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J.D. E120 Snowblower attachment works very poorly

#1

S

spammeblind

I have a John Deere E120 lawn mower which I've owned for about 4 years with a snowblower attachment. I live in Minnesota and the snowblower isn't able to move much more than about 3" of snow, we are expecting 6" tomorrow. I thought there might be an issue with the belt so I went to the local John Deere dealership and bought a new belt. When installed it hangs very loosely, should it? When engaged it barely holds the pully. Honestly it's useless.

I've spoken with the John Deere dealership and they tell me I've installed it incorrectly. I've watched all the You Tube videos and it seems pretty simple. Is this what I should expect?


#2

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

spammeblind said:
I have a John Deere E120 lawn mower which I've owned for about 4 years with a snowblower attachment. I live in Minnesota and the snowblower isn't able to move much more than about 3" of snow, we are expecting 6" tomorrow. I thought there might be an issue with the belt so I went to the local John Deere dealership and bought a new belt. When installed it hangs very loosely, should it? When engaged it barely holds the pully. Honestly it's useless.

I've spoken with the John Deere dealership and they tell me I've installed it incorrectly. I've watched all the You Tube videos and it seems pretty simple. Is this what I should expect?
Click to expand...
Remember that a dedicated piece of equipment (snowblower) versus an add on (snowblower attachment) almost always works better. See if you can add a bracket to firm it up.


#3

S

spammeblind

Tiger Small Engine said:
Remember that a dedicated piece of equipment (snowblower) versus an add on (snowblower attachment) almost always works better. See if you can add a bracket to firm it up.
Click to expand...

Tiger Small Engine said:
Remember that a dedicated piece of equipment (snowblower) versus an add on (snowblower attachment) almost always works better. See if you can add a bracket to firm it up.
Click to expand...
Sorry, your answer is very vague, add a bracket where?


#4

K

Kenbu

Is the new belt looser than the old one, or about the same? If it's the same, I'd check the tensioner pulley and spring. If it's looser, you may need a smaller belt.

If you have a model number, you can search Weingartz or Deere for a parts diagram.

Ken


#5

S

spammeblind

Kenbu said:
Is the new belt looser than the old one, or about the same? If it's the same, I'd check the tensioner pulley and spring. If it's looser, you may need a smaller belt.

If you have a model number, you can search Weingartz or Deere for a parts diagram.

Ken
Click to expand...
Where does one find. A shorter belt? The current belt is 60”, I’ve been able to find 48”, which is too short. Can one find a 56” belt? I haven’t been able to find one.


#6

R

Rivets

See if this video helps. If it doesn’t post the blower model number off the ID tag.


#7

K

Kenbu

spammeblind said:
Where does one find. A shorter belt? The current belt is 60”, I’ve been able to find 48”, which is too short. Can one find a 56” belt? I haven’t been able to find one.
Click to expand...
One place to find different size belts is NapaOnline.com


#8

R

Rivets

From personal experience, “DO NOT” use aftermarket belts on JD equipment or accessories. To the OP, please provide us with the tractor and blower model numbers from the ID tags. That way we will be able to see exactly which pieces you have and provide the correct part numbers and possibly manuals.


#9

S

spammeblind

Here’s the badge from the mower, I need to dig out the snowblower.

Attachments





#10

S

spammeblind

Here's the badge from the snowblower.

Attachments





#11

S

spammeblind

Rivets said:
From personal experience, “DO NOT” use aftermarket belts on JD equipment or accessories. To the OP, please provide us with the tractor and blower model numbers from the ID tags. That way we will be able to see exactly which pieces you have and provide the correct part numbers and possibly manuals.
Click to expand...
I've uploaded detail for both tractor and snowblower.


#12

R

Rivets

Snowblower belt is John Deere #M158130 and should be 149” long. Here is a manual for your blower. http://manuals.deere.com/omview/OMM177515_19/toc.html


#13

S

spammeblind

I kept the cardboard sleeve from the John Deere belt I purchased from the John Deere dealership. It is #158130 as you mentioned in your response. I also viewed the video link you attached, mine is very different from the snowblower in the video, but the basics are the same. I'm assuming I have an older model. I really appreciate your responses.

The belt is still 6" too long and never actually gets tight enough to blow snow. Any other advise?

As I see it, I can either find a belt that actually works or purchase a separate snowblower.


#14

StarTech

StarTech

Provide the snowblower model label (1M044SBB) is correct you definite got the wrong belts. As 60" is no where near 150"

1734796892939.png


#15

S

spammeblind

StarTech said:
Provide the snowblower model label (1M044SBB) is correct you definite got the wrong belts. As 60" is no where near 150"

View attachment 70259
Click to expand...
I honestly have no idea how belts are measured, and the label has no length on it. It is M158130, so I can only assume it’s

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#16

StarTech

StarTech

The PN is correct. But you can check by measuring the outside circumference. Now the belt is a 9/16" (14.29mm) wide belt and most aftermarket are being shown as 1/2" so you need a slightly shorter belt.

PIX belts smaller than the 150
1734802962104.png
Oregon belts
1734803048134.png
Most are available thru the local independent lawn mower dealers; although, they may have to order them. Personally I would stick to Kevlar one myself. I know I don't any of these in stock here.


#17

S

spammeblind

StarTech said:
The PN is correct. But you can check by measuring the outside circumference. Now the belt is a 9/16" (14.29mm) wide belt and most aftermarket are being shown as 1/2" so you need a slightly shorter belt.

