Mowing 1045 mower belt

[MSman]

I was having a problem with the PTO, I thought, a while back. Turns out it was a broken pulley spring, but I had emailed Cub stating I felt heat near the PTO when replacing the belt. They replied that the PTO gets "extremly hot" during operation. I wondered if this was detremental to the belt. Today the belt broke-I have 21 hours on it-and it was too hot to pick up. I examined the belt and found fabric coming thru the outer layer in several areas. I don't think the heat is doing it any good, but maybe it's normal. Anyone have any suggestions or comments?

 

[micman32]

I was having a problem with the PTO, I thought, a while back. Turns out it was a broken pulley spring, but I had emailed Cub stating I felt heat near the PTO when replacing the belt. They replied that the PTO gets "extremly hot" during operation. I wondered if this was detremental to the belt. Today the belt broke-I have 21 hours on it-and it was too hot to pick up. I examined the belt and found fabric coming thru the outer layer in several areas. I don't think the heat is doing it any good, but maybe it's normal. Anyone have any suggestions or comments?

MSman,

I have a 2518 and the muffler is right in front of the PTO. I had to replace my PTO belt a few weeks ago. It was very brittle and just snapped. I think the heat takes alot of life out of the belt. It gets very hot where the PTO is located
The belt that broke on my unit had about 100 hours on it.

 

[Fordlords]

Before your PTO belts actually break, you can take them off and head to TSC where you can size them up with the measuring tool there, and get a Kevlar replacement belt of the correct size. Yes PTO clutches themselves get hot and the belt often is close to the exhaust, making the regular rubber OEM belt get brittle fast and stretch faster. The Kevlar belts are much less prone to be bothered by high temperatures and have less initial break in stretch. (Oh forgot to mention probably cheaper than the OEM belt at the dealer too.)

-Fordlords-