What's the average life of a 2500 PTO belt?

[Morkai]

I was just curious how long most have had their 2500 series PTO belts lasting? I just had a couple chunks come out of mine at 51hrs, only about 3 seasons as I bought it in mid '05.

The only abuse that I'm aware of was directly before it came apart maybe 10min earlier I had stalled the blades on a large ant hill and smoked the belt a little before I got it disengaged. I wouldn't have thought that'd damage it to the point of disintegration though. I'm normally pretty easy on it, usually even throttle it down to engage the PTO.

What the cheapest price to be found for a new one?

 

[JSharp]

The first PTO belt on my 2554 lasted a little over 40 hours. But, I was mowing things with it I never should have been mowing and plugged the deck *many* times. The new belt has over 40 hours on it and still looks good. I'm guessing I'll get over 100 hours out if it with no problem.

Hard to remember now, but I think the belt was about $35 at the dealer and they stock them. Not worth driving around too much to find one cheaper but of questionable quality...

 

[NEFirewood]

I was just curious how long most have had their 2500 series PTO belts lasting? I just had a couple chunks come out of mine at 51hrs, only about 3 seasons as I bought it in mid '05.

The only abuse that I'm aware of was directly before it came apart maybe 10min earlier I had stalled the blades on a large ant hill and smoked the belt a little before I got it disengaged. I wouldn't have thought that'd damage it to the point of disintegration though. I'm normally pretty easy on it, usually even throttle it down to engage the PTO.

What the cheapest price to be found for a new one?

I tend to go through a couple of those belts a year, so I am used to showing up at the dealers with a broken one in my hands. I don't remember what they cost, but I do know that it may be an MTD part, but costs more simply because the belt is longer than a normal vertical shaft engine arrangement.

I am grateful that if there is a problem, this belt snaps first, since I would imagine that if something else broke like the PTO clutch or deck spindle, that would be a far costlier fix than a simple belt.

 

[JTKub]

I'm still on the original @ 95hrs on my 2005 2544 and that's after installing it wrong once or twice and having it jamb and gouge itself.

Joel

 

[q man]

Morkai:

Part of your problem may be in your statement about hitting the ant hill and stopping the blades. The sudden jolt of hitting the hard ant hill will slip and snap the belt causing the fibers to break. Things like scalping the ground repetitivly or hittng large tree branches or stumps will do the same thing.

q man

 

[Nittany]

2004 Cub Cadet 2518, the belt broke during the 4th season of use (last year)@ 225 hours . . . I did disengage the PTO Reverse switch so that the PTO isn't being stopped and started several times per mow.

 

[Morkai]

Got new belt at the dealer, only place I could find it, and it wasn't too bad. $27.17

 

[EuropaChris]

I have about 100 hours on mine after 3 seasons and it's doing fine. I did burn up one side of it a bit when it jumped off an outer deck spindle pulley due to a clump of grass and it ran against the pulley flange, but it was at low rpm while engaging the PTO, so not too much rubber came off .

I do always run with the backup disengage disabled, so it leads a pretty easy life. I'd estimate 200 hours will be the point I replace it.

Chris

 

[mrutkaus]

I have an older 782 and have found the bluish belts from Autozone give prettty good service even they are a little thinner than originals. You take and old one and match size, probably in the 1050mm length range?

Mike

 

[micman32]

I am on my third one since I bought my 2518. The first one was replaced by the dealer when I had it serviced and they noticed a gouge. Warranty covered it. The second time was my own stupidity. I didn't get the "twist" right on the front pulley's and it shredded.
The third one is doing fine. Very little wear.
I would say under "normal" conditions it would last several seasons.
I think I paid about $33 for mine.

Michael