PIX belts smaller than the 150
View attachment 70261
Oregon belts
View attachment 70263
Most are available thru the local independent lawn mower dealers; although, they may have to order them. Personally I would stick to Kevlar one myself. I know I don't any of these in stock here.
Click to expand...
I’m confused, I didn’t purchase an aftermarket belt. I purchased the belt from a John Deere representative dealership. They absolutely assured me this was the correct belt. I specifically questioned the length of the belt.
Are you saying the local John Deere dealership sells belts that are too long?

Honestly, my experience with the dealership is they don’t seem very competent.


#18

D

davis2

spammeblind said:
Where does one find. A shorter belt? The current belt is 60”, I’ve been able to find 48”, which is too short. Can one find a 56” belt? I haven’t been able to find one.
Click to expand...
Try tractor supply. They sell belts by dimensions, not part number...


#19

StarTech

StarTech

spammeblind said:
I’m confused, I didn’t purchase an aftermarket belt. I purchased the belt from a John Deere representative dealership. They absolutely assured me this was the correct belt. I specifically questioned the length of the belt.
Are you saying the local John Deere dealership sells belts that are too long?

Honestly, my experience with the dealership is they don’t seem very competent.
Click to expand...
Without putting a belt measuring tool on the belt I can't say one way or the other. The belt may have previously sold and someone slipped a different belt into the sleeve. And I have in the past gotten the wrong belt myself from my local JD dealer. Matter of fact it happen last year with two GX21833 belts that properly labeled and but were over 2" short for the particular mower I was repairing according to my tool. First belt I had to eat as it was destroyed by the mower and second one I had replaced. And I even too long belts sold to me which is why I spent over $200 for my v-belt measuring tool with three extensions so it measures up to 200" now instead of the 110" of the base tool.

Also your belt tensioner may not be moving freely and binding up.


#20

D

davis2

StarTech said:
Without putting a belt measuring tool on the belt I can't say one way or the other. The belt may have previously sold and someone slipped a different belt into the sleeve. And I have in the past gotten the wrong belt myself from my local JD dealer. Matter of fact it happen last year with two GX21833 belts that properly labeled and but were over 2" short for the particular mower I was repairing according to my tool. First belt I had to eat as it was destroyed by the mower and second one I had replaced. And I even too long belts sold to me which is why I spent over $200 for my v-belt measuring tool with three extensions so it measures up to 200" now instead of the 110" of the base tool.

Also your belt tensioner may not be moving freely and binding up.
Click to expand...
It's a shame that you have to double check, but it's the reality .


#21

WDF1988

WDF1988

davis2 said:
It's a shame that you have to double check, but it's the reality .
Click to expand...
John Deere prints their part number onto the belts to eliminate confusion. You simply check if the number on the belt matches the part number sticker on the cardboard holder. You don't have to measure the belt. This thread is a mess of clickbait posts, exhausting and confusing with all the talk of aftermarket and shorter belts and adding brackets. I'll get some hate for that comment, but after reading all this, I'd want to throw the thing off a cliff out of sheer frustration. Haha. If the OEM belt isn't working, there is a reason, and your local dealership is your best resource for a machine that new. If there is a known issue, Deere has a whole department called CCMS (used to be DTAC) that the dealer can use to contact Deere engineers to figure out the problem. I'd search the database myself, but I don't work at the dealership anymore, but I can affirm that M158130 fits both serial ranges of snowblowers for the E120 tractor.


#22

D

davis2

WDF1988 said:
John Deere prints their part number onto the belts to eliminate confusion. You simply check if the number on the belt matches the part number sticker on the cardboard holder. You don't have to measure the belt. This thread is a mess of clickbait posts, exhausting and confusing with all the talk of aftermarket and shorter belts and adding brackets. I'll get some hate for that comment, but after reading all this, I'd want to throw the thing off a cliff out of sheer frustration. Haha. If the OEM belt isn't working, there is a reason, and your local dealership is your best resource for a machine that new. If there is a known issue, Deere has a whole department called CCMS (used to be DTAC) that the dealer can use to contact Deere engineers to figure out the problem. I'd search the database myself, but I don't work at the dealership anymore, but I can affirm that M158130 fits both serial ranges of snowblowers for the E120 tractor.
Click to expand...
If the person installing the belt knows the information, that's one way to know if it is the proper belt. But if you don't know, you're as helpless as OP. There are pranksters everywhere...


#23

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

WDF1988 said:
John Deere prints their part number onto the belts to eliminate confusion. You simply check if the number on the belt matches the part number sticker on the cardboard holder. You don't have to measure the belt. This thread is a mess of clickbait posts, exhausting and confusing with all the talk of aftermarket and shorter belts and adding brackets. I'll get some hate for that comment, but after reading all this, I'd want to throw the thing off a cliff out of sheer frustration. Haha. If the OEM belt isn't working, there is a reason, and your local dealership is your best resource for a machine that new. If there is a known issue, Deere has a whole department called CCMS (used to be DTAC) that the dealer can use to contact Deere engineers to figure out the problem. I'd search the database myself, but I don't work at the dealership anymore, but I can affirm that M158130 fits both serial ranges of snowblowers for the E120 tractor.
Click to expand...
At this point, maybe your best bet is to take it to the dealer and have them check out snowblower and install the correct belt.
I would not say people trying to help original poster is “clickbait.”
Some people are very independent and like to try to do things themselves first, like installing a belt, before going through the effort of bringing in equipment to the dealer.


