Engine Drive Belt replacement for LT1040

[Cherrypicker]

According to what I have found the engine drive belt is supposed to be 5/8th by 91" so ordered one off of EBay. Now this is not OEM, and I am beginning to believe it may not be the proper belt. I have the PTO and drive pulley removed and in trying to get the belt back on the drive pulley I am finding it doesn't want to slip down into the pulley far enough to I can slip the pulled with belt installed up through the frame. If you have worked on these MTD manufactured bands, there are three tab extending down, belt keepers I'm assuming, and I had to bend them outward a bit, and the fit still seems to be "a bit snug". Guess I'll go ahead and get everything bolted back together and see if if works. I am reluctant to buy OEM parts because they come at a premium, but I have run across this before on some Toros, LX500 models, and am wondering if some of the aftermarket belts, might just be off in width and length to create some kind of issue?
"

 

[ILENGINE]

According to what I have found the engine drive belt is supposed to be 5/8th by 91" so ordered one off of EBay. Now this is not OEM, and I am beginning to believe it may not be the proper belt. I have the PTO and drive pulley removed and in trying to get the belt back on the drive pulley I am finding it doesn't want to slip down into the pulley far enough to I can slip the pulled with belt installed up through the frame. If you have worked on these MTD manufactured bands, there are three tab extending down, belt keepers I'm assuming, and I had to bend them outward a bit, and the fit still seems to be "a bit snug". Guess I'll go ahead and get everything bolted back together and see if if works. I am reluctant to buy OEM parts because they come at a premium, but I have run across this before on some Toros, LX500 models, and am wondering if some of the aftermarket belts, might just be off in width and length to create some kind of issue?
"

MTD and JD do not use standard width or length belts. And cannot be substituted because they will not work properly or get damaged in a short period of time. And since you are describing the 2 belt system then you also need to replace both belts at the same time or the system won't sync the belts correctly and you will still have problems.

That 5/8 x 91 belt that they try to crossover is actually .656x 90.8 And the other belt they use is .656x 41.5.

 

[Cherrypicker]

MTD and JD do not use standard width or length belts. And cannot be substituted because they will not work properly or get damaged in a short period of time. And since you are describing the 2 belt system then you also need to replace both belts at the same time or the system won't sync the belts correctly and you will still have problems.

That 5/8 x 91 belt that they try to crossover is actually .656x 90.8 And the other belt they use is .656x 41.5.

Appreciate it.