J.D. E120 Snowblower attachment works very poorly

[spammeblind]

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?

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.

 

[schreib69]

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

Excellent job of helping this guy. Good man!

 

[Zedo]

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.

 

[zrxkawboy]

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.

So was there a time when the belt DID fit properly? If so, when did that change?

 

[Grasswhore]

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

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.

 

[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.

 

[Peva]

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.

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.

 

[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.

 

[Peva]

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.

"...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.

 

[Honest Abe]

"...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.

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....