#24

StarTech

StarTech

WDF1988 said:
John Deere prints their part number onto the belts to eliminate confusion. You simply check if the number on the belt matches the part number sticker on the cardboard holder. You don't have to measure the belt. This thread is a mess of clickbait posts, exhausting and confusing with all the talk of aftermarket and shorter belts and adding brackets. I'll get some hate for that comment, but after reading all this, I'd want to throw the thing off a cliff out of sheer frustration. Haha. If the OEM belt isn't working, there is a reason, and your local dealership is your best resource for a machine that new. If there is a known issue, Deere has a whole department called CCMS (used to be DTAC) that the dealer can use to contact Deere engineers to figure out the problem. I'd search the database myself, but I don't work at the dealership anymore, but I can affirm that M158130 fits both serial ranges of snowblowers for the E120 tractor.
Click to expand...
I hate say this but even with the PN imprinted on the belts doesn't mean the belt is the correct length. I went that just recently where two belts I had gotten from JD dealership locally were over 2" short. I had to carry my tool in and verify the replacements were correct. The first two they brought out were also short but third and fourth ones were correct.


#25

R

Rivets

More than once I’ve gotten JD belts which were not the same length as what they have listed for that belt number. I have gotten to the point where all belts are measured before installation. I’m wondering if the OP has the tensioner pulley is positioned on the wrong side of the belt. This can easily happen if he has a separate tensioner bracket.


#26

D

davis2

Rivets said:
More than once I’ve gotten JD belts which were not the same length as what they have listed for that belt number. I have gotten to the point where all belts are measured before installation. I’m wondering if the OP has the tensioner pulley is positioned on the wrong side of the belt. This can easily happen if he has a separate tensioner bracket.
Click to expand...
Inexperience sometimes leads me to take longer to finish the job, but I also learn. That is a major reason for visiting and participating here. I'm sure others do too. I wish some people would try to show patience with some of us guys that have experiences in other areas... Rant over, and Merry Christmas 🎄 to all posters!


#27

StarTech

StarTech

Rivets said:
More than once I’ve gotten JD belts which were not the same length as what they have listed for that belt number. I have gotten to the point where all belts are measured before installation. I’m wondering if the OP has the tensioner pulley is positioned on the wrong side of the belt. This can easily happen if he has a separate tensioner bracket.
Click to expand...
And JD will sell aftermarket belt from A&I ie Sunbelt Outdoors. I was a dealer for Sunbelt and then change to A&I toward the end before I quit them about every belt I got from was short. 1/2 belt were usually a inch short and the 5/8 belt were at least 2 inches short. Since most my purchases from A&I were belts I had to finally just give up on being a dealer for them.

They are also the reason I had to buy the belt measuring tool. And as you I now measure all belts before installation as it has saved me a lot of wasted time. Sometime it saves me some headaches when I am having a machine in the shop with belt problems as I find the wrong lengths installed.

We should be able to trust our vendors that they are selling us the right product but this is not always the case.


#28

S

spammeblind

Bottom
StarTech said:
And JD will sell aftermarket belt from A&I ie Sunbelt Outdoors. I was a dealer for Sunbelt and then change to A&I toward the end before I quit them about every belt I got from was short. 1/2 belt were usually a inch short and the 5/8 belt were at least 2 inches short. Since most my purchases from A&I were belts I had to finally just give up on being a dealer for them.

They are also the reason I had to buy the belt measuring tool. And as you I now measure all belts before installation as it has saved me a lot of wasted time. Sometime it saves me some headaches when I am having a machine in the shop with belt problems as I find the wrong lengths installed.

We should be able to trust our vendors that they are selling us the right product but this is not always the case.
Click to expand...
Bottom line I installed the belt, and hope we dont have any real snow, like last year. I’ve taken the tractor to the dealership once. They charged over $500 for work I later realized would have taken me about 30 minutes. I honestly don’t trust them. Any links to a belt measuring device?


#29

StarTech

StarTech

The cheapest is a black felt tip marker and a regular tape measurer. Mark thee belt and using the tape measurer carefully wrap it along the outside circumference of the belt until you get back the initial mark. Won't be 100% but very close.

But what I have is the Dayco 93860 with three 93863 extensions. The 93860 goes to 110 inches and each extension adds 30 inches. Advance Auto is where I got mine but you should be able to find them otherwise. Just use your favorite search tool and plug in the two part numbers above.


#30

D

davis2

StarTech said:
The cheapest is a black felt tip marker and a regular tape measurer. Mark thee belt and using the tape measurer carefully wrap it along the outside circumference of the belt until you get back the initial mark. Won't be 100% but very close.

But what I have is the Dayco 93860 with three 93863 extensions. The 93860 goes to 110 inches and each extension adds 30 inches. Advance Auto is where I got mine but you should be able to find them otherwise. Just use your favorite search tool and plug in the two part numbers above.
Click to expand...
A tape measure used by tailors and seamstresses would be very accurate.


#31

D

davis2

davis2 said:
A tape measure used by tailors and seamstresses would be very accurate.
Click to expand...
And record the measurements when you find one that works!


