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I bought this mower last May (2015) and in June of this year, the belt that drives the blades shredded. I thought it was a freaky coincidence that it did this being so new, so I just bought a replacement and went on my way. Just yesterday, I was cutting my lawn (1/3 acre) and it shredded again. Is there any good reason this keeps doing this? I thought I had it adjusted right as far as the tension for the belt and can't think of anything else causing this. Has anyone else had this problem with this same mower?

look for obstructions at pulleys etc.

https://www.toro.com/en/parts/partdetails/?id=43529

First of all, why are you working on it? It is still under warranty. Take it to your dealer and have them check it out. That cogged belt should not shred unless the tension is not correct or the timing is off. Could also be a bad idler pulley or dirt buildup, but I have not seen this on this model.

That's a great question! I decided to do this myself the first time because I don't much care for the clientele that runs the small mower shop where I purchased the mower. I bought it here thinking it would provide a more customer oriented service.
I could have bought it at one of the big box stores but felt that the small "neighborhood" store would also provide more knowledgeable mechanics.
Anyway, this time I went ahead and took it in to them because it's under warranty and shouldn't have broke again in 2 months. I have to wait 3 weeks before I'll get it back.
By the way, the belt isn't cogged just a v-shaped belt.

When you said belt which drives the blades, I assumed the blade belt, which is the timing belt, not the BBC belt, which going from the engine to the pulley. If that belt shredded the most common cause is debris (sticks, mulch, pine cones, etc) getting caught between the belt and one of the pulleys. This normally would not be warranty problem, unless the dealer helps you out and codes it differently.

Rivets,

What does BBC stand for? I wouldn't think it's from sticks, trigs, pine cones (no pines in my yard), because I always scan my yard before cutting and pick up these things. So, I'm not sure what else it could be... I'm very easy on any equipment I own and clean it after cutting my yard. I would like to think that a belt is going to last longer than 1 year (for the first belt) and 2 months (for the second belt). I had a Dixon rider mower for 7 season before replacing a belt.
I haven't heard back from the mower shop yet, but hope they will find the problem.

The TimeMaster has three belts, wheel drive belt, timing belt and BBC (blade brake clutch) belt which transfers the engine to the timing belt. It does not take a large piece of debris to cause a problem. In our area the major cause is mulch or bark chips.

Thanks rivets, I'll keep that in mind. This might be a weak point with this particular mower if it's this easy to accumulate debris in this area. You'd think Toro would encase this area better to ensure that this doesn't happen.

kreuzer said:

Thanks rivets, I'll keep that in mind. This might be a weak point with this particular mower if it's this easy to accumulate debris in this area. You'd think Toro would encase this area better to ensure that this doesn't happen.

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It you incase something it always become a debris catcher. You really don't want to do that.

I understand this, but if this particular mower is this prone to small debris causing the belt to shred, then this is surely a problem for others as well. Had I known that this mower was as sensitive for this issue, I wouldn't have laid out $1000 for it.
The positives for this mower in my experience is the 30" cutting path and the self pace mechanism. I wish other brands would adopt the self pace configuration.
I wonder if other self propelled mowers are this sensitive to the problem I'm having with this belt? If so, I may return to a regular push mower, but hate to as it adds a lot more work.

This mower is NOT prone to this problem. I just said that debris getting caught in one of the pulleys may have caused the problem. Only an experienced tech can really diagnose the real cause. In your case, you didn't take it to the dealer to look for the cause under warranty, but tried to do your own repairs and then blame it on a bad design. You yourself may have. Caused the second belt to shred by improper instalation, non OEM belt, improper belt tension, or loose idler pulley. Before passing blame find out the real cause. Good By and Good Luck, as you know more about this unit than me, so I can not be of any more help.

Rivers, I wasn't trying to place blame only searching for an answer to the problem I'm having with this mower. You suggested that most likely was debris of some sort and I only expanded on this by thinking that if this design allows a little debris to cause this belt to shred, than quite possibly this could be a weak point.

