peigt14 19 #1 Posted May 17, 2014 the drive belt for the mower on my gt14 is twisting, everything is set up the same as last season, I cut about half my lawn and it twisted, v belt is turning upside down in the pto clutch and will eventually come off. the spindle on the top of the deck itself was very slightly loose, I tightened, maybe only 1/2 to full turn to tighten, put everything back together and the same thing keeps happening no matter what adjustments I make, the belt does some have minor spots where it looks a little rubbed or scuffed, a few very small tears in the top edge of the V perhaps a new belt is in order? which groove in the electric pto should the belt be installed into? always ran it in the larger 2nd one out but seems to line up better with the wheel below on the smaller first one, but in the first one it doesn't seem to line up with the tensioner wheel as well. I have adjusted tension up and down several times no change, sometimes it will stay longer then others but within a minute or so belt turns. any suggestions would helpful, I am hoping that perhaps the belt may have gotten a little scuffed/marked up when running with the loosened spindle and a new belt will fix the issue. thanks, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 23,004 #2 Posted May 17, 2014 If everything is lined up I think a new belt is in order. Maybe something inside the belt has gone bad. I've seen the steel belts inside a steel-belted radial tire snap, maybe something along those lines has happened to your belt. Mike......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveoman1966 3,839 #3 Posted May 17, 2014 Use a Wheelhorse / Toro OEM belt. It is made to match the geometry of the V pulleys and after-market belts are not. The latter will soon flop around in the V pulleys, resulting in what you have. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brandonozz 168 #4 Posted May 17, 2014 I would agree, a new belt will likely fix your problem. I had a similar situation with my 139" belt running my tiller on a C 120. I noticed the belt was twisting and jumping/bouncing around a lot and would jump off the pulleys on occasion. Couldn't get it to stop twisting so I ran it to finish the garden to plant. Well, didn't take long to come in two! Replaced it with a new belt (aftermarket) which was all I could find in my small town. I don't know how long it will hold up being an aftermarket, but I was amazed how smooth and true the belt ran. That new belt had no bounce at all! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 43,530 #5 Posted May 17, 2014 I use Napa green belts ( Gates) I get years out of them. Maybe easier to acquire than OEM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N3PUY 1,031 #6 Posted May 17, 2014 I would suggest getting a GATES "A" series belt of the proper length. They are taller than a green belt and stay in the "V" pulley without flipping on their side. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peigt14 19 #7 Posted May 17, 2014 Thanks I will try a new belt and hope it works, any idea which is the proper groove for the belt on the PTO inner, or outer, inner seems to line up better with the pulley assembly to turn belt up towards the PTO from the deck, the outer, which is what I have used last season lines up better with the tensioner pulley, it seems previous owner was using outer as well judging by the look of the two. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N3PUY 1,031 #8 Posted May 18, 2014 Use the INNER pulley. It is larger which turns the blades faster. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveoman1966 3,839 #9 Posted May 18, 2014 A comment of Wheelhorse / Toro OEM belts. In 1973 I bought new from a local Wheelhorse dealer a 1972 Bronco 14 tractor with mower deck. The Bronco 14 is an automatic with full hydraulic lift...thats why I bought it. At the time of purchase, the dealer's mechanic (also name of Dave) told me that the primary and secondary belts and related V pulleys are proprietary and, as such, do not have after-market equivalents. That is to say, the geometry of the V in the pulleys has been designed specifically for and by Wheelhorse engineers. The belt size is between that of a typical A or B industry standard belt, and made specifically to match perfrectly to the faces of the V pulleys made by Wheelhorse. Therefore, as he told me, "when you replace belts, it is necessary to use only the OEM belts". Using after-market belts not specifically designed to match the V geometry of the pulley(s) is usually a futile effort. The after-market belts do not PRECISELY mate to BOTH surfaces of the V shape and, whats more, they are of different thichness and will ride either higher or lower in the "V". This, too, is often detrimental and will lead to the belt roll-over and premature belt failure. To draw more tension on the belt to overcome the roll-over only exacerbates the issue. Three years ago, I had to replace the drive belt in the Bronco 14 (7478 I think). Belt only lasted 40 years..... 'nuff said.... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peigt14 19 #10 Posted May 20, 2014 Thanks for the advice, heading to dealer with part number to order tomorrow, hopefully once installed I will be back mowing again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
