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drive belt smoking, but why?

#1

G

gregg2

I replaced the mower belt on my Craftsman LT3000. Once I got it back together, the drive belt immediately started smoking. I pulled the deck back off and it ran fine. Put the deck back on and it started smoking again. I suspect they mower belt is adding some drag to the pulley that spins them both, but is that enough to make it smoke? The belt seems to be about the right size. What's the solution?

Thanks,
Gregg


#2

R

Rivets

Most likely you don’t have the belt routed correctly. Please post back with the model number, located under the seat and the belt number you used. Then we can give you a better idea on how to proceed.


#3

G

gregg2

It's model # 917-276813. I've attached pics of the routing of the mower belt and the package of that belt. But to be clear, this is not the belt that is smoking. The drive belt is smoking. I haven't changed the routing of that belt and it runs fine when the mower deck is not on it.

Attachments







#4

R

Rivets

According to the parts diagram, you should be using Husqvarna part #532138255. That number is not on the belt in your picture. Second, check the deck mounting brackets to make sure they are not contacting the belt.


#5

StarTech

StarTech

Actually if Rivets would look at the diagram the deck belt is 144959 superseded to 532144959 which is a 1/2 x 95.5 Kevlar belt. The 138255 supersede to 532138255 is 1/2 x 95.25 poly belt and should not be used a deck belt.

Make the spindle brakes are inside the v-belt path. Image to small to see where the spindle brakes are. Also check bad bearings in both the spindles and the idler pulleys.


#6

sgkent

sgkent

the first question is why was the old belt replaced? Was it general service issues or were you having a problem?

Did you compare belts closely as to length, width and angle?


#7

G

gregg2

Spindle brakes? Not sure what part that refers to. Here are two bigger pictures. Can you tell if the brakes are inside the path from these?

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#8

G

gregg2

sgkent said:
the first question is why was the old belt replaced? Was it general service issues or were you having a problem?

Did you compare belts closely as to length, width and angle?
Click to expand...
I took the deck off to replace the blades and noticed the belt was looking pretty ratty. Thought I was doing a good thing. I'll take a closer look at the new belt.


#9

B

bertsmobile1

The drive belt is the one that is supposed to be smoking
So first thing to do is to verify that it is the drive belt by removing it and checking for burn marks
After first removing the deck belt & checking it for burn marks
I am skeptical about it being the drive belt because there is nothing the deck belt can do that would cause the drive belt to burn before the deck belt burnt
A belt can only burn by being held static against a revolving pulley
I am with Rivets on this and will expect to find the new deck belt is too short and that is what is burning


Gregg
When you install the deck & belt . can you fit your little finger between the deck belt & the deck drive pulley all the way round with the blade engagement lever in the off position ?
If not then the new belt is too short
You can also check by comparing the two belts.
Mower belts do not stretch, they wear thin on the sides so you put one on top of the other & mark a line across the back of them together
Hold them together with one hand and draw the belts through that hand with your other hand
If they are the same length then the line will be together when you pull it through again.
If not the distance between the two lines is the incorrect length .
Note the marked length of a belt is "nominal" so +/- 0.5" is usual .

NB:-
USA belt sizes are the outside circumference
UK & most Commonwealth countries it is the inside length
EU use the effective length


#10

G

gregg2

StarTech said:
Actually if Rivets would look at the diagram the deck belt is 144959 superseded to 532144959 which is a 1/2 x 95.5 Kevlar belt. The 138255 supersede to 532138255 is 1/2 x 95.25 poly belt and should not be used a deck belt.

Make the spindle brakes are inside the v-belt path. Image to small to see where the spindle brakes are. Also check bad bearings in both the spindles and the idler pulleys.
Click to expand...
Good call StarTech! I was on the wrong side of the spindle brake under the cover. Haven't tested it yet, but feeling good that was the problem. Thanks!


#11

G

gregg2

bertsmobile1 said:
The drive belt is the one that is supposed to be smoking
So first thing to do is to verify that it is the drive belt by removing it and checking for burn marks
After first removing the deck belt & checking it for burn marks
I am skeptical about it being the drive belt because there is nothing the deck belt can do that would cause the drive belt to burn before the deck belt burnt
A belt can only burn by being held static against a revolving pulley
I am with Rivets on this and will expect to find the new deck belt is too short and that is what is burning


Gregg
When you install the deck & belt . can you fit your little finger between the deck belt & the deck drive pulley all the way round with the blade engagement lever in the off position ?
If not then the new belt is too short
You can also check by comparing the two belts.
Mower belts do not stretch, they wear thin on the sides so you put one on top of the other & mark a line across the back of them together
Hold them together with one hand and draw the belts through that hand with your other hand
If they are the same length then the line will be together when you pull it through again.
If not the distance between the two lines is the incorrect length .
Note the marked length of a belt is "nominal" so +/- 0.5" is usual .

NB:-
USA belt sizes are the outside circumference
UK & most Commonwealth countries it is the inside length
EU use the effective length
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips Bertsmobile. You were right to be skeptical about the drive belt being that one that was burning. To my naked eye, that is 100% what it looked like when it was happening, but upon closer inspection, the mower belt is the one that has burns on it. Haven't got it back together yet to test, but I was definetly on the wrong side of that spindle brake. Hopefully, the belt's not too short as well.


#12

G

gregg2

Rivets said:
Most likely you don’t have the belt routed correctly. Please post back with the model number, located under the seat and the belt number you used. Then we can give you a better idea on how to proceed.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help Rivets. It seems like I did not have in routed correctly, indeed. Thanks for the nudge to provide more info.


#13

B

bertsmobile1

gregg2 said:
Thanks for the tips Bertsmobile. You were right to be skeptical about the drive belt being that one that was burning. To my naked eye, that is 100% what it looked like when it was happening, but upon closer inspection, the mower belt is the one that has burns on it. Haven't got it back together yet to test, but I was definetly on the wrong side of that spindle brake. Hopefully, the belt's not too short as well.
Click to expand...
Get yourself a new belt because that one will probably fail before the end of the season
If you find the deck vibrates badly then toss it strait away
Those decks are pretty flimsey and crack at the slightest provocation
OTOH belts are not cheap .


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