What makes your riding lawnmower burns through and breaks deck belts in a short amount of time

In this tutorial i will show you some common causes for your riding lawnmower to burn through and break belts in a short amount of time.

[@jenjen4jesus939]

I’m tired of replacing belts at $30-40 a pop! Learned a lot from you. My Troy built 42” rider is my first rider.

[@DaveSomething]

is it just me... or are those glasses absolutely hilarious in the first few minutes? it's probably just me...

[@bobcobby8801]

They look like big eyes or gopher glasses 🤣

[@curtishouze1471]

Thanks for the information, I will be looking today.

[@cyborgdale]

Just got married last year. Wife's mower is eating belts. I can see now that the front belt guide (the U-shaped bar or metal shield) is completely missing. Watching your video lead to a very quick diagnosis. I now need to find a replacement part before installing the new belt. Tnx. I see that you pulled up and down on the pulley to check for bearing wear. Is that the only thing to look for when checking a bearing? I wish that you had been more specific. I'm going to look at your other videos to see if you address this.

[@andyevansbusinesslifecoach4718]

thanks for the video . Can you deck pully holder/supports bend? i have an MTD 42inch and the pulley support seems to be on an excessive angle. My main problem is the belt seems to sit loose. The problems began after i hit a buried tree stump and it all went down hill from there.

[@JoshSmith-wo7zw]

Check the bearings in those idler pulleys if they don't spin smoothly replace them. Because when they're spun up to speed by the mower they're more than likely locking up intermittently. Even if they still O.K. by hand under load and at operating speed is a different ballgame. So if they feel at all like they could be getting close to the end of their life replace them. You shouldn't be able to feel the balls in bearing kinda doing there thing. It should be relatively smooth. That's something I see alot of people overlook. They automatically think that if it doesn't get tight while you're spinning it by hand it won't do it when it's running either..which is very wrong and again it may just be for a split second at a time but after you've spent 3 or 4 hours cutting all your grass that's put quite a bit of wear and tear on that new belt. When in doubt replace them. They're usually not all that expensive to begin with especially if they're say 5ish years old and you have a fairly large yard to cut. One that actually takes a few hours each time. Chances are they're getting close to wore out. Make sure all your pulleys are in proper alignment with one another as well. They all should be at roughly the same height and straight not on an angle or anything like that to the other pulleys. MTD has gotten so cheap over the past 20 years or so that that's actually a very common issue on them.

[@jamesbarlowjr.3762]

Hi Josh. I have a Craftsman 42” t1200 mower and one of my idler pulleys is bent up. So I’m guess it’s not supposed to be that way? And if not… is the bolt bent? Or just the pulley wore out? Thanks Bud! 🤝

[@JoshSmith-wo7zw]

@@jamesbarlowjr.3762 yeah if it's bent it might be locking up when it gets up to operating speed. They're usually not all that expensive in the first place anyway so yeah just replace it and rule it out. That's probably it though.

[@jamesbarlowjr.3762]

@@JoshSmith-wo7zw Thanks. So would the bolt be bent as well? This is year is the first time I’m really putting the mower to work. And was gonna do some preventative maintenance and that’s when I seen the idler pulley. Thanks

[@toddh6234]

I wonder why they don't put rollers on those belt keepers, at least that way the belt would just pop off and not get shredded if things got out of wack.

[@job38four10]

@2:07

[@karalynn9451]

Angle...

[@job38four10]

I have a 2016 22hp Sears rider, I just changed the blade belt and it wont stop flipping on the drive pulley but stays the right way on mower deck pulleys, what causes a belt to flip?

[@billgarner2061]

Good video

[@tommyulman6623]

i have a yardmachine 42" made by mtd has a terrible vibration when engaging deck ive replaced both spindles all 4 pulleys and the engine pulley idler arm both blades and the belt and it has the exact same vibration it had with all the old parts any suggestions on what to try any help will be appreciated thanks

[@VitoLange]

I have a YTH22V46, the right side mower brake arm that brakes the spindle pulley when disengaged is rubbing on the belt. I have tried adjusting a few things on the deck and it’s still rubbing. What would cause that?

