been phuggin around with the belt on my JD LT180 for 2 days now. I know I have it routed correctly but I have about 3" of slack and the new belt is the same size as the old belt. I can't figure out how it got so out of whack in the first place. The belt slipped off when a limb got lodged up in there but I can't see any visible damage or bends.
There is some kind of PTO tensioner with a locking nut but I'm done, going to load it up and take to a mower mechanic down the road.
the shame of it all.
My old man would disown me.
Last edited by KFWA; 09/13/20.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
yea, believe me I've got the belt configuration memorized by now - but I think the issue is that rod at the top with the spring is loose that is supposed to keep tension on it, and it has a lock nut that is about the most inconvenient over engineered design possible.
I did notice I don't have the second spring that is vertical and clips on to the mower frame - actually I realize mine is different, I have a 48C deck and the tensioner is mounted on the deck
Last edited by KFWA; 09/13/20.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
I lost the drive belt on my LX280 about six weeks ago. Fortunately I found a tensioner spring that fell out from under the deck when it happened.
I had no idea how the drive belt was routed, so I checked out some Youtube videos to see what other folks had learned the hard way. They were recommending the removal of the PTO assembly and all kinds of other nonsense. When I got under the tractor I could see that I only needed to disconnect the steering arm to route the belt correctly.
Check for a missing spring laying on the ground where the failure took place. That just might be why your belt isn't fitting properly.
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
My LT180 has a 38" deck - problem is no one can find a replacement belt, other than JD. Finally found another - 1/2 price, but not aramid! We'll see, but I have low hopes. I installed the cheapy to see how it does.
I've always been a curmudgeon - now I'm an old curmudgeon. ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
My LT180 has a 38" deck - problem is no one can find a replacement belt, other than JD. Finally found another - 1/2 price, but not aramid! We'll see, but I have low hopes. I installed the cheapy to see how it does.
If you can determine what length it is, Grainger Industrial Supply will have it.
My LT180 has a 38" deck - problem is no one can find a replacement belt, other than JD. Finally found another - 1/2 price, but not aramid! We'll see, but I have low hopes. I installed the cheapy to see how it does.
The deck belts are one thing...easy to replace by detaching the deck. The main drive belt is another thing altogether. Gotta drop the deck and then get underneath the machine.
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
I lost the drive belt on my LX280 about six weeks ago. Fortunately I found a tensioner spring that fell out from under the deck when it happened.
I had no idea how the drive belt was routed, so I checked out some Youtube videos to see what other folks had learned the hard way. They were recommending the removal of the PTO assembly and all kinds of other nonsense. When I got under the tractor I could see that I only needed to disconnect the steering arm to route the belt correctly.
Check for a missing spring laying on the ground where the failure took place. That just might be why your belt isn't fitting properly.
I lost my drive belt on the LX280 a couple of weeks back when the idler pulley split in half. Took awhile to figure out how to get it out and the new one on. All that was complicated by having to do it one handed because of recent carpel tunnel surgery, and having to lay on the ground to do it. (Do you know how hard it is to get yourself off the ground one handed when you are old and fat!) I probably should have taken it to the dealership, but I had already bought all the new pulleys and belts from that Green Parts Store, online, and I figured that would piss off the local dealership (Of course they piss me off every time their cash register rings up my totals!)
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost....
I changed the belt on my JD x495 about two weeks ago. The belt cost $94, what a ripoff.
Your local farm store should have Kevlar belts. Measure the outside of the belt and see if they have one the same width and length.
John Deere belts while expensive are very good belts that usually go far beyond standard belts but yeah I use the Kevlar belts from my local farm store and they usually go a couple years.
Paul
"I'd rather see a sermon than hear a sermon".... D.A.D.
Trump Won!, Sandmann Won!, Rittenhouse Won!, Suck it Liberal Fuuktards.
FWIW, Tractor Supply has their belts organized by length. They also have a special tool to measure your old belt. This has been at every one I’ve been in the last 3-4 years.
Also, a buddy gave me an LT133 (similar) a few years back. Said it would occasionally not want to go up hills, like the belt was slipping. Turns out, 3 of the 4 bolts holding the motor to the frame had vibrated out. There was literally only one bolt keeping the engine attached, and it was allowing the engine to “shift” (move) whenever it was under load.
