MTD/White lawn tractor belt overheating

[billjohnson121]

White Outdoor Equipment 2001 LT-1500 model 13AP606G190

I have seen the particular belt that I am referring to called the drive belt, the PTO belt and the variable speed belt. It is the belt that goes around the engine pulley at the front, through the PTO idler assembly and then to the variable speed pulley. White/MTD OEM part #754-0467. Item 45 in this diagram: Lawn Mower Parts, Small Engine Parts & Much More! | PartsTree.com - Briggs, MTD, Toro, Cub Cadet, Husqvarna, Troy-bilt...

After 30 minutes or so of mowing, the belt overheats (or gets hot to the touch, anyway) and grabs the pulleys so the wheels will not stop. It has been doing this with two belts (I replaced the last one and it does the same thing). I adjusted the drive pedal according to the owner's manual. The idler pulleys are spinning free. All the other pulleys are free from sharp spots or burrs or anything else that would suggest they are defective.

Can anyone help?
Thanks, Bill

 

[Carscw]

Ok first thing on the drive belts you need to replace both at the same time.
Is the belt rubbing on a belt guide.

Run the mower for a few mins then get under there and look for a shiny spot.

If all pulleys turn free and don't wobble or make noise from a bad bearing it has to be rubbing.

 

[billjohnson121]

I checked the three guide pins and the belt is on the correct side of them. There is some shiny-ness to them, but not like they have been scrubbed clean from constant contact. With the engine stopped and pressure on the drive pedal, the drive belt is close to the guide pins but is not touching them. I will replace the variable speed belt now (the drive belt has less than 2 hours on it) and see what happens.

Thank you, Bill