#32

S

spammeblind

WDF1988 said:
John Deere prints their part number onto the belts to eliminate confusion. You simply check if the number on the belt matches the part number sticker on the cardboard holder. You don't have to measure the belt. This thread is a mess of clickbait posts, exhausting and confusing with all the talk of aftermarket and shorter belts and adding brackets. I'll get some hate for that comment, but after reading all this, I'd want to throw the thing off a cliff out of sheer frustration. Haha. If the OEM belt isn't working, there is a reason, and your local dealership is your best resource for a machine that new. If there is a known issue, Deere has a whole department called CCMS (used to be DTAC) that the dealer can use to contact Deere engineers to figure out the problem. I'd search the database myself, but I don't work at the dealership anymore, but I can affirm that M158130 fits both serial ranges of snowblowers for the E120 tractor.
Click to expand...
I would’t be surprised if my local dealership charged me over $1000 to do the work you mention above. If a simple Tailors tape and 5 minutes resolves my issue, I’m going to start there. Thank you for your response.


#33

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

spammeblind said:
I would’t be surprised if my local dealership charged me over $1000 to do the work you mention above. If a simple Tailors tape and 5 minutes resolves my issue, I’m going to start there. Thank you for your response.
Click to expand...
The local John Deere dealer charges 2.5 times more per hour than I do. They normally do good work, however the labor rate charge is ridiculous.


#34

StarTech

StarTech

Oh the local JD dealer has a rep that they are hiring inexperience techs.

About 12 years ago I had to go offline due my mother developing dementia so one of my customer was needing a Hydro fan replacement. That dealer had an inexperience tech. They charge the customer 8 hrs of labor to do a 30 min job. I knew and live close to the JD dealer manager so I called for my customer and wanted an explanation on why they billed 8 hrs for 30 minute job. Well needless to say I got the bill reduced to one hour plus the part.

And since moved to a new location I had change dealership store. Well they are no better on repairs. One customer here had a flashing oil pressure light. They just told him just keep using the ZTR as the engine had no pump. Well it clearly did. It turn out just to be a bad oil pressure sender. Then he running problems with the same ZTR that would just randomly shutdown again they couldn't find the problem. It was a loose after fire solenoid wire.

Then I had a Stihl hedger under warranty that was racing. I ask for a pressure vac test to be performed. The tech had no idea of how to do one. Well he finally found another tech that did. Well after three weeks in the shop it was returned. First the spark plug was disconnected. Then after I reconnected it I took the hedger out for an after service test run. Guess what it still had the same racing problem. So I took a run at it. While it was racing the tach indicated no rpms. It turned that the hedger was dieseling at full throttle and it was cause by a failed spark plug.

So do I confidence in the local JD dealer shops? Nope.

As in this case the blower may simply need a slightly shorter belt than it originally came with. I got a couple different MTD built mowers that is the case. A Troybilt series and a Toro series.


#35

S

slomo

Tiger Small Engine said:
The local John Deere dealer
Click to expand...
So Deere has been putting computers and all these electronics all over the equipment. Killing the farmers and basically everyone that buys their over priced junk. When one part fails, costs thousands to get it going again. Stop buying Deere products. Make them hungry for our business. Maybe price gouging will fall? Everyone even Deere used to make reliable equipment 50 plus years ago minus a supercomputer onboard.


#36

Q

qmark

The outside circumferance is not the actual belt length, but it is reasonably close and a good belt dealer such as a commercial bearing shop could have the belt listed both ways.


#37

StarTech

StarTech

qmark said:
The outside circumferance is not the actual belt length, but it is reasonably close and a good belt dealer such as a commercial bearing shop could have the belt listed both ways.
Click to expand...
It depends who doing the measuring. Here it is common prectice to do outside circumference as that where the top of the belt rides in the pulleys. But belt belt A150 and B150 are sold by the inside circumference so a A150 is actually a 151" belt and a B150 is a 152" belt.

In this case the JD belt is spec'd at 9/16 top width so a "A" belt would need to be shorter and a "B" belt would need to be longer. Even they are 1 and 2 inches shorter than the labelled size. Now some sleeves will have the outside circumference printed on it too. Basically we are looking for the effective length.


#38

H

Honest Abe

how about starting at the beginning, i.e. - did you buy this tractor and snowblower new, and do you have the manuals?
- - - link - - -

that thing should handle 3' of snow with ease if working properly.....

my 40+ year old Case 108 - 8hp 38" snowblower can/has spit out more snow than you could imagine!


#39

S

spammeblind

Honest Abe said:
how about starting at the beginning, i.e. - did you buy this tractor and snowblower new, and do you have the manuals?
- - - link - - -

that thing should handle 3' of snow with ease if working properly.....

my 40+ year old Case 108 - 8hp 38" snowblower can/has spit out more snow than you could imagine!
Click to expand...
I bought it new and have manuals for both the tractor and the snowblower. The issue is the belt is so loose it just doesn’t provide enough tension to turn the pulley when there is resistance.


#40

S

skiwithjohn

StarTech said:
Provide the snowblower model label (1M044SBB) is correct you definite got the wrong belts. As 60" is no where near 150"

View attachment 70259
Click to expand...
I would find a diagram showing the correct routing of the belt and make sure you install the belt following the correct routing. Make sure the belt tensioner is working properly and the tensioner's spring is attached properly on both ends.

I do not have the same models as you, but my experience on my JD equipment is the tensioner springs often become unattached from the tensioner. When I install a new belt it commonly seems too short and is a bear to get installed correctly. After some use the belt stretches and becomes easier to install.

Is there any chance you may have lost the tensioner spring for the snowblower's belt when removing the snowblower and storing it for the summer?


#41

S

schreib69

skiwithjohn said:
I would find a diagram showing the correct routing of the belt and make sure you install the belt following the correct routing. Make sure the belt tensioner is working properly and the tensioner's spring is attached properly on both ends.

