I have a 2001 troy bilt model 13ax609g063 with 42" deck. I bought it used from family and have nothing but trouble with the pto belt. You can put a new belt on and mow for 15 to 20 minutes and the belt will be twisted and all eat up. It looks to me like the belt is forced to make to much of a bent between clutch and the deck. Anyone got any ideas?
Troy bilt pto belt problems
- Thread starter Rosco2002
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bertsmobile1
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:welcome:
Is this your deck https://www.partstree.com/parts/troy-bilt/mowers-lawn-garden-tractor/13ax609g063-troy-bilt-lawn-tractor-2001/deck-assembly/ ?
Do you have the double pulley ?
Note the double pulley has spacing washers # 31 to adjust it's height.
Also as both belts are on the same pulley spindle, if the deck belt is the wrong length then the PTO belt will give you grief.
Is this your deck https://www.partstree.com/parts/troy-bilt/mowers-lawn-garden-tractor/13ax609g063-troy-bilt-lawn-tractor-2001/deck-assembly/ ?
Do you have the double pulley ?
Note the double pulley has spacing washers # 31 to adjust it's height.
Also as both belts are on the same pulley spindle, if the deck belt is the wrong length then the PTO belt will give you grief.
The pictures don't show anything really odd. Make sure the belt isn't rubbing something. It would leave a shiny spot on metal unless the belt is passing too close to itself and rubbing itself. Double check your model number since that model comes back to a two belt deck with double idler arm pulleys and manual pto engagement. I found a similar setup on another 2001 but it shows your belt tension setup for the 46 inch deck not your 42.
bertsmobile1
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Yes that belt run is too severe.
With the amount of bolt poking out of the top of the idler it definately looks like some on has replaced a two high stacked idler with a single idler and then run the mower with one belt in place of two belts.
Either that or it mis a replacement deck from a different MTD mower.
When MTD took over Cub Cadet they converted all of their decks to the Cub quick detatch system so it became easy to fit a very large number of wrong decks.
On a 3 pulley deck, usually the deck itself moves to tension the belt
Wit a fixed deck you usually have 4 pulleys, two spindle pulleys and a fixed idler & a tensioning idler so your deck set up looks very wrong to me.
With the amount of bolt poking out of the top of the idler it definately looks like some on has replaced a two high stacked idler with a single idler and then run the mower with one belt in place of two belts.
Either that or it mis a replacement deck from a different MTD mower.
When MTD took over Cub Cadet they converted all of their decks to the Cub quick detatch system so it became easy to fit a very large number of wrong decks.
On a 3 pulley deck, usually the deck itself moves to tension the belt
Wit a fixed deck you usually have 4 pulleys, two spindle pulleys and a fixed idler & a tensioning idler so your deck set up looks very wrong to me.
After hours of searching I found a diagram showing my setup. And it shoes to be all correct. But dang IV never seen a belt made to run with that angle on it and be expected to last anytime. I may be doing some modifying.
bertsmobile1
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To me it looks like a manual PTO deck fitted to a mower with an electric PTO and that angle is way too steep.
The other thing that could have happened is the wrong spindles could have been fitted.
MTD do that housing in a lot of different heights.
Pull it out and see if there is evidence of bits that used to be there that are now missing.
Running the deck substantially higher will of course have the belt running at a better angle.
You should never cut grass lower than 2" unless it is a putting green.