Drive Belts

[Racinbob 11,929]

I had to replace the idler on the 2005 and I noticed the belt was looking not so good. I know a lot of you like the Tractor Supply Kevlar belts and I do too. I use them on about everything. I had a 5L820 (from Ebay) in my stash for quite a while. I had tied to use it on the Dino project and it was far too tight. I picked up a TSC 5L830 and it seemed like it would be fine but I couldn't test drive it. I pulled the belt I had back out to use on the 2005. Same thing. Too tight. This time I measured it. It was 81"  No wonder I couldn't even get it on. Now that I knew the Ebay belt was simply undersized I picked up a TSC Huskee 5L820. It was tighter than I liked. It worked and I mowed with it a day hoping it would 'seat' in. Not really. I did not like the way it felt. I ordered two OEM Toro belts.

Look at these numbers.

 

Used OEM being replaced. .587+

 

How it rides on the idler.

 

Huskee 5L820 .666

 

On the idler.

 

New Toro OEM .611

 

On the idler.

 

I have a Huskee on the 854 drive and it's fine but, of course it a 4L . I know a lot of you guys use the blue belts on the drive with no issues but it just didn't happen for me. For decades I said the TSC belts are great but suggested to use OEM on the drive. I've heard it mentioned that Toro specs are a bit different. Never really believed it. I have to question it now. I'll use them on my 4L machines but pay the OEM  price for the ones that use a 5L. 

 

By the way, the 5L820 that measured 81" was a D&D from Ebay. 

[ri702bill 9,434]

Bob - I too have found the belts from D&D to run on the low side of the advertised length. I could not use theirs on the S/G for my 854 - too short, not enough adjustment.

I DID use theirs on my horizontal bandsaw - no issue there... shorter than OE.

[ebinmaine 72,674]

Tried D & D.   👎👎   Two thumbs down. 

 

Tried a white colored Dayco brand. Nope. 

 

Tried blue STENS brand. OK for 60s tractors but NOT for my 1974 and up C Series 8 Speeds. 

 

Tried green Gates brand. Those were fine for both vintage transmissions BUT I can get an original OE Wheelhorse belt for less money. Same for the Napa Gates. 

 

 

Why would I use aftermarket when OE is less money......?

 

For Trina's 1960s:

We've been using blue Stens from Lincoln at A to Z Tractor in PA when she needs a replacement.  

 

For my 1974 and up:

OE Wheelhorse ONLY on 8 speeds. 

[Lee1977 7,208]

 The last belt I got from Toro was made in Mexico, it's not holding up. I haven't measured it but it looks a lot narrow then it was new. That's when I changed to the TSC belts. 

So far they have not given any problems. I have a drive belt on my 520-H and several on decks and mule drives.

Tsc belts are just a little over half the price of Toro. 

Edited Wednesday at 08:34 PM by Lee1977

[Racinbob 11,929]

27 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Tried D & D.   👎👎   Two thumbs down. 

 

Tried a white colored Dayco brand. Nope. 

 

Tried blue STENS brand. OK for 60s tractors but NOT for my 1974 and up C Series 8 Speeds. 

 

Tried green Gates brand. Those were fine for both vintage transmissions BUT I can get an original OE Wheelhorse belt for less money. Same for the Napa Gates. 

 

 

Why would I use aftermarket when OE is less money......?

 

For Trina's 1960s:

We've been using blue Stens from Lincoln at A to Z Tractor in PA when she needs a replacement.  

 

For my 1974 and up:

OE Wheelhorse ONLY on 8 speeds. 

15 minutes ago, Lee1977 said:

 The last belt I got from Toro was made in Mexico, it's not holding up. I haven't measured it but it looks a lot narrow then it was new. That's when I changed to the TSC belts. 

So far they have not given any problems. I have a drive belt on my 520-H and several on decks and mule drives.

Tsc belts are just a little over half the price of Toro. 

It won't matter on the attachments or hydros. Just on the manuals. The "clutching" can be finicky.

 

28 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Tried D & D.   👎👎   Two thumbs down. 

 

Tried a white colored Dayco brand. Nope. 

 

Tried blue STENS brand. OK for 60s tractors but NOT for my 1974 and up C Series 8 Speeds. 

Tried green Gates brand. Those were fine for both vintage transmissions BUT I can get an original OE Wheelhorse belt for less money. Same for the Napa Gates. 

 

 

Why would I use aftermarket when OE is less money......?

 

For Trina's 1960s:

We've been using blue Stens from Lincoln at A to Z Tractor in PA when she needs a replacement.  

 

For my 1974 and up:

OE Wheelhorse ONLY on 8speeds. 

 

I'm definitely in agreement for the drive belt on my 8 speeds. For my other needs, it a trip to TSC. 

RCPW was as reasonable as I found for the Toro OEM. High shipping kinda hurt but still the best price I found. Considering the drive belt I just replaced was 16 years old it's not worth messing with it. 

 

[squonk 43,820]

I probably sold more belts than anyone on here. The big local OPE dealer used the Napa green belts on just about everything.

 

Personally I've had issues with 2 belts:

 

The first was OEM Toro belt on my 704. Didn't work worth a hill of beans. TSC belt fixed that.

 

2nd was a TSC belt on my 953. didn't want to "release" every time. A few minutes driving around in 3rd slipping the clutch fixed that. 

 

You guys can have the OEM belts all to yourselves. I'm kind of curious who actually makes them.

[ebinmaine 72,674]

36 minutes ago, squonk said:

I probably sold more belts than anyone on here. The big local OPE dealer used the Napa green belts on just about everything.

 

Personally I've had issues with 2 belts:

 

The first was OEM Toro belt on my 704. Didn't work worth a hill of beans. TSC belt fixed that.

 

2nd was a TSC belt on my 953. didn't want to "release" every time. A few minutes driving around in 3rd slipping the clutch fixed that. 

 

You guys can have the OEM belts all to yourselves. I'm kind of curious who actually makes them.

 

 

I don't mind using a Napa or Gates green belt at all.  

For me it's that or a Wheelhorse belt. Both work fine. 

 

Here, it's a price issue. I can't touch a Napa green belt within a row of outhouses to a Wheelhorse belt.  

 

Price check 7/30/2025 6:08 pm eastern:

 

Napa. $70.99

 

OE. Multiple places under $50.  

 

 

 

[squonk 43,820]

12 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

I don't mind using a Napa or Gates green belt at all.  

For me it's that or a Wheelhorse belt. Both work fine. 

 

Here, it's a price issue. I can't touch a Napa green belt within a row of outhouses to a Wheelhorse belt.  

 

Price check 7/30/2025 6:08 pm eastern:

 

Napa. $70.99

 

OE. Multiple places under $50.  

 

 

 

Tractor supply $27.00

[ebinmaine 72,674]

3 minutes ago, squonk said:

Tractor supply $27.00

 

Good price but the total value doesn’t exist here.  

 

Ain't worth the travel time to me.  Nearest one is 50 minutes each direction and very poorly organized.  

 

For the investment of 2+ hours time and no issues I'll spend nearly double the money every single time.  

 

 

[kpinnc 14,642]

40 minutes ago, squonk said:

Tractor supply $27.00

 

I've had good luck with the TSC belts. That being said, many of my machines have non-OEM pulleys at the transmission. 

 

My only complaint is that the TSC belts shed alot of blue dust during break in on the PTO side of the engine and belt guard. They stop after 3-5 hours of use, but it's annoying with a new belt. 

[mrc 953]

the 48 inch SD decks use a 1/2 x 107 inch belt for the spindle belt.   at the nearest TSC the longest 1/2 inch belt i could find was 1/2 x 105 inch.  have you guys found the 107 inch belt at your local tsc.   the service at my tsc sucks.

 

i just put a genuine wh 7478 drive belt on my late buddies C161 for his widow.   generally speaking i use OEM for the drive belts.

7473...8 speeds

7478...hydro's

[Retired Wrencher 5,787]

I see some different ideas here that’s fine if it works for you. I always use what’s in the manual that it calls for. I had good luck with those and long wear time just my .

[clueless 3,235]

As per my local WH mechanic for 30 years, he said those small tenths and hundred on the OEMs make a difference, the belts were specifically designed by the wheel horse engineers, that's the reason they last damn near forever. Once Toro took over they eventually had belt companies start producing them and close was good enough. "Close but no Cigar" - Richard Boone.

[Racinbob 11,929]

Again, I'm only talking about the 5/8" drive belts. The older machines used 1/2" drive belts and I've never had a problem there. The two new 93-9808 OEM belts I just got fit fine and clutch properly where the D&D and Huskee belts didn't. The physical difference in size is very obvious. 

[953 nut 60,008]

A few months back a member had a belt problem with a 5/8" D & D belt that actually measured nearly 3/4", guess they aren't checking their quality.  I haven't had to replace a belt lately but had always had good luck with the TS Kevlar belts in the past. Guess I will have to take along a digital caliper next time I go belt shopping.