I do not have the same models as you, but my experience on my JD equipment is the tensioner springs often become unattached from the tensioner. When I install a new belt it commonly seems too short and is a bear to get installed correctly. After some use the belt stretches and becomes easier to install.

Is there any chance you may have lost the tensioner spring for the snowblower's belt when removing the snowblower and storing it for the summer?
Click to expand...
Exactly(!) what I was thinking after reading the OP post on page one of 4. I jumped here to the end of four dang pages and find that, after all this posting, John posted the most likely answer! You got MY vote!


#42

Etbrown44

Etbrown44

How about asking a friend, neighbor, church member, or coworker etc who is familiar with mechanics? Anyone familiar with this kind of equipment should be able to solve this quickly. I've bought automotive, farm, and industrial belts forever and never seen one that didn't use the outer circumference of the belt as its length. (I'd say one going by the inside dim would be rare)

Either way, can you get a little help?


#43

S

schreib69

Etbrown44 said:
How about asking a friend, neighbor, church member, or coworker etc who is familiar with mechanics? Anyone familiar with this kind of equipment should be able to solve this quickly. I've bought automotive, farm, and industrial belts forever and never seen one that didn't use the outer circumference of the belt as its length. (I'd say one going by the inside dim would be rare)

Either way, can you get a little help?
Click to expand...
Heck, at the least take an image of the belt threadup and show it to a tech (one who has a brain) at the JD shop to double check both the threadup and the presence of the idler pulley spring etc; have the parts guy recommended the exact model # and it's length; and while there ask him to define which length it is-- ie the OD right?!


#44

5

5eds1

By any chance did you forget to flip the tensioner arm on the snowblower?


#45

5

5eds1

1735516935491.jpeg


#46

S

schreib69

5eds1 said:
View attachment 70313
Click to expand...
Perfect!


#47

H

Honest Abe

spammeblind said:
I bought it new and have manuals for both the tractor and the snowblower. The issue is the belt is so loose it just doesn’t provide enough tension to turn the pulley when there is resistance.
Click to expand...
in the replacement parts section, what belt part # does it call for ... ?


#48

E

epare

spammeblind said:
Here's the badge from the snowblower.
Click to expand...
Okay...you obviously have an appropriate JD snowthrower for the E120. There are two different snowthrowers for the E120 and both use the same drive belt. Yours is the 91 Snowblower, 44 Inch, IM044SBB listed at https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/navigation/equipment/22259. Go to that page and click on the link for that snowblower. Then, click on the link for '3 Pulleys and Drive Belt, Snowblower, ST899498' and scroll down the page until you see '25 V-Belt, Effective Length 3809.6 mm (149.98 inch)' and note that its part number is M158130.
Now check to see that the dealer sold you an M158130 belt and let me know what you determine. If they didn't sell you the correct belt, you either need to get the correct belt from them or from some other reseller.
Depending on the dealer price for any item, I either purchase the item from the dealer; or, I ordinarily go to eBay and search on the part number and then sort the results by 'price + shipping: lowest first' and then look for a belt that will arrive to me quickly and is either OEM or at least as good as OEM and is priced lower than the dealer price.
While you're at it, look at the diagram of the V-belt and pulleys to be certain your setup is identical and that you understand how the tension on the V-belt can be adjusted. - You can email me at epare184@maine.rr.com


#49

G

Gord Baker

spammeblind said:
I have a John Deere E120 lawn mower which I've owned for about 4 years with a snowblower attachment. I live in Minnesota and the snowblower isn't able to move much more than about 3" of snow, we are expecting 6" tomorrow. I thought there might be an issue with the belt so I went to the local John Deere dealership and bought a new belt. When installed it hangs very loosely, should it? When engaged it barely holds the pully. Honestly it's useless.

I've spoken with the John Deere dealership and they tell me I've installed it incorrectly. I've watched all the You Tube videos and it seems pretty simple. Is this what I should expect?
Click to expand...


#50

G

Gord Baker

EXCELLENT Response. Follow it.


#51

S

spammeblind

skiwithjohn said:
I would find a diagram showing the correct routing of the belt and make sure you install the belt following the correct routing. Make sure the belt tensioner is working properly and the tensioner's spring is attached properly on both ends.

I do not have the same models as you, but my experience on my JD equipment is the tensioner springs often become unattached from the tensioner. When I install a new belt it commonly seems too short and is a bear to get installed correctly. After some use the belt stretches and becomes easier to install.

Is there any chance you may have lost the tensioner spring for the snowblower's belt when removing the snowblower and storing it for the summer?
Click to expand...
Just to be clear the belt is too long, I could work with too short.
I’ve verified the belt installation it’s pretty simple. You just run the belt through the pulleys and it results in two loops, top one goes to the motor pulley and the bottom one goes to the snowblower. I’ve also verified the tensioner smoothly moves from front to back when I shift the lever.
It just isn’t tight enough to run the snowblower.