Yes, I didn't take it into the shop I purchased the mower because I felt that replacing a belt was something I could handle. Also, we're at peak cutting season and waiting for my mower to be returned will take weeks. It was an original manufacturer's part that I replaced it with as I bought it at the shop of purchase.

Since the second one broke, I did take it back to the shop I purchased the mower. Hopefully, they can tell me what exactly the issue is and yes, it's still under warranty.

I know that you don't know me from Adam, but I'm very easy on any of my cars, equipment or tools. This is why I was dismayed by this belt breaking so quickly - even the first one.

Please don't accuse me of being a certain way when all I'm trying to do is
learn from this forum.

I have one of those mowers. Bought it in 2014. We have replaced the cogged belt a couple of times and the idler rollers on it a couple of times. We have never had any problems with any of the other belts though. We run ours very often. In fact we rarely go a day without it coming off of the trailer.

Jekjr,

Thanks for your reply. From looking at your profile, I assume you use yours for commercial means...? I can understand more wear/tear on your equipment since you cut with it several times a day. I only use mine once a week, so you might see where I'm coming from when I'm disheartened by the shredded belt issue. I'll be giving the repair shop tomorrow to see if they have looked at it yet to let me know what the issue is. Sure hope they can help me out as I'm hoping to get my money's worth out of it! Thanks!

Yes,I don't know you from Adam, but I do know good from bad mowers. Your rant about design was out of line because 90% of self propel mowers use the same design. Toro's design is among the best, but things can happen, no matter how careful you are. As a service tech now, with more than 40 years in this business I can also see your side of wanting it fixed now, but if you had taken it in when it broke the first time, you would not be in this situation. It will not surprise me if it is not done, as you say it is the busy time of the mowing season in your area and there are probably mowers in front of you who also needed it yesterday. I feel sorry for your dealer, because with customers like you he is not going to please you even if it is fixed. I hope you know that if he wanted to charge for the repair, he would be in his rights, because you voided the warranty for any repairs on the belt when you tried to repair it yourself. Before you place blame on anyone look in the mirror. Remember the world revolves around the sun, not you.

Rivets said:

Yes,I don't know you from Adam, but I do know good from bad mowers. Your rant about design was out of line because 90% of self propel mowers use the same design. Toro's design is among the best, but things can happen, no matter how careful you are. As a service tech now, with more than 40 years in this business I can also see your side of wanting it fixed now, but if you had taken it in when it broke the first time, you would not be in this situation. It will not surprise me if it is not done, as you say it is the busy time of the mowing season in your area and there are probably mowers in front of you who also needed it yesterday. I feel sorry for your dealer, because with customers like you he is not going to please you even if it is fixed. I hope you know that if he wanted to charge for the repair, he would be in his rights, because you voided the warranty for any repairs on the belt when you tried to repair it yourself. Before you place blame on anyone look in the mirror. Remember the world revolves around the sun, not you.

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I've given my reply to you some time, because I really didn't know if I wanted to waste my time on you! Having said this, I know that my reply is warranted, because it's people like you, Rivets, that truly annoy me on these forums.

First, I did not go off on some rant, it was merely my opinion for this particular mower since it was what I experienced. This was my first time ever to own a self propelled mower and felt I made a wise choice after reading many positive reviews. To my dismay, the belt shredded after only the first year of well cared for and mild use. I only have 1/3 acre of nearly all flat terrain and, if not mistaken, this model can be considered for commercial use, as well! Yes, I do have to wait for about 3 weeks, but when the first belt broke it was a busy time (June) for cutting as well. What's the difference if I lose 3 weeks then or now, I'm still losing it. I never alluded to anything that I was going to be one of those "customers" that wouldn't be pleased! If the mower is fixed and ready to go when they call, I'll be satisfied. You, Rivets, are very accusatory in your own right towards me in the brief time I've been in this forum!

