I have a
Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP (357cc) that I bought new in 2009 and has been running quite admirably up until the last season or so. I noticed there wasn't a lot of "oomph" when pushing through the snow, and the auger was getting bogged down very easily. I had never changed either belt so it was probably time. I also noticed it was leaking some gas too, and never changed the carburetor either, so time for some maintenance.
The drive belt was no problem. I ordered the
954-04201 which I easily got on and seems to be a match for match of what came with it.
The auger belt was a different story. I bought the
Troy-Bilt 954-04195,754-04195 replacement. That's what the Troy-Bilt website says is the official replacement. As soon as I received it, I noticed it was different then what I had though. The original auger belt was cogged. This one was not. I figured I'd try it anyway so I put it in and started the snowblower and the auger immediately started running on it's own, eventually getting up to warp speed and the belt started smoking. I think the auger brake was still resting on it because I did not engage the auger, and I think that was causing the friction and the smoking (there's a warn spot down the middle of the belt where the brake would rest). It obviously wasn't enough pressure to keep the belt from moving though.
I thought okay, let me try and find an MTD belt that had the correct replacement model numbers, and also a cogged belt pictured for the item. I found this
MTD 754-04195 and 954-04195 from Walmart, which pictures a cogged belt like the one that came with my snowblower. It came in the mail and was the exact same non-cogged Troy-Bilt belt I received first. I contacted Walmart and told them that they sent me the wrong belt, so they sent another one out, the exact same Troy-Bilt non-cogged belt again. So what they are selling is not what is listed on their site.
So now I'm kind of lost. The official channels of the Troy-Bilt parts recommendation website leads me to this non-cogged belt that seems a little too tight and smokes (not to mention runs the auger on it's own). I tried to specifically order a cogged belt, and they sent me the non-cogged Troy-Bilt belt. I don't know where to get the damn cogged belt replacement that came with my snowblower.
Does anyone have any recommendations on what exact belt I need, and where I can reliably get it? Thanks