#52

S

schreib69

epare said:
Okay...you obviously have an appropriate JD snowthrower for the E120. There are two different snowthrowers for the E120 and both use the same drive belt. Yours is the 91 Snowblower, 44 Inch, IM044SBB listed at https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/navigation/equipment/22259. Go to that page and click on the link for that snowblower. Then, click on the link for '3 Pulleys and Drive Belt, Snowblower, ST899498' and scroll down the page until you see '25 V-Belt, Effective Length 3809.6 mm (149.98 inch)' and note that its part number is M158130.
Now check to see that the dealer sold you an M158130 belt and let me know what you determine. If they didn't sell you the correct belt, you either need to get the correct belt from them or from some other reseller.
Depending on the dealer price for any item, I either purchase the item from the dealer; or, I ordinarily go to eBay and search on the part number and then sort the results by 'price + shipping: lowest first' and then look for a belt that will arrive to me quickly and is either OEM or at least as good as OEM and is priced lower than the dealer price.
While you're at it, look at the diagram of the V-belt and pulleys to be certain your setup is identical and that you understand how the tension on the V-belt can be adjusted. - You can email me at epare184@maine.rr.com
Click to expand...
Excellent job of helping this guy. Good man!


#53

Z

Zedo

spammeblind said:
Just to be clear the belt is too long, I could work with too short.
I’ve verified the belt installation it’s pretty simple. You just run the belt through the pulleys and it results in two loops, top one goes to the motor pulley and the bottom one goes to the snowblower. I’ve also verified the tensioner smoothly moves from front to back when I shift the lever.
It just isn’t tight enough to run the snowblower.
Click to expand...


#54

Z

zrxkawboy

spammeblind said:
I bought it new and have manuals for both the tractor and the snowblower. The issue is the belt is so loose it just doesn’t provide enough tension to turn the pulley when there is resistance.
Click to expand...
So was there a time when the belt DID fit properly? If so, when did that change?


#55

G

Grasswhore

epare said:
Okay...you obviously have an appropriate JD snowthrower for the E120. There are two different snowthrowers for the E120 and both use the same drive belt. Yours is the 91 Snowblower, 44 Inch, IM044SBB listed at https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/navigation/equipment/22259. Go to that page and click on the link for that snowblower. Then, click on the link for '3 Pulleys and Drive Belt, Snowblower, ST899498' and scroll down the page until you see '25 V-Belt, Effective Length 3809.6 mm (149.98 inch)' and note that its part number is M158130.
Now check to see that the dealer sold you an M158130 belt and let me know what you determine. If they didn't sell you the correct belt, you either need to get the correct belt from them or from some other reseller.
Depending on the dealer price for any item, I either purchase the item from the dealer; or, I ordinarily go to eBay and search on the part number and then sort the results by 'price + shipping: lowest first' and then look for a belt that will arrive to me quickly and is either OEM or at least as good as OEM and is priced lower than the dealer price.
While you're at it, look at the diagram of the V-belt and pulleys to be certain your setup is identical and that you understand how the tension on the V-belt can be adjusted. - You can email me at epare184@maine.rr.com
Click to expand...
It looks like the idler pulleys (part 18) slide in grooves of part 16. If this is correct do the pulleys bottom out in the back of the slot? If so then the belt may be too long? If not then the spring may have lost tension? Just guessing, we don't have much call for snow blowers in La.


#56

J

jviews12

I do not have personal experience, but if the tensioner is fully out, then you can find shorter belts on the internet. They make them in many sizes not just 60 and 48 inches. Gotta exist. good luck.


#57

P

Peva

spammeblind said:
Just to be clear the belt is too long, I could work with too short.
I’ve verified the belt installation it’s pretty simple. You just run the belt through the pulleys and it results in two loops, top one goes to the motor pulley and the bottom one goes to the snowblower. I’ve also verified the tensioner smoothly moves from front to back when I shift the lever.
It just isn’t tight enough to run the snowblower.
Click to expand...
This thread has been around the barn at least a couple of times, but no resolution.

You say you're routing the belt correctly. OK. (One poster suggested being sure the tensioner is not flipped in the wrong direction - not sure that is even possible, but have you verified that that is not the case?)

You're still saying the belt is too long to work. A couple of posters have said that getting a belt marked with the right part number but being the wrong actual length is not unheard of, *and* you've hinted at intending to measure the belt by one of the techniques mentioned not requiring an actual belt measuring tool, *but* I don't see where you've stated that you have done that.

It has been established that the proper belt is #M158130, which is supposed to be just shy of 150".

*** I have to ask: Did you measure the belt? ***
(Again - apparently, from what some have posted, you can't 100% trust the belt length being correct even if it is stamped with the correct part number.)

I'd suggest that once you've re-verified *all* of the above, *then* go to the trouble and expense of shopping for a shorter (what? 144"? 147"?) belt.


#58

H

Honest Abe

You originally stated that,"The current belt is 60” - as has been mentioned already, this is the incorrect belt. It absolutely positively requires the M158130 -149.98 " belt. Either you're routing the belt wrong, or the snowblower is not installed totally in sync with the tractor. There are no other possibilities, a 56" belt is NOT your solution ..... take it off and start again with the correct belt length.


#59

P

Peva

Honest Abe said:
You originally stated that,"The current belt is 60” - as has been mentioned already, this is the incorrect belt. It absolutely positively requires the M158130 -149.98 " belt. Either you're routing the belt wrong, or the snowblower is not installed totally in sync with the tractor. There are no other possibilities, a 56" belt is NOT your solution ..... take it off and start again with the correct belt length.
Click to expand...
"...or the snowblower is not installed totally in sync with the tractor."

That is a possibility too.

However, you're out of sync with the thread! 😁

The OP mis-spoke in his first post about having a 60" belt. As he later stated, he in fact has the M158130 belt (he included photos of the packaging label but not of the marking on the belt itself, but says the belt itself is stamped "M158130"), but he says it is too long.

