Sears 42" Deck Belt too short

[TheBishop]

I had a deck belt wear out on my Kohler engine 15.5hp 42" deck. I ordered another belt online since the original manual says the belt is 88" belt. The belt came in today and seemed a hair too short but did fit.
The belt is too short and the belt spins the blades some before I lift the engage lever. But the lever did lock in place so I started cutting the grass.

the belt broke in 20 minutes.

If the book says 88" but the belt is too short what does one do now?

 

[StarTech]

First let us verify that you order the correct size by posting the model number from the serial number tag. Too short of a belt will be overloaded and will over heat quickly leading to failure,

Just to nore many after market are way shorter than stated which is why I now order mainly OEM belts for my repair shop customers, saves a lot of headaches.

 

[TheBishop]

It's an older Craftsman 917.257651 15.5hp
Manual shows 140067 for the deck belt.
Seller showed 140067 82"

I said 88" in my post, it was 82".

 

[Cusser]

Measure the length of the old belt that had worked.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Lawn Tractor Blade Drive Belt, 1/2 x 82-5/8-in 581982501 parts | Sears PartsDirect

Lawn Tractor Blade Drive Belt, 1/2 x 82-5/8-in 581982501 parts - manufacturer-approved parts for a proper fit every time! We also have installation guides, diagrams and manuals to help you along the way!

www.searspartsdirect.com

sears shows 1/2x82 5/8" but i'm not sure if it's supposed to be the 5/8" is the width of the belt or not.

 

[Hammermechanicman]

the belt broke in 20 minutes.

Can you link to the belt you bought?
How did it fail? Pic?

Usually when someone brings me a mower and say the new belt failed within minutes of installing i usually find belt was routed wrong or on the wrong side of a belt guide. If it was the correct belt and it seemed too short and it failed quickly i would double check how installed

 

[StarTech]

Lawn Tractor Blade Drive Belt, 1/2 x 82-5/8-in 581982501 parts | Sears PartsDirect

Lawn Tractor Blade Drive Belt, 1/2 x 82-5/8-in 581982501 parts - manufacturer-approved parts for a proper fit every time! We also have installation guides, diagrams and manuals to help you along the way!

www.searspartsdirect.com

sears shows 1/2x82 5/8" but i'm not sure if it's supposed to be the 5/8" is the width of the belt or not.

Scrub that would be a 1/2 x 82-5/8 (82.625) belt and should be a Kevlar belt.


Please my system uses "HUS" as a prefix since I have only 800,000 + part number in the inventory file to avoid potential problems with other vendors part numbers.

Most likle that 82" is an after market belt and may not even be 82 inches but as Hammer suggests double check the routing first.

 

[Hammermechanicman]

A quick google search turns up 82" , 82.25", 82.5" and 82.625" as direct replacement belts for the 140067 number. They are all 4L belts so 1/2" wide. I wonder what the real length number is?
Looks like some vendors feel close is good enough. Time to play another round of V belt roulette.

Lawn Tractor Blade Drive Belt, 1/2 x 82-5/8-in 581982501 parts | Sears PartsDirect

Lawn Tractor Blade Drive Belt, 1/2 x 82-5/8-in 581982501 parts - manufacturer-approved parts for a proper fit every time! We also have installation guides, diagrams and manuals to help you along the way!

www.searspartsdirect.com

OREGON 1/2 X 82 1/4 replacement Belt replaces CRAFTSMAN 140294 140067 532140294

OREGON 1/2 X 82 1/4 replacement Belt replaces CRAFTSMAN 140294 140067 532140294

www.tinproges.com

AYP OEM Replacement Belt 140067, 532140067 1/2x82 1/2

DESCRIPTION OEM Replacement Belt AYP 581982501 REPLACES OEM AYP 140067, 532140067 Husqvarna 532140067, 581982501, FITS MODELS AYP L1252AR, PP125H42J and PP125H42JA with 36" deck; for 8 HP engines Husqvarna LT125, LTH140, YT180 and YTH180, SPECS Belt Application Deck Belt Type Covered Width 1/2"...

www.allworldbearings.com

 

[Scrubcadet10]

OP, where did you order the new belt from?

 

[StarTech]