Super Z EFI Belt Busting !

[Mimowerman]

I have a 2008 super z with the 28 Kohler EFI and 60" deck . I purchased it new in spring of 08 with all the options... flex forks, flex seat, stripe roller, led light kit, solid front tires, and three bag collection system( used in fall 1 season so far) . I am absolutely in love with the mower, however there seems to be a issue that so far my dealer has been unable to solve. The belt which goes from engine to hydro pumps has broken in the past season and a half about 5 times! My dealer has warrantied it of course, replacing the belt new each time, and even went as far as replacing the pulley , and a new spring for the idler arm . Before my warranty is up I really would like to figure out why the belt keeps breaking. sometimes with as little as 10 hours , and this year I went the whole summer without breaking the belt until last week.
I now have 550 hours on the unit. Help Please!

Dealer is midwest golf and turf in novi MI

[mowerconsultant]

Email me your details and I will have a regional service manager get involved.

Pj

[3Bladz]

I would make sure the hydro cooling fan is working, you should hear it when you turn the key on w/o starting it. Maybe it is overheating the belt??
Are all the pulleys lined up correctly?
I usually get about 500 hours out of a hydro belt.

[Mickhippy]

Do you mow properties with a lot of sticks?

[gene gls]

I have a 2008 super z with the 28 Kohler EFI and 60" deck . I purchased it new in spring of 08 with all the options... flex forks, flex seat, stripe roller, led light kit, solid front tires, and three bag collection system( used in fall 1 season so far) . I am absolutely in love with the mower, however there seems to be a issue that so far my dealer has been unable to solve. The belt which goes from engine to hydro pumps has broken in the past season and a half about 5 times! My dealer has warrantied it of course, replacing the belt new each time, and even went as far as replacing the pulley , and a new spring for the idler arm . Before my warranty is up I really would like to figure out why the belt keeps breaking. sometimes with as little as 10 hours , and this year I went the whole summer without breaking the belt until last week.
I now have 550 hours on the unit. Help Please!

Dealer is midwest golf and turf in novi MI

I had the same issue. The problem is that Hustler uses a full threaded bolt to mount the idler pully. The threads wear off the side of the bolt and the idler pully becomes cockeyed leaving the belt out of line with the pump pullys. I bought a long bolt to have the solid shank for the idler pully to ride on and cut off the extra threads. I made a fixture to hold the bolt vertical and had my welder buddy weld the head to the frame. My pump belt is now 4 years old. Make sure you keep the idler pully greased to reduce the bolt wear and the idler pully flexing properly. You also want to keep a spare tensioner spring on hand because the ends will break off.

The same belt problem exists on the vac blower unit.

[3Bladz]

It seems like the bolt should be tight enough the pulley isnt spinning on the bolt. It ought to be tight against the shoulders of the bushing that's inside the pully.

[Sharpcut 1]

I'm a dealer on the East side. I've only had one or two machines with hydro belt issues, and we've sold a lot of super z's. If you're still having a problem, have your dealer make sure that the cooling fins on the fan are straight, so they don't hit the top of the belt, that will shread the belt, Also, talking to one of the enginerrs at Louiville Expo, there is another spring available for the hydro belt tensioner. I have used this spring before, it has different harmonics incase that is your problem. Part # for the spring is 601016.

[TLS]

Mine pops off several times a season. Due to sticks kicking up behind the deck and wedging themselves between the pulley and the belt.

I think the striping roller either causes or amplifies this problem.

The bolt idea that Gene talks about is a great idea, as I've replaced the idler once already and it is also flimsy. The threads are worn.

Oh, BTW....this is a real PITA job to do in the field, and always seems to happen as far away from the trailer as possible on the hottest, most humid day there is!

[Imow4u2]

Mine pops off several times a season. Due to sticks kicking up behind the deck and wedging themselves between the pulley and the belt.

I think the striping roller either causes or amplifies this problem.

The bolt idea that Gene talks about is a great idea, as I've replaced the idler once already and it is also flimsy. The threads are worn.

Oh, BTW....this is a real PITA job to do in the field, and always seems to happen as far away from the trailer as possible on the hottest, most humid day there is!

That's no Sh!t,, I just replaced the idler arm, the bushing was worn.. I was dissapointed to find out that the bushing is not available and the new part has no bushing... Metal on bolt???