Is thirty years too long to keep a lawn mower?

[Eagle1]

I have found this to be a good place to get belts from;
V-Belt Guys: Online Replacement Supplier & Manufacturer

I'm still using my Kubota F2000 built in 1986 or 7 so 39 years old

Off Road Belts is another good source. They are also on Amazon and Ebay.

 

[bmaverick]

I got this Giant-Vac 54 inch walk behind mower
I looked "on-line" for replacement drive belts. They can run some good money. Like $90 each!

https://www.vbeltsupply.com

Most box stores and on-line want $24 or more for a single belt.

When you figure out your size, the site listed above is about $12 per belt. They have been around a very long time. Older than me.

 

[Oaktree]

I have a 30+ year old Ariens rider mower that used to be my parents'. My mother gave it to me 3-4 years ago after it sitting unused for several years. Other than needing to re-weld a couple of the mounting flanges on the deck, replacing the battery and some fiddling with the carb I haven't had to do much to it. I believe it was serviced annually when they had it. It wasn't cheap...I found the receipt and they paid ~$2800 for it in the mid 90s.
As long as it's running I have no plans to replace it.

My push mower (which I still use to get places the rider won't fit) is probably 25 years old. Had to replace the original engine after only 4-5 years, was kind of a POS almost from day one (would cough and barf and smoke any time I tried to mow anything on a slope). Swapped the engine with one from a mower I found in the metal pile at the dump, it's been fine ever since.

 

[CalG]

Well, I'll be d4mmit and go to he!!"

This thread got me motivated to put a little TLC into the old Giant-Vac.
Since it was slipping drive belts I started looking for replacements. It seems that the Dayco 41-0209 belts that are on it are a bit obscure, or at least out of stock. These are doubled up 1/2 belts, so a bit special.
Some interweb references listed alternate belts, but on digging into the specs, all were longer than the Dayco fitted (51.25").

Needing to have a look at the belts to make sure of the length, I pulled them off the machine to have a look.
Well, one thing that struck me was how worn and shiny the center rib was on the drive pulley. I thought that might be normal for the pulleys to "high center" when the belts wore out. I thought also to clean up the belts just to have a look for wear, dryness or aging. (I have the receipt for those belts when they were replaced in 2004 ;-)
Though the sides of each belt do definitely show wear, both were actually in pretty good condition. What was evident however was that the center V on both belts was PACKED with fibrous vegetative material! Well blackened, but looked a lot like maple leaf MULCH.
I do use the mower to double and tripple cut autumn leaves and blow them into a windrow to be picked up in the yard trailer.
So I took a steel brush and an old straight blade screwdriver to clean out the center grove "W".
Put everything back together, adjusted the control rods and links,
VIOLA! Darn thing pulls like a draft horse!

On inspection of the "newer" Bobcat mower, I see there is a formed metal scraper that is positioned on the drive belt lower run that appears to be just right for keeping that groove clean. I need to look more closely to see if it is adjustable.

Part of the "value" I see in the Giant-Vac is there are so many common parts between the two machines. Wheels, tires, spindles, tension pulleys etc., even the engine and peerless transmission are direct swaps!

But to be honest, Now that the Giant-Mow works so well, I won't feel bad to see it go to a welcoming new user!
;-)

eta

I have had ZERO luck useing any of the search functions on the many belt suppliers offered by thoughtful responders. (Thankyou all!)

Perhaps it is my computer that is at fault.

Any links to 41-0209 appreciated.

 

[MossRoad]

New is easy… good used is unique.

I still have my 3.5 hp Craftsman with untouched engine… it did 6 yards every week and bought it 1985… deck is getting thin so I’ve started using the HRM 215 pro Honda I gave mom in 2000 with aluminum deck.

Add me to the long term owners club.

That craftsman sounds suspiciously like our first mower in 1985.

 

[TMGT]

I bought this used in '94, still gets used for trim work, just missing a little paint here and there on the deck, but otherwise still works great!

 

[big bubba]

replacing belts & idler pulleys is std even with a mower a few years old. yes, don't go to box or auto parts stores, i've had poor results with Gates.
i recommend Kevlar reinforced belts. as long as you know the size/length of belt(s) you'll be fine.

belt driven machines generate lots of heat, & i've had to replace idler pulleys a few times at only 500hrs on the zero turn.

V Belts | Vbelts4Less Top Quality and Service

 

[2manyrocks]

There used to be a wide variety of independent companies making lawn mowers. Most used briggs engines. My aunt had a push mower with a cast magnesium deck. Dont seem them anymore except when they come into the local scrap yard. So many companies have gone under or been bought up.

 

[chim]

Bought the Ford 1210 used around 1991 and till 2002 it was the only tractor here. Since then it hasn't been used a lot because different Kubotas have been the primary tractors. No plans to get rid of it. Just too handy to have a second tractor.

 

[Williy]

My 2 wheel weed wacker is going on 43 years

If you can get the numbers off of the bearings you can cross
refference them for replacement.

Google Search

willy

 

[bigtiller]

CalG​

You're more patient than me, I would have replaced it at least 3 times by now. In fact, there were about a dozen years or so in my past, that I traded my riding mower every year.

 

[big bubba]

​

You're more patient than me, I would have replaced it at least 3 times by now. In fact, there were about a dozen years or so in my past, that I traded my riding mower every year.

seems to me if one has a solid machine, replacing just for the sake of yearly intervals is overkill, esp with poor box store quality, & very pricey commercial grade machines. i feel the same way about vehicles.

 

[mjonesnh]

Do not have a mower that is 30 years old but do have one from 1998 that was my dad's. Still gets used and very dependable. Replaced starter and carb., after that just belts and blades. Also, have a Cub Cadet Z Force ZTR from 2005, 680hours. Replaced both coils and seat. Rest just belts and normal maintenance items. Probably will keep running them till they stop. Hopefully both make it past 30 years

 

[big bubba]

goes w/o saying, but will say anyway: mower longevity also includes exclusive use of non ethanol fuel. plus avoid carburetors from China, but tariffs may take care of that anyway

 

[RayIN]

Would $43.22 ea. for belts be better? https://www.jackssmallengines.com/Products/GIANT-VAC/Belts

 

[MossRoad]

goes w/o saying, but will say anyway: mower longevity also includes exclusive use of non ethanol fuel. plus avoid carburetors from China, but tariffs may take care of that anyway

I've run e10 in everything I own since the 80s with the exception of a 2 year old chainsaw that required higher octane. That lawnmower that wouldn't die? e10. Never drained the tank, let it set all winter half full.

 

[big bubba]

could be, i'd bet for every success story like yours there are 5 less favorable ones, esp sitting over the winter season. (not to speak of possible carb problems along the way)... if your fuel gives no problem, then by all means continue, regards

 

[RayIN]

Giant VAC belts:

 

[yanmars]

I have lived at my house fora 50 years. First mower lasted 20 years of so, this one is right at 30 years. Walk behind but not a push mower except the drive is so weak now it pretty much is a push mower. Now that I am 77 years old it is more work although the yard is not too big but I generally mow twice a week so I do not have a week/dandelion problem as I do not fertilize etc. but every 7 years or so.
I think I will be needing/getting a different one also soon.

 

[Williy]

For my weed wacker I have never replaced the belt just
modified it because the cable broke

willy