CUB CADET RZT50 - Belt Problems

[cmcohoon]

I own a Cub Cadet RZT 50 zero-turn mower. We just had a belt replaced on last Thursday (8/14/14). Tonight is the first time we have used it since and the belt broke again. It will be the 4th belt we have replaced in 6 months.

What could be causing the belts to break? Looking for information to take to make sure it gets fixed correctly. All it has been used for is regular grass.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[OldMachinist]

Which belt? Deck drive, blade or transmission.

 

[cmcohoon]

It is the long one that goes on the 3 pulleys on the deck.

 

[RandyT]

I would start by checking for any spots that could be cutting the belt, as well as any rough areas on the pulleys.

 

[OldMachinist]

Check the idler pulley for a bad bearing and that the arm it mounts to moves freely. Also spin the blade spindles without the belt on to see if any of them feel rough like a bearing is going bad.

If any of the bearings are rough they could be locking up when they get warm and breaking the belt.

 

[Stimw]

Make sure they are "Kevlar" belts. Regular V-belts won't hold up.
You can buy them on ebay for about half the cost of local stores with free shipping!

 

[rcbe]

Make sure they are "Kevlar" belts. Regular V-belts won't hold up.
You can buy them on ebay for about half the cost of local stores with free shipping!

will take that comment one step further: when it comes to deck belts - one of the most heavily loaded belts on your machine - best to stick with OEM. And if you then have several belts fail quickly in succession, high time to do a detailed check of drive components, idlers, brgs, etc. Aftermarket belts - even "kevlar" types - don't always perform/wear so well.

 

[bumperm]

Besides the other good advice about checking for bearing smoothness (with belt removed), it's also a good idea to put a straight edge or sight across the pulleys to make sure they lines up fairly closely with the next pulley in the belt path. It will be fairly obvious if something is bent or otherwise out of alignment. Maybe inspect the broken belt for clues as to why it broke, edge damage etc.

bumper

 

[mrbob1020]

I just got off the phone with Cub Cadet with almost the same problem , mine is the PTO pulley is angled up so it in-gauges the first deck pulley high on the shoulder of the pulley causing it to ware on the upper edge of the belt and the belt get very hot . Either the frame is warped or the engine needs bushings placed under the rear of the engine to angle it down to line up with the first deck pulley . Either way you have to get Cub Cadet involved and get a reference # from them so the dealer can get a fix for you . Call the Tech support line to get the ball rolling . Good luck

 

[The kid]

I mine there is a safety bolt that mounts vertical to keep the belt from accidentally slipping off since there is a tension spring involved. If the belt was installed and the bolt wasn't removed then then reinstalled it could be rubbing and burning the belt prematurely in two. Wet or tall grass will stress that belt as well. The belt that drives the deck to the PTO is the belt I'm referring to. On my mower deck there is a safety bolt that will indeed rub if not installed properly.