Can't blame people for not wanting to read thru 6 pages of posts - I get that. But not a good idea not to read through it and comment at the tail end having missed corrections and added info. info. that's already been covered. 👍


#60

H

Honest Abe

Peva said:
"...or the snowblower is not installed totally in sync with the tractor."

That is a possibility too.

However, you're out of sync with the thread! 😁

The OP mis-spoke in his first post about having a 60" belt. As he later stated, he in fact has the M158130 belt (he included photos of the packaging label but not of the marking on the belt itself, but says the belt itself is stamped "M158130"), but he says it is too long.

Can't blame people for not wanting to read thru 6 pages of posts - I get that. But not a good idea not to read through it and comment at the tail end having missed corrections and added info. info. that's already been covered. 👍
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, do I genuflect now, or at some later time . . . . . 🥱

Maybe it would be simpler for the poster to just trade it in for a new easier unit.... 😉


#61

P

Peva

Honest Abe said:
I'm sorry, do I genuflect now, or at some later time . . . . . 🥱

Maybe it would be simpler for the poster to just trade it in for a new easier unit.... 😉
Click to expand...
Why would you genuflect? That would be weird. Take my comments at face value and don't read anything into them. Have a good day.


#62

D

djjsc

spammeblind said:
"I have a John Deere E120 lawn mower which I've owned for about 4 years with a snowblower attachment..... the snowblower isn't able to move much more than about 3" of snow, we are expecting 6" tomorrow. I thought there might be an issue with the belt so I went to the local John Deere dealership and bought a new belt. When installed it hangs very loosely, should it?"

Somewhat loosely is what you're looking for. My opinion is it should almost engage when loose. That way you KNOW you're getting maximum engagement when called for.

"When engaged it barely holds the pulley. Honestly it's useless."

WRONG!!! Should have better than barely holding grip on (drive/tightener/driven) pulleys.

"I've spoken with the John Deere dealership and they tell me I've installed it incorrectly. I've watched all the You Tube videos and it seems pretty simple. Is this what I should expect?"

Was a Deere partsman for 18+ years. Does the embossed/printed label on new belt MATCH the part number on the sleeve? Does it match the embossed/printed label on old belt? No match..... WRONG BELT. Finally..... check ALL pulleys/shafts for wear; also tightener pulley pivot for wear. If you go for an aftermarket belt, make SURE it's Kevlar. Kevlar returns the extra cost in hrs of service.
Click to expand...


#63

5

5eds1

spammeblind said:
Just to be clear the belt is too long, I could work with too short.
I’ve verified the belt installation it’s pretty simple. You just run the belt through the pulleys and it results in two loops, top one goes to the motor pulley and the bottom one goes to the snowblower. I’ve also verified the tensioner smoothly moves from front to back when I shift the lever.
It just isn’t tight enough to run the snowblower.
Click to expand...
That’s what the tensioner does, tighten a loose belt. If the belt was too tight you wouldn’t be able to put it on the engine pulley.


#64

G

Gord Baker

Peva said:
Why would you genuflect? That would be weird. Take my comments at face value and don't read anything into them. Have a good day.
Click to expand...
Is that Metric? Boycott all ads.


#65

E

epare

spammeblind said:
Just to be clear the belt is too long, I could work with too short.
I’ve verified the belt installation it’s pretty simple. You just run the belt through the pulleys and it results in two loops, top one goes to the motor pulley and the bottom one goes to the snowblower. I’ve also verified the tensioner smoothly moves from front to back when I shift the lever.
It just isn’t tight enough to run the snowblower.
Click to expand...
I should probably stay out of this...there are too many people advising you and since I'm new to interacting on this forum, I didn't see that there are a number of pages of comments, and that your issue began some time ago. But, before I leave, there is one question that's really bothering/annoying me: You say you have the appropriate belt number (as the belt's cardboard sleeve implies), but the belt is several inches too long. You also state that the belt is 60 inches in length. These two sentences do not jive...how the heck did you measure the belt to be 60 inches?...that's impossible...the belt is supposed to measure nearly 150 inches. It is not possible that a 60 inch belt is too long. I think you need to first clear up this issue; because, it appears that you have no idea how to measure a belt's length. The guy who told you to go purchase an inexpensive seamstress'/tailor's cloth tape measure and measure the outside circumference of the belt has put you on the right track. This is how I've quickly checked belt measurements for over 60 years (I'm 76). You should do what he suggested and clear up this crazy statement that your new belt measures 60 inches. Until you have an accurate measurement of your new belt, there is no sense of talking about finding a shorter belt.


#66

P

Peva

djjsc said:
...Was a Deere partsman for 18+ years. Does the embossed/printed label on new belt MATCH the part number on the sleeve? Does it match the embossed/printed label on old belt? No match..... WRONG BELT.
Click to expand...
Already addressed: OP (original poster) posted photos of the new belt packaging showing the John Deere-listed belt part number (M158130) for this machine. The OP stated that the belt has that part number embossed on the new belt. However it has been suggested that the OP actually measure the belt (with a belt measuring tool/gauge or by measuring the length around the outer surface of the belt - should be 150" for the John Deere-specified belt) as a couple of people have suggested that it is not unheard of for a belt to be mislabeled/marked. As yet, unless I missed it, the OP has not done that, but should do so to eliminate that as the possible root cause. 🤷‍♂️

...Finally..... check ALL pulleys/shafts for wear; also tightener pulley pivot for wear. If you go for an aftermarket belt, make SURE it's Kevlar. Kevlar returns the extra cost in hrs of service.
Click to expand...
They sounds like good suggestions to be added to the list.