Secondly, you state that I voided my warranty by replacing the belt myself. Wake up call Rivets, that doesn't void my warranty as I've already checked on that. In fact, I asked this question when I purchased the mower. I can do my own preventative maintenance on this mower and the warranty is upheld. Maybe replacing a belt isn't PM, but maybe it is as it's a wear item and the belt just gave out. Perhaps the second one installed by me had a flaw in it...? Who knows? That's why I decided to take it into the shop! You sound as if you have a vested interest in Toro. That's fine if you do, but you make it sound as if they couldn't possibly have a flawed design of any kind. That's where you are wrong.

I felt lucky enough to find this forum hoping to relate cares/concerns about a problem I incurred. How "UNFORTUNATE" was I to have had someone so belligerent and caustic as YOU to answer my post! You say you've been a service tech for 40 years, and yet you come off as a very immature snot-nosed grease monkey that should've rode off in the sunset a long time ago! Don't bother to reply, Rivets, as I'm done with you and will live by my own technical and mechanical knowledge and avoid people like you.

Rivets said:

This mower is NOT prone to this problem. I just said that debris getting caught in one of the pulleys may have caused the problem. Only an experienced tech can really diagnose the real cause. In your case, you didn't take it to the dealer to look for the cause under warranty, but tried to do your own repairs and then blame it on a bad design. You yourself may have. Caused the second belt to shred by improper instalation, non OEM belt, improper belt tension, or loose idler pulley. Before passing blame find out the real cause. Good By and Good Luck, as you know more about this unit than me, so I can not be of any more help.

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If the belts are continously shredding . Then YES it is a problem. Why do you seem confused about that ?

Rivets said:

Yes,I don't know you from Adam, but I do know good from bad mowers. Your rant about design was out of line because 90% of self propel mowers use the same design. Toro's design is among the best, but things can happen, no matter how careful you are. As a service tech now, with more than 40 years in this business I can also see your side of wanting it fixed now, but if you had taken it in when it broke the first time, you would not be in this situation. It will not surprise me if it is not done, as you say it is the busy time of the mowing season in your area and there are probably mowers in front of you who also needed it yesterday. I feel sorry for your dealer, because with customers like you he is not going to please you even if it is fixed. I hope you know that if he wanted to charge for the repair, he would be in his rights, because you voided the warranty for any repairs on the belt when you tried to repair it yourself. Before you place blame on anyone look in the mirror. Remember the world revolves around the sun, not you.

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You are too funny defending obvious manufacturer defects. And NO belts should not easily shred off as seems to the case her.

Paul,
While every ones comments are valuable you might like to note that this thread dates from 2016.
Like a lot of people the OP never came back with the final solution

Paul, you are obviously new to this forum and have not seen many replies I’ve posted. Blasting me in a thread that is over 3+ years old, means you have no idea how this mower works. Even though I’m a Toro guy, you will see that I don’t defend them if there were any defects in their design or manufactured flaws. The belt in question in this thread is a clogged belt, which will shred if debris gets between the belt and pulley. Second, this is a timed system and the timing and belt tension must be set properly, or the belts and pulleys will prematurely wear. If the OP did not set it properly and shredded belts, this will void the warranty, even you would agree to that. Obviously we will never know how this was resolved, but I’m willing to bet that an OEM belt was installed properly to specs and the problem was solved.

Rivets said:

Paul, you are obviously new to this forum and have not seen many replies I’ve posted. Blasting me in a thread that is over 3+ years old, means you have no idea how this mower works. Even though I’m a Toro guy, you will see that I don’t defend them if there were any defects in their design or manufactured flaws. The belt in question in this thread is a clogged belt, which will shred if debris gets between the belt and pulley. Second, this is a timed system and the timing and belt tension must be set properly, or the belts and pulleys will prematurely wear. If the OP did not set it properly and shredded belts, this will void the warranty, even you would agree to that. Obviously we will never know how this was resolved, but I’m willing to bet that an OEM belt was installed properly to specs and the problem was solved.

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Im considering this machine. For almost 2000 if it starts shredding belts ( should not happen ) I will not be happy.