Belt keeps coming off

[Micko]

Hello everyone... I'm new to group but I read this forum thread and seems like good place to post my issue. I have a 52" Raptor (I think its a 2012 or 2013). I purchased used about a month ago, and it mowed GREAT several times on my 1.5 acre property. Then while mowing couple days ago the pump belt came off. After some tinkering (and cussing...) I figured out how to put back on. Mowed for about 5 more minutes and it slipped off again. I put on again, same result. I examined the belt, no significant problems, tears, etc. So, I did some research and and decided to buy a 50" belt (which is 3/4" less circumference than factory belt). I put it on and it mowed great for about 15 minutes, then slipped off again!! I put on and tightened the tension pulley spring... its very tight now.... but it slipped off about 2 minutes later after mowing. Very frustrated, but don't want to take into a dealer for a belt issue that I SHOULD be able to figure out. any guidance out there? I'd like to be able to fix this myself and not take to dealer. Thank you.

What height are you cutting at?

 

[mmclane2]

I put it at the 2nd highest (tallest) setting, definitely not too low.

 

[KrashnKraka]

And now he is making that up on services.
Abiet you are not paying but some one is.
Not an uncommon ruse with not quite as honest dealers as one would hope to be tading with .
Get a warranttee job in . 1/2 do the repair and ignore several other problem so the mower will come back again , and again & again for another warrantee or full price repair.

Belts only come off for two reasons.
Too loose - fixed by modifing the tensioning system &/or changing the belt size
Out of alignment - fixes by shimming / packing / or repositioning.

.... out of the shop?
Yeh, sure.
Operators soon find plenty more causes, create them. I have read plenty
on the topic on all mowers - even selfpropelled walk behinds!

Anyway, newbie to the forum might I say I have had may have again the shop
experience you comment on and I paid *more* for my ride then a deal elsewhere.
And in Aussie. So it is a culture, in squeezing bucks from a cashed up market.

I also found myself agreeing with <Tomster> " ... belt breaks on another mower
and so now the guy needs to trade-in (ridiculous)".
An owner accepting the advice Tomster ridiculed is fodder to the culture.

And <1striper1> with his (?) keyboard jocks observation is right on the money,
albeit such a practised post style has me wondering iffn that poster belongs to
yet another genre of InterWebs editorialists.. that Black Knight crowd, disarmed
but yelling "come back an' I'll bite ya to death" /laughs/

Good to read you Bert, and thanks for the good oil.

/waves/

--

KK - on a Sports past 3years and what a top ride it is

 

[FieldCut48]

I'm having the same issue with a brand new 48" Raptor SD mower. Don't even have a hour on the mower.:frown:

 

[KrashnKraka]

I'm having the same issue with a brand new 48" Raptor SD mower. Don't even have a hour on the mower.:frown:

Don't read me wrong, I share the dealer worries I read, and I aint in your Country!

Get the machine back to the dealer.
Get them to contact you when THEY can mow with the machine.
Then get them to monitor YOU mowing with the machine.
When they are happy with the operation and want to release the machine
to you make it very clear any further cost to the problem is on them, including
your time. Get it in writing or videoed (go Pro).

Rest assured this is NOT a machine problem, it is either a setup fault or operator
cluelessness - no insult intended.

KK

 

[FieldCut48]

This is my 1st zero turn... so I'm not to prideful to say it may just be an operator problem:laughing:

Don't read me wrong, I share the dealer worries I read, and I aint in your Country!

Get the machine back to the dealer.
Get them to contact you when THEY can mow with the machine.
Then get them to monitor YOU mowing with the machine.
When they are happy with the operation and want to release the machine
to you make it very clear any further cost to the problem is on them, including
your time. Get it in writing or videoed (go Pro).

Rest assured this is NOT a machine problem, it is either a setup fault or operator
cluelessness - no insult intended.

KK

 

[KrashnKraka]

This is my 1st zero turn... so I'm not to prideful to say it may just be an operator problem:laughing:

You got a whole lotta fun in front of you...they're a buzz!

I reckon most I read here is guys, mature guys, who got
too big for the dodgems at the AGRI shows.. or sold their
skidster in retirement and went looking for that same ride
with more zero gravity pull :laughing::laughing:

KK

 

[FieldCut48]

My belt came off on a brand new 48"Raptor SD mower. 3rd pass up the yard. I matched up a 50"Troy Built (127CM)mower belt. The troy built movers belt is slightly narrower but rides the pulley better than the OEM belt. Problem seems to be solved.