Mower deck Gone through 6 belts so far

stoddardt02 · Apr 25, 2013

Hi all. I am new to the site and looking for a little help. I have a 3060 that I bought new last spring. I just use it for cutting may 4 acre yard and a few acres over at my fathers. I have just over 100 hours on it so far. Within a couple hours of owning it the first belt broke. I went through a few more last summer and each time was told it must be something I was doing wrong. After the 5th one last summer they said there was a retrofit kit for a pulley that had been designed wrong on the deck.

They put it on at the end of the season last year and I mowed with it for a few weeks. This spring I got it out and the second time I went to mow the belt broke again. I got another belt and when I out it on it looked way too long. The idler pulley and the main pulley on the deck were touching each other. I took the mower back to the shop again and they looked at it. They agreed the belt looked too loose but said it was the same belt that had been on it and specified from Dixie. They moved another pulley and jacked the engine back. This tightened up the deck drive belt a little but now the hydro belt is very tight. Also with the belt tighter it moved the arm the idler pulley is on to the left. It hits the frame rail when you try to raise the deck.

My salesman tried calling Dixie and told me today that he got no answers. He said that they will order another belt and "when" this one breaks to try the shorter one. I asked him about being able to raise the deck past 4 and he said that no one mows in 5 anyway so it not a problem. It is a problem when I cant load it on the trailer without it hanging up. I am just frustrated and was wondering if anyone had heard of anything similar or had any ideas where to go from here. I attached a couple pictures for you to look at to see if the mounting looks correct.

Carscw · Apr 25, 2013

stoddardt02 said:
Hi all. I am new to the site and looking for a little help. I have a 3060 that I bought new last spring. I just use it for cutting may 4 acre yard and a few acres over at my fathers. I have just over 100 hours on it so far. Within a couple hours of owning it the first belt broke. I went through a few more last summer and each time was told it must be something I was doing wrong. After the 5th one last summer they said there was a retrofit kit for a pulley that had been designed wrong on the deck. They put it on at the end of the season last year and I mowed with it for a few weeks. This spring I got it out and the second time I went to mow the belt broke again. I got another belt and when I out it on it looked way too long. The ilder pulley and the main pulley on the deck were touching each other. I took the mower back to the shop again and they looked at it. They agreed the belt looked too loose but said it was the same belt that had been on it and specified from Dixie. They moved another pulley and jacked the engine back. This tightened up the deck drive belt a little but now the hydro belt is very tight. Also with the belt tighter it moved the arm the idler pulley is on tot he left. It hits the frame rail when you try to raise the deck. My salesman tried calling Dixie and told me today that they got no answers. He said that they will order another belt and "when" this one breaks to try the shorter one. I asked him about being able to raise the deck past 4 and he said that no one mows in 5 anyway so it not a problem. I am just frustrated and was wondering if anyone had heard of anything similar or had any ideas where to go from here. I attached a couple pictures for you to look at to see if the mounting looks <img src="http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=13996"/><img src="http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=13996"/>correct.

I really wish I had a answer for you. So they put a bigger pulley on and now you can not left the deck up to 5 but nobody mows on 5 so no big deal. Bahhaha Tell them put it back like it was and find out why the belt is so loose. After they put it back like it was tell them how much they suck and take it somewhere else. I am mad for you omg fix it right or don't touch it.

And the belt that you feel is to tight will just tear something else up.

Now if your cutting thick grass that works the mower hard your going to break belts

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

stoddardt02 · Apr 25, 2013

Thanks. That's kind of how I feel about it. I think my dealer has really been trying but doesn't know where to go. The way. He made it sound was that he wasn't getting a lot is support from Dixie. They are a small shop that deals mostly with bigger equipment. He took a bunch of pictures and tried explaining to the tech from Dixie about the problem and wanted to send him the pics but said he didn't want them. He said the tech said they have had no other similar problems. It's all third hand through the dealer so it just makes me want to pull my hair out.

Carscw · Apr 25, 2013

stoddardt02 said:
Thanks. That's kind of how I feel about it. I think my dealer has really been trying but doesn't know where to go. The way. He made it sound was that he wasn't getting a lot is support from Dixie. They are a small shop that deals mostly with bigger equipment. He took a bunch of pictures and tried explaining to the tech from Dixie about the problem and wanted to send him the pics but said he didn't want them. He said the tech said they have had no other similar problems. It's all third hand through the dealer so it just makes me want to pull my hair out.

Make 20 new emails and spam dixie 20 times a day and call them a few times a day. Maybe they will find a answer.

I like dixie mowers they are well built

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Rivets · Apr 25, 2013

Are you being handed a line of crap. They say you were doing something wrong,but then install a retro kit. Bull--- everything you have been told is just the dealer covering his or his mechanics butt. If you have been paying for hose belts, you've been suckered. The only thing agree with the dealer on is, they don't know what to do. Even though I don't care for Dixie, but I do know that they a good rep for helping their customers. My suggestion is to contact the Dixie rep yourself and explain your situation, while the unit is still under warranty. If your dealer fill not give you his number, you may have to resort to using the web to get contact info. Don't let this drop until the problem is solved and if you have not done so, get a new dealer. This one make all dealers (no matter the brand) look bad. If I didn't know better, I'd figure you were dealing with my competitor down the road. Sounds like something he would do. Here's the Dixie web site.

Dixie Chopper | Contact Us

mechanic mark · Jul 18, 2013

stoddardt02 said:
Hi all. I am new to the site and looking for a little help. I have a 3060 that I bought new last spring. I just use it for cutting may 4 acre yard and a few acres over at my fathers. I have just over 100 hours on it so far. Within a couple hours of owning it the first belt broke. I went through a few more last summer and each time was told it must be something I was doing wrong. After the 5th one last summer they said there was a retrofit kit for a pulley that had been designed wrong on the deck. View attachment 13997They put it on at the end of the season last year and I mowed with it for a few weeks. This spring I got it out and the second time I went to mow the belt broke again. I got another belt and when I out it on it looked way too long. The idler pulley and the main pulley on the deck were touching each other. I took the mower back to the shop again and they looked at it. They agreed the belt looked too loose but said it was the same belt that had been on it and specified from Dixie. They moved another pulley and jacked the engine back. This tightened up the deck drive belt a little but now the hydro belt is very tight. Also with the belt tighter it moved the arm the idler pulley is on to the left. It hits the frame rail when you try to raise the deck. View attachment 13996My salesman tried calling Dixie and told me today that he got no answers. He said that they will order another belt and "when" this one breaks to try the shorter one. I asked him about being able to raise the deck past 4 and he said that no one mows in 5 anyway so it not a problem. It is a problem when I cant load it on the trailer without it hanging up. I am just frustrated and was wondering if anyone had heard of anything similar or had any ideas where to go from here. I attached a couple pictures for you to look at to see if the mounting looks correct.

check bolt or bolts that hold idler assembly's to deck. if the bolt is not a grade 8 bolt ( 6 lines on bolt head ) it needs to be with a shoulder for bushings to ride on. the bolt thread should be a minimum of 7/16 diameter to handle torque and stress. the bolt shoulder and bushings should be greased liberally during assembly. be sure to install a new self locking nut. all moving parts should not come into contact with bolt threads, moving parts should ride on bolt shoulder only, this is true for all applications. hope this helps you out

Mower deck Gone through 6 belts so far

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