Frayed xi snow blower belt

[RMCIII 838]

This is really becoming an issue with me...I will have gone through 2 belts this season due to the fraying that is occurring on the "right side" of the belt..... Here is what I have tried that seems to have "0" improvement on the situation.

 

• Trued the chain/sprocket on the shaft with the pulley for the auger....
• Installed new shaft/bearing retainers.
• Installed new "box" key for the pulley that is driven by the belt.
• Aligned belt pulley, 1/8" off the end of the shaft - this would push the pulley further "right" which is the side that is still fraying.

I can't move the belt pulley any further right for fear of loosing grip on the "box" key that sits in the shaft and the pulley. You can tell the pulley is still not in line with the belt and is the problem for what is happening to the belt.... Belt is $75.00 plus tax..... I have ate $150.00 in belts in 56hrs.

 

Any suggestions from an "XI" owner would be greatly appreciated.

 

Rob

[Rick_in_CT 156]

Rob,

 

I don't have the same blower as yours, so I can't provide any specific solution.  I have attached a V-belt troubleshooting chart.  It references the most likely cause of wear as you describe as a damaged pulley.  Have you felt the edges of all the pulleys for a ding that might be cutting the edge of the belt?  It also makes reference to not having enough tension, and of course belt alignment.  Is the tensioner spring installed correctly?  If the belt was not tensioned enough, I would imagine that it might be climbing the sides of the pulley causing the wear.  Is the belt being used the correct part number?  A pulley with a wobble to it could also cause wear to the belt.  I typically get years of life out of the belt on my 2 stage, so I can understand how frustrating this is, especially with the cost of these belts. 

 

Question, before the belt started wearing, was any work done on the blower?  Have you had this blower running previously where you got good belt life or is the blower new to you?

 

Let us know if you find the cause.

 

Rick 

V-belt_troubleshooting_guide.pdf

[RMCIII 838]

Thanks Rick...Blower and tractor were new to me last year. Blower had 1 season of use on it by the original owner. Tractor only had 156hrs. when I purchased it. He stated the blower had only been used 5 times during that 1 season. It did not appear that work had been done on the blower. It looked brand new.

[Rick_in_CT 156]

Bob,

 

I have attached two files, not sure if you have the manual to your blower or not.  The Setup file refers to the installation of the auger drive pulley onto the shaft.  They note that the end of the pulley is flush with the end of the shaft.  Also wanted to make sure that the orientation of the pulley on the shaft is correct, the hub with the set screws is to the inside on the shaft, with the pulley groove is at the end of the shaft.  It sounds like this is the pulley that you have moved out 1/8".

 

I have also attached the operator manual.  Page 10 of the manual shows the belt installation.  I wanted to make sure that you have the back of the belt riding on the one idler as shown, and not the side of the belt.

 

Rick

3319-581 1998 Snowthrower 42in 79365 5xi OM.pdf

3319-988 1998 Snowthrower 42in 79365 5xi Setup (1).pdf

[RMCIII 838]

Rick--- I think you may have found something. I did have the OM, but not the Setup... The drive pulley is on incorrect. Going to change it over. See if that make a difference. Thanks again Rick

[RMCIII 838]

Rick - I am at a loss. Changed the pulley around, and it still is riding in the same location...The mule assembly is part of the actual snow blower. Noting looks tweaked or out of place.. Just 2 idler pulley's, besides the main belt pulley... One on the right side lines up with the electric pulley coming off the main engine shaft, the other pulley, is the tension pulley..... If any pulley would be the issue, it's this one, since this is the pulley on the side that is fraying... But there is no possible way to tweak this idler/tension pulley. It rides on a arm that is a solid shaft and if it were tweaked, it would need to be bent back, into the other idler pulley.. There is a photo of the assembly on one of the pages...Primary belt pulley has no nicks or burs that may cause this fraying..... I am wondering if possibly it has the wrong size primary pulley on the shaft....

[Rick_in_CT 156]

Bob,

 

By turning the pulley around, from the drawings in the manual, it looks like the pulley would be at least one inch or more further out on the shaft than it was with the pulley the other way around, which should reduce the friction on the side wall of the belt.  Have you run it yet with the pulley turned around?  From looking at the drawings, the belt will be coming in on an angle from the tensioner/idler to the drive pulley.  I think that when everything is installed correctly the angle is not so great as to cause the belt to wear.  Flipping that pulley around should make the alignment better.  Can you take a picture of the assembly and post it here?

 

The only other think I can think of is if the entire shaft is out of position, so that when the pulley is flush with the end of the shaft, it is still not far enough over, and the entire shaft needs to be shifted over.  Does the shaft appear to be in its proper position?

[RMCIII 838]

Rick - I did try it once I changed the pulley around.... Still the same scenario....The shaft can only be in a specific placement, otherwise the chain would not run straight. Chain is running straight..... I guess it will become a summer project that I work through.

 

Thanks Rick