[@colescuckooclockshop754]

How long should a belt last

[@greggarnold9427]

Are those outside guards over each blade pulley required to keep the belt in place, or is it a safety item?

[@houstontx68]

They keep the belt in place. If they are off your belt is more likely to slip off of the pulley. There is also a safety factor involved, but that is secondary,

[@greggarnold9427]

@@houstontx68 You are exactly right. I replaced the cracked, damaged covers and the belt stays on.

[@clampitt75]

Should the spindle coming out the motor continually turn even when blades disengaged?

[@toddh6234]

Yes the drive shaft from the motor always spins while the engine is running. The motor turns the drive belt that turns the pulleys on your transmission (that's what allows the mower to be driven). The motor also connects to deck belt via a clutch and pulley. This spins the blades but only when your turn on the PTO switch

[@DJEvoIX]

I have problem, i put new belt. All ok, but after maybe 3 minutes if i touch belt its very very hot... Its normal or something wrong?

[@ronaldbethune2371]

My Yard Machine was working fine. Once I replace the deck belt , I saw white smoke coming from the engine pulley. It spins while the engine is engaged and disengage. What could cause it to just spin now?

[@buzznatzke2996]

Ronald, the engine pulley will be turning 100% of the time. The PTO lever tightens the belt with an idler pulley on the deck and that causes the belt to tighten on the engine pulley to engage the power. If the belt is always tight on the engine pulley, it is one of two things: 1) The belt is the wrong size (too small) 2) There is some debris causing the deck mechanism to jam and tighten the belt.

[@MiguelHernandez-yf6xi]

have same mower but my belt slips off when i turn of the blades

[@rogerhenderson865]

Do you have a video to show how to keep the belt on a troy built pony from coming off .

[@zedcartwright5267]

One cause for your blade belt coming off besides guides bent or missing is the front deck adjustment. If your belt comes off while running when you put your deck in lower slots like #2 deck height then you need to adjust the big nut on the front deck hanger by tightening it so the front of the deck rises. If front of the deck is too low the deck pulley will not line up properly with the engine driveshaft pulley and the belt will come off when running as instead of the belt riding toward the center it catches the edge of the deck pulley (engine pulley is too far above the deck pulley). It comes off on the idler pulley that feeds from the engine pulley even with the guide firmly in place because the misalignment with fast rotation and flexible belt will pull the belt right out and over the retaining guide. Also if you changed your driveshaft pulley with a used one it may be shorter than the original pulley and cause the same problem. I had that problem once when changing out a motor. Just put the original pulley on and it was fine.

[@primee5730]

Did you ever find out anything?

[@notcharles]

@@primee5730 yeah! Me too! Belt won't seem to stay on

[@scottgaskill4896]

My brakes on the deck are shot after only 10-14 hours. Do you replace entire brake arm?

[@markkiser9329]

in most cases yes. Get used to no pulley brake because they suck

[@kenw.1112]

I have a craftsman Lt1,000. And the installed a new belt . When I engage the blades i smell rubber and I shut it off looked at the deck belt . The outer part of the belt is slightly damaged from something rubbing against the belt . Im going to do complete check to see what the problem is .

[@toryvitko9613]

I am having the same issue, have you found the problem?

[@jamesbarlowjr.3762]

@@toryvitko9613 No answer?

[@JourneyFitness210]

Do you know if all the guards on the idler pulleys are supposed to stick straight up??? I have a Husqvarna Y21k46, and one of those guards kind of leans forward. I'm burning through belts about every 12 to 15 hours, and I could not figure out what the problem is. If it's not the guard, I have not clue as to what it could be :/ These belts are $45 a piece, so I'm getting tired of having to replace them already. I mow some family property that is about 5 acres, so I replace it often. Wish you were closer to take a look at it!!! Thanks for the info though!

