Expecting too much from my frontmount mower?

[4570Man]

My F series kