Drive Belt Replacement....??

[Crow Horse 8]

I just replaced my drive belt and idler pulley on my B-80 and on it's maiden voyage it seemed as though the clutch was not completely disengaging creating a slight drag. Shifting was a bit hard. Prior to the replacement shifting was smooth and effortless. What didn't I do? Any ideas?.....

[WH nut 553]

Was it a Wheel Horse belt, Aftermarket could have been a tad shorter

[Crow Horse 8]

It was a True Blue belt, 5/8" x 82". I was wondering if there's an adjustment that I need to make........

[Sarge 3,465]

Many times if you use an aftermarket belt things just seem to work "different" . Many of the oem belts are a slightly different shape, the aftermarket are more "cookie cutter" sizes and just don't fit the same. Sort of like Samurai u-joints...LOL .

Sarge

[Rod(NASNUT) 1]

I use the True Blue belts and they work fine.

[Crow Horse 8]

I think I might have stumbled across the answer. In my manual it states to achieve proper "declutching", the belt guides must clear the belt by no more than 1/32". Mine are way larger than that so I'll try that tomorrow....

[sorekiwi 761]

Thats probably it, Crow.

The guides need to push the belt away from the pulley to stop it driving. Maybe your old belt had stretched enough that they still worked.

Thats also why the belt guard needs to be on for the belt to disengage...

[Crow Horse 8]

Yep, that was it. The old belt was in pretty sorry shape and I'm surprised that it was still holding together. It might have been the original belt. Now all is well....

Onto the next rebuild task, whatever that might be.....

And the cargo rack is still in the works.......

[sorekiwi 761]

Drive belts never break unless it's 6.30pm on a Sunday night and you are finally trying to get the grass cut, OR its dumping with snow and you need to start plowing right now!

[Crow Horse 8]

Mike,

That is VERY,VERY true.........

[Andy L 0]

I used an aftermarket belt and ran into the same issue. Where are the belt guides?

[Crow Horse 8]

The belt guides are on the belt/pulley cover, on the most forward part of it. My manual states to use pliers to bend the guides to the proper position ( 1/32" from belt).......

[Raider12puller 1]

The belt guides are on the belt/pulley cover, on the most forward part of it. My manual states to use pliers to bend the guides to the proper position ( 1/32" from belt).......

This is only on the older tractors i believe throught the c-series. My 312-8 has a guide on the engine that you just loosen the bolt and readjust the guide.