#67

P

Peva

epare said:
I should probably stay out of this...there are too many people advising you and since I'm new to interacting on this forum, I didn't see that there are a number of pages of comments, and that your issue began some time ago. But, before I leave, there is one question that's really bothering/annoying me: You say you have the appropriate belt number (as the belt's cardboard sleeve implies), but the belt is several inches too long. You also state that the belt is 60 inches in length. These two sentences do not jive...how the heck did you measure the belt to be 60 inches?...that's impossible...the belt is supposed to measure nearly 150 inches. It is not possible that a 60 inch belt is too long. I think you need to first clear up this issue; because, it appears that you have no idea how to measure a belt's length. The guy who told you to go purchase an inexpensive seamstress'/tailor's cloth tape measure and measure the outside circumference of the belt has put you on the right track. This is how I've quickly checked belt measurements for over 60 years (I'm 76). You should do what he suggested and clear up this crazy statement that your new belt measures 60 inches. Until you have an accurate measurement of your new belt, there is no sense of talking about finding a shorter belt.
Click to expand...
Already covered - see post #59. 👍


#68

S

Sonny1980

the belt number should be on the belt itself if it isnt you should bring the belt in with you when buying another one..its pretty simple.. and my snowblower has slow times moving also . try working it in lower speed first then gradually to high it works for myself.. start at one then when it gets comfortable go higher..


#69

G

Gord Baker

Sonny1980 said:
the belt number should be on the belt itself if it isnt you should bring the belt in with you when buying another one..its pretty simple.. and my snowblower has slow times moving also . try working it in lower speed first then gradually to high it works for myself.. start at one then when it gets comfortable go higher..
Click to expand...
The belt numbers are often illegible from running the backsides over Idlers. I am wondering how we ever got as far as sliced bread!!!


#70

E

epare

Peva said:
Already covered - see post #59. 👍
Click to expand...
No. My question has not already been covered in post #59. The OP has not yet done a proper measurement on the belt, which he says is the M158130 belt; but, he has not yet reported its exact measurement. We can't assume that, just because it is marked as a M158130 belt, it is the 150 inch length. It needs to be measured correctly.


#71

P

Peva

epare said:
No. My question has not already been covered in post #59. The OP has not yet done a proper measurement on the belt, which he says is the M158130 belt; but, he has not yet reported its exact measurement. We can't assume that, just because it is marked as a M158130 belt, it is the 150 inch length. It needs to be measured correctly.
Click to expand...
I should have said post #57, in which I did state exactly that. 👍

Elvis (the OP) may have left the building. 🤷‍♂️


#72

E

epare

Peva said:
I should have said post #57, in which I did state exactly that. 👍

Elvis (the OP) may have left the building. 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
Yes. I see now that you did request the measurement in post #57. But, there is no sense in talking about considering getting a shorter belt until the OP does make that measurement. If the new belt he has does measure 150 inches, then, he's most likely installing it and/or the snow thrower incorrectly and that process of his needs to be checked. I don't get the sense that he's been replacing belts in various lawn equipment for years and years, as many of us here have. (-:


#73

P

Peva

epare said:
Yes. I see now that you did request the measurement in post #57. But, there is no sense in talking about considering getting a shorter belt until the OP does make that measurement. If the new belt he has does measure 150 inches, then, he's most likely installing it and/or the snow thrower incorrectly and that process of his needs to be checked. I don't get the sense that he's been replacing belts in various lawn equipment for years and years, as many of us here have. (-:
Click to expand...
"Yes. I see now that you did request the measurement in post #57. But, there is no sense in talking about considering getting a shorter belt until the OP does make that measurement..."

I did end post #57 with:
"I'd suggest that once you've re-verified *all* of the above, *then* go to the trouble and expense of shopping for a shorter (what? 144"? 147"?) belt." - so there's that.

I think we're in "violent" agreement. 🤪


#74

H

Honest Abe

Sonny & Cher - - - and, "The Beat Goes On", and on, and on, and on............ 🙄​



#75

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

Honest Abe said:

Sonny & Cher - - - and, "The Beat Goes On", and on, and on, and on............ 🙄​

Click to expand...
75 posts on 1 thread,
Will this thing ever be dead,
Measure it once and cut twice,
I should stick my head in a vice.
Happy New Year!


#76

D

davis2

Tiger Small Engine said:
75 posts on 1 thread,
Will this thing ever be dead,
Measure it once and cut twice,
I should stick my head in a vice.
Happy New Year!
Click to expand...
Be careful what you put in a vise!! Neither head should go there!


#77

StarTech

StarTech

You don't have to worry about doing it yourself the next administration will royally screw us via tariffs. Reduce taxes one way and more than double it another way. Tariffs are nothing but another form of taxing the consumer. So they are going to put us in the vise and squeeze until they get all the blood money out of us. It is the consumer that is going to be punished to make the rich richer. It is basically cutting off your nose to sprite your face deal. Basically it is a reverse Robin Hood scheme.

I have done reworked my business into a non-profit mode for the next four years since the tax code only requires me to make a profit once every five years. This not only reduces my Federal taxes to zero, the state will also get reduced sales tax revenue too. It took a year of careful price adjustments to get to a near zero profit margin but I have gotten there this tax season. Went from paying a few thousand yearly to passing along the lower sales tax collections.

But yes Tiger it does look like we all wasted our time on this thread.


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