60" deck belt routing

[Ed Kennell 47,734]

Found this belt routing decal on a 60" deck.    Did any 60" decks have the PTO belt on the bottom pulley?

 

 

[cleat 9,401]

My 60" deck has the PTO belt on the bottom.

 

 

[Ed Kennell 47,734]

Thanks Cleat...the 82yo dog is still learning.

 

What was the reason for this belt change on the 60" decks?   belt axle clearance, radial load on the center spindle???

Edited 20 hours ago by Ed Kennell

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 12,519]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

What was the reason for this belt change on the 60" decks?   belt axle clearance, radial load on the center spindle???

I will guess that it was to get the longer blades down to a maximum blade tip speed of 19,200 feet per minute.

[Handy Don 17,625]

I think the question is: Why is the PTO belt on the bottom? The pulley could be inverted to be big on top and small on the bottom to get the same speeds. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 12,519]

Wonder how the spindle pulleys ended up at the correct height?

Could they just be turned over?

[Handy Don 17,625]

6 minutes ago, gwest_ca said:

Wonder how the spindle pulleys ended up at the correct height?

Ah, that could be it. Aligning the deck belt to match the height of the other spindles without raising the overall height above the deck. 

[Ed Kennell 47,734]

Good discussion..  Don and Garry.

[c-series don 12,606]

And it’s a real PITA to change the PTO belt if the deck is on the tractor. I had to disconnect the deck from the Mid-Mount Tach-A-Matic, then unhook the rear leveling adjustment rod to be able to lift the carriage high enough for the belt to clear the spindle. Also had to slack the deck belt with a pry bar on the tensioning pulley shaft. It’s definitely way more difficult than changing belts on a 42”-48” decks.

[peter lena 10,101]

@Ed Kennell @cleat , @ C- SERIES DON, that belt pulley  set up is a GOLD MINE FOR ROTATIONAL , IMPROVEMENT . lubrication , noise , whine , related BELT BOUNCE ? dare I suggest  a , lubrication , clean / flush out ?  years in on my decks , no rot / rust , and no bearing  failures , entire mule  drive set up is lucas  x tra hd  green chassis grease , walmart $ 8 , clean out  every bearing , carb cleaner flush , hand repack , pto inner  needle bearing , clean out , very light  ammount , excess flings to clutch disc . MY 3 HORSES have this in use for years  , also  sun bake my decks , for rustproofing , great opportunity, pete

[Handy Don 17,625]

13 hours ago, c-series don said:

It’s definitely way more difficult than changing belts on a 42”-48” decks.

Half the job is easy and half is hard, right?

 

Hard half: installing a new belt.

Easy half: hacksaw to cut and remove old belt.

[lynnmor 9,059]

20 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

 

What was the reason for this belt change on the 60" decks?   belt axle clearance, radial load on the center spindle???

 

They wanted to add to the difficulty of installing that heavy monster by keeping the mule drive attached.  Other than that, I believe it was simply belt clearance, there isn't much space to work with.