[@billhendrickson5506]

You could start by taking the guard(s) off and see if that makes a change. I don't run any guards because they trap clippings under them and can heat up. Also get under your deck and look for straight alignment on the belt and pulleys. Are you using correct belt for the machine? Could it be your habit of mowing or where your mowing. I have been cutting lawns for 75 years. I have solved many problems. Sometimes simple questions return simple answers.

[@JourneyFitness210]

@@billhendrickson5506 I did purchase belts from a different source, and they seem better. However, I removed the guards when mowing large property and it seems to also help.

[@bigbadhag]

Took all the guides and brakes off and no more trouble

[@ConsensusX]

How's it holding up now? Does your belt ever slip off? I'm thinking about doing this.

[@bigbadhag]

Doing fine, just be careful,took all of the safety switches off also, be careful out there!

[@bigbadhag]

All of the parts numbers should be on a sticker under your hood or bonnet if you're across the pond

[@bigbadhag]

@@ConsensusX looks like it will, but never has. 3 years now.

[@ReginaBarnett]

The spindle pulleys needs cleaning where the belt rides. It can get bured up from rust.

[@magicone9327]

Craftsman 42" , everything was fine on the new belt, around 2 hr time. Went to mow tall grass so put it on the highest setting and the belt fell apart in 5 min. The angle from drive pulley to idler and tension idler seemed extreme compared to the 2nd and 3rd notch. The deck showed a very slight rub mark from belt contact but didn't burn off any paint. The idlers spin free as of the spindles. The tabs that hold the belt in place on the idler are in good position and not running. No grass, rocks or sticks in the belt way. The drive pulley on the crankshaft is a on all the way and not adjustable. This one is a stumper. Could it be that it was really hot that day and the belt was made in China?

[@jamesbarlowjr.3762]

Hello Sir. So I’m gonna ask a dumb question. Are one of the Idler Pulleys supposed to be angled? And if so can I ask why? Thanks. 🤝

[@bigbadhag]

@@jamesbarlowjr.3762 as long as the belt is in line, no problem,get rid of the brakes,

[@bigbadhag]

@@jamesbarlowjr.3762 when you disengage the drive belt to the deck,it gets loose, brakes stop everything, belt slings off. It looks like mine will fall off, but never does.

[@jenjen4jesus939]

Mine does the same thing! Frustrating and becoming expensive!

[@stevew5171]

My Cub cadet was eating belts until I found out that my deck wasn't leveled any longer. Once I re-leveled the deck I stopped burning through belts.

[@michaelwaxter9622]

Do you ever see belts stretch to a point of not working?

[@AdmiralDG]

I have not, and I have had a belt go years while being soaked in oil(causes swelling and stretching) from a leaking engine as well as having big chunks missing and cracks. A belt will likely snap before it stretches beyond use. Most mowers/decks also have adjustments to accomodate stretching. Some are manual and some are automatic(tensioners and springs).

[@theeabster1983]

every so often I noticed Sparks coming out from where I have the grass shoot tied up. if it wasn't looking down I wouldn't have noticed it I did not notice any shimming shaking nothing out of the ordinary. I cannot find any videos on KZbin about this a few discussions online. was wondering anybody else experience something like this? I have a Craftsman ys4500 42-in cut deck style tractor. thanks for your time

[@TheUnderRu]

That's my problem currently. I changed a mandrel shaft and everything was spinning fine after I replaced it. Not sure why it started smoking and sparking. I am having a hard time adjusting the tension. I know this was a year ago. Did you find out what was wrong with your lawnmower?

[@426superbee4]

Those pulley guards are TRASHY. Sticks and grass get caught in them. Making wear, and friction!

[@Greggspies]

Mowers are a shite design tbh fed up up swapping belts

[@retandom]

Michigander speak for make sure ya shit is right. Ya know