Deck Belt Shredding

P

Psychopete

Forum Newbie
What should I be looking for(?) I have replaced all deck bearings, but this thing seems to go through a belt about every 2 months. If there is a procedure that you have in a manual, or something to that affect; I am mechanically inclined - I am poking minds, as someone will probably know what it is. I don't work on these machines all day; and I think I am missing something very obvious. Thank you for any insights you may have.

Edit: it's a 38" deck, package 2690321, mfg 1694688, serial 02210
 
The back story is I got the Regent for free; got it running like a top, changed the drive belt, drives fine hydro; this is like the last thing to solve to make this machine whole; else I'll replace the belt one more time and sell it; because this is not sustainable.
 

Attachments

  • 20260414_134629.jpg
    20260414_134629.jpg
    1.1 MB · Views: 16
I am thinking either a bent pulley or contact damage. Need to check all the pulleys and any guides around those pulleys because something it either making light contact or you have a bent pulley.
 
You need to inspect the new belt right after it's been operated little while, instead of waiting until it shreds.
It will give you a better wear hint as to the cause.
No need installing a expensive belt until you find the cause, just use the cheapest one you can find. You most likely have a belt guide bent out of place or a pulley that has severe wear.
I would completely remove the deck and put it up on sawhorses and examine closely.
(I made a set of steel sawhorses about knee high for rebuilding decks..
 
check the brake(s) for wear. As they wear they change the geometry of the pulleys on many decks. I can't find the video but someone posted one about a year ago showing how brake wear changes the geometry, and we were surprised how much it can be responsible for belts going bad.
 
Psychopete said:
What should I be looking for(?) I have replaced all deck bearings, but this thing seems to go through a belt about every 2 months. If there is a procedure that you have in a manual, or something to that affect; I am mechanically inclined - I am poking minds, as someone will probably know what it is. I don't work on these machines all day; and I think I am missing something very obvious. Thank you for any insights you may have.

Edit: it's a 38" deck, package 2690321, mfg 1694688, serial 02210
Click to expand...
Hello P.,

Most of the time this problem is a result of a belt guide stand bolt that has been bent back away from a pulley (or has broken off) to facilitate easy belt replacement. These belt guides have to sit very close to the pulleys to keep belt from coming off.

Deck belt constantly flop (jump) back and forth, especially during initial deck engagement. The belt guides control this jumping to minimize possible damages.

EDIT:

Another thing that I forgot to mention earlier is the flat stamped steel belt guides that are usually associated with the flat idler and tensioner pullies. They have to be in place and not bent back.

If a pulley has been changed it is easy to miss the little alignment notch that these guides use to make sure they are in the correct "clock" position. These guides are commonly held in place by the pulley center bolt. It is easy to get one of them out of position.

The best way to confirm this is remove the deck and then remove one pulley at a time to verify the guide placement in relation to the alignment notch.
 
Last edited:
Auto Doc's said:
Hello P.,

Most of the time this problem is a result of a belt guide stand bolt that has been bent back away from a pulley (or has broken off) to facilitate easy belt replacement. These belt guides have to sit very close to the pulleys to keep belt from coming off.

Deck belt constantly flop (jump) back and forth, especially during initial deck engagement. The belt guides control this jumping to minimize possible damages.
Click to expand...
What needs to be right on a mower deck for it to operate correctly?
All pulleys and spindles turn freely and are at correct height. Pulleys are not cocked at incorrect levels. No excessive sag and smooth operation of tensioner pulley. Belt guides in place and correctly set in relation to pulley or spindle. Correct belt tension under load. Correct size belt. So in other words, everything has to be just right for a deck to operate smoothly and correctly. One way to check a deck that is eating belts is to have someone sit in the seat with the blades on. Watch what the belt does at different speeds. Double check your belt tension and look for correct deflection on belt. Many riding mowers have looser belt tension than is ideal.
 
Last edited:
The guides can breathe, but the belt is seemly weird when it comes to finding one - does anyone have a part number they recommend? I tried a random 89" that was "on always" and it smoked it. I will pull the deck out again and fine tooth comb over. There's a reason things are free, right? Someone else couldn't figure it out =/ Am I to make sure the fence style guides are perfectly 90 degrees?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top