whbkinpa 0 #1 Posted January 26, 2009 Hello All, New member here. I need help & info for 551 restoration. The tractor has a 5.5 Lauson engine with an engine pulley thats 2 1/2" o.d. & 3/4 i.d. As far as i can tell thats the correct engine pulley & the transmission pulley still has the WH part # stamped in it as #1611. The problem is the WH belt part #1569 fits way too tight. Even with the tensioner pulley removed, the belt is just too darned tight. WH operator & service manual says the belt is to be 29" & thats what the belt measures to. Any suggestions? Also, the steering wheel with the tractor has part # 2159 stamped in it when the book says the part # should be 3415. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Brad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #2 Posted January 26, 2009 Hi, Brad! I don't have an answer for you but one of the more experienced members should be along shortly to help you out! And remember.... Cheers! Duff :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whbkinpa 0 #3 Posted January 27, 2009 Thanks for the encouragement Duff. This things driving me batty trying to figure it out. Brad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Bullington 5 #4 Posted January 27, 2009 Is the engine sitting in its orginal location on the tractor,,,any extra holes??? I just guessing at some ideals Michael Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whbkinpa 0 #5 Posted January 27, 2009 Micheal, The holes in the frame are slotted front to back maybe 3/4". I have the engine set back as far as it will go. I also thought that an owner before me may have cut the frame back at the tranny & welded the tranny mount plate back on for some reason or another, but I measured the wheel base at 41". I found that measurement from the book "Straight from the Horses Mouth" from an advertisement for the Suburbans. I want to do this restoration with the correct parts & paying attention to every small detail. I want to use an authentic WH belt. I don't know what the problem may be. Any help is appreciated. Thanks Brad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #6 Posted January 27, 2009 Brad, if you could take some side shot pictures (and close-ups) of the machine showing how things are set up, many of the fellows here (not me yet - I'm still learning!) are very good at diagnosing things. Sometimes it can be a very simple adjustment or a part someone snuck in over the years that isn't apparent to the untrained eye (not underestimating your abilities - just trying to help!). Duff :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whbkinpa 0 #7 Posted March 8, 2009 Great news. Found another 551 frame. Set the engine on it, bolted up the tranny & the WH belt works perfect. The previous owner welded in some extra plates at the trans mount plate which lengthened the frame, not much, but enough for the belt to not work. Brad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whfan74 2,072 #8 Posted March 8, 2009 Brad, I am having the same exact problem with the 551 that I picked up last fall. I know the previous owner put a different tranny on it (not to mention a bunch of other things ) I am going to check for that on mine and see if that does the trick. Good luck with your restoration! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coadster32 793 #9 Posted March 8, 2009 :thumbs: Glad to see you found your problem. Goos luck. I'm also doing a 551 restore. Good luck on yours. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Teddy da Bear 11 #10 Posted March 9, 2009 Brad Glad you could join us. I can relate an experience to you with a belt I had. I replaced a known belt size and band that had already been on the tractor and worked! I replaced it with the same brand and belt size and could not get the second one on as it too was too tight. Reason? All I can figure is that standards are not what they are suppose to be. I bought another brand of belt in the same size....and it fit perfectly. All I can tell you is....buy what fits....don't worry so much about the number it carries.....it could be lying! :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whbkinpa 0 #11 Posted March 12, 2009 whfan74, The original trans mount plate is only 1/4" thick so that is one thing to look for. I found from talking to other WH guys that sometimes someone will take the crazy notion to reinforce the mount plate. Check that plate, that could be your problem too. Thanks to everyone here on Redsquare for the help & advice. Will have pics coming soon of progress on 551 resto. If anyone has any 551 spare parts they want to sell, let me know. Brad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1961551 2 #12 Posted February 21, 2010 hi, glad you got your belt issue resolved. im also restoring a 551. i will say that im almost certain my steering wheel had never been removed. it is stamped #3011. i dont know that this helps. it could be a casting number. jimmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldandred 15 #13 Posted March 5, 2010 Hello All, New member here. I need help & info for 551 restoration. The tractor has a 5.5 Lauson engine with an engine pulley thats 2 1/2" o.d. & 3/4 i.d. As far as i can tell thats the correct engine pulley & the transmission pulley still has the WH part # stamped in it as #1611. The problem is the WH belt part #1569 fits way too tight. Even with the tensioner pulley removed, the belt is just too darned tight. WH operator & service manual says the belt is to be 29" & thats what the belt measures to. Any suggestions? Also, the steering wheel with the tractor has part # 2159 stamped in it when the book says the part # should be 3415. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Brad that number is just a cast number you will find most parts have a cast number of some kind only a few parts will the number be the part number Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickv1957 75 #14 Posted March 6, 2010 Brad, Good luck on your tractor,Rick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 723 #15 Posted March 6, 2010 B) And good luck with your resto. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
