in May and would work great all summer, sit all winter, mow great from April till end of May and then BANG, time for a new belt.

 

[JayC]

Re: What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I take it your talking about the drive belt from PTO to the deck? )</font>

Yep, that's the one. As the Maintenance Parts Chart on the back of the manual says, it is called the Tractor to Deck Belt. The Deck Blade Belt seems fine - for now. I wonder how long it will be til that one self-destructs? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Well, I guess the good part is, is if I have to go to the dealer I can check out the new Farmalls they have sitting on their lot. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif They still got the DX33, a larger Class III Farmall, and just this last week, got a Farmall TLB in.

 

[lschultz]

Re: What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

I have a 2146 which they don't make any more I think the 2166 took its place.The pto belt came off on mine around 90 hrs. and at 100 hrs it broke. Got a new one and put on and after 20 hrs it broke. Just got anothe one and put one. At 25.00 + /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I brundished it in the way they said to too and it always says this in the shop manual I bought for it. When I was brundishing it in **** thing came off too. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Only thing I could see that might of caused it was the belt guard over one of the idler pulleys on the front. I think when I took it off the first time I just bent the wire guard enough to get the belt out. So far it has 2+ hrs on it since I replaced the last belt. Hope this one last longer than the first one cause they ain't cheap.

 

[JayC]

Re: What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

That belt thing in front of the pulley is a pain in the butt. It seems like the belt is tight enough when the belt tensioner on the mower deck is put back in place. I hate messing with that thing when trying to get the belt on or off.

When you say you were "brundishing" it, what do you mean by that?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The pto belt came off on mine around 90 hrs. and at 100 hrs it broke. )</font>

That is quite a coincidence. The belt never slipped off, but it is quite close to 100 hours when it broke. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

On a little different subject, can you mow in reverse with your 2146? If you can, what did you do to it to be able to do so? The 2146 and 2166 should be similar enough. I have figured out a little trick, sometimes I can push the reverse pedal down far enough to slowly back-up without the PTO disengaging. I would like to be able to mower faster in reverse, though.

 

[lschultz]

Re: What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

I don't know if I spelled it right.It is in the shop manual I bought for mine.You have it at half throttle(more if the engines dies)engage the pto for a few seconds and turn it off.Do this maybe 3 times at this speed.Let the belt cool off between times you engage pto.Then speed it up to 3/4 throttle and do the same thing.Then up to full throttle and same thing again.I don't have the book with me but I think it is brandsing(sp) It is suppose to make your belt last longer.I will look in the shop book when I get home.I think it had 90 hrs on it when the belt came off.My son put it back on then at 100 hrs it broke.

 

[JayC]

Re: What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

That sounds similar to what is in the owner's manual. But I thought that was the breaking in procedure for a new machine. So, I would have to do that for a new belt, too?

 

[Bird]

Re: What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think it is brandsing(sp) )</font>

I think it's "burnishing". I don't recall ever seeing anything about burnishing brakes on the cars you and I buy, and I've been out of law enforcement for over 15 years, but I know the manufacturers used to recommend that the brakes be burnished on the police sedans when they were delivered.

 

[lschultz]

Re: What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

The shop told me if you want the belt to last longer to do this.Thats what they were told by Cub Cadet.Son was mowing with it yesterday.So far so good.

 

[JayC]

Re: What would cause the MMM belt to \"self-destruct\"?

Got a new belt today. Darn thing cost $27. I did as you said about burnishing the belt. Ran it for about 5 seconds on mid-throttle, off for about 5 seconds. Rinse and repeat. Went up to 3/4 throttle, rinse and repeat, then finally full throttle, rinse and repeat. It did good for the first its first time. Now I just hope it lasts a long time yet.

Btw, will it hurt it to raise/lower the deck while the PTO is running? Since I put the new belt on, I've been a little paranoid about it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif