Belt Life

[riches139]

On average, how many hours are you getting out of your deck belt, engine to deck, and hydro drive? :waving:

[fool32696]

My Gravely 50" ZTR has about 860hrs on it. Replaced the engine to deck belt 2 times and never have changed the other deck belt or hydro belt. I'm expecting them to go soon.

[cariboulou]

my scag 48" tiger cub deck blades to engine clutch only lasted 110 hrs! that didnt seem right since the damn thing costs $70! Anybody else have this problem too?

[ed2hess]

my scag 48" tiger cub deck blades to engine clutch only lasted 110 hrs! that didnt seem right since the damn thing costs $70! Anybody else have this problem too?
Our Scag Cougar ran 3 years full time....but I noticed that on my new Scag Tiger Cub the pulley are significantly smaller so I bet the belt won't last as long. I have 138 hours on this unit and so far so good.

[J.Gordon]

A properly adjusted belt should last hundreds of hours, the more you start and stop it.The shorter the life though. If you don’t want to spend full retail on you belt, you can go to an industrial supply like Bearing Headquarters or other and save a lot of money for the same belt.
My SWB uses a B-148 that cost $40.00 from the dealer, I get the same belt from Bearing Headquarters for $16.00.

[CCWKen]

Humph... I just checked on a B-62. Gates was listed at 14.65. I get the same belt at NAPA for $14--And no shipping.

I guess it depends on the demand.

[UNISCAPER]

Those Scag Tiger Cub machines have had some what I would call serious issues with deck belts. For whatever reason, they are poorly designed. I knew a guy in upstate New York who ran a one man shop, and the mower was downed more than it ran the first year he had it for belt troubles. He is not the only one I have heard with these belt issues.

I don't think Scag ever made any changes, but you might want to check with the distributor in case they did, and don't let them give you any crap about this being something he never heard of, it has been happening for years.

The only other thought I had regarding this issue was that perhaps the Cub was designed for homeowner use, not intended to be out pounding the lawns for 8 hours a day straight. This I don't know, but it is a thought, and if that is the case, one would think the dealers would inform those who were looking at them of the case.....

[topsites]

I replaced my 48" proline's deck belt once in its 1st year because I had smoked it a few times and thought I should do this before it went out...
Nowadays I run them until they break and although the new one looks rough by now it's still going, and going, and going in it's 3rd year. One other thing: I smoked this one as well almost as soon as I had put it on. Seems that the looser the belt, the longer it lasts BUT the tighter the belt, the higher the rpm's.

Far as the transmission belt, that one likes to give out regularly (about once/twice year). Here this one has to be tight, that is the key is to fit it about as tight as an automotive alternator belt.

[fool32696]

I only got 130hrs out of my first engine to deck belt. Made me pretty mad, been having better luck lately.

[cariboulou]

Appreciate all the info out there...bought a replacement aftermarket deck and pump belt for the next time...saved $25 for a tiger cub 48" deck belt. Could I get these belts at my local NAPA store?

[Tharrell]

Are these replacement belts from other sources kevlar reinforced?

[ArchZangel]

Improper installation, improper adjustment, incorrect replacement parts and ignorant/sneaky engineering is what kills belts. I work for a dixie dealer. Those machines rely on belts more than others do. Most of the time I see belts fail is because of those reasons mentioned above.

"I don't think Scag ever made any changes, but you might want to check with the distributor in case they did, and don't let them give you any crap about this being something he never heard of, it has been happening for years."

I just love when I call tech for any reason and they act like they never heard of a specific problem before.?! They're tech, they hear that stuff all day long!
ARA

[topsites]

Improper installation, improper adjustment, incorrect replacement parts and ignorant/sneaky engineering is what kills belts. I work for a dixie dealer. Those machines rely on belts more than others do. Most of the time I see belts fail is because of those reasons mentioned above.

I fully agree, I also find there is no universal setting that works for everybody. On *my* mower, the transmission belt has to be about as tight as an alternator belt on a car but the blade-belt, if it's loose it lasts longer EXCEPT when it slaps around excessively - It is a trick, it frustrates me to no end but once you do get it right, the next 3-4 sometimes 6 months are true pleasure. Then one day a belt comes off (especially that 48" deck belt) and in that moment of slipping it back on you forget to slide it OVER that little guide and it ends up on the wrong side of the guide and you engage it and voila: smoking belt. man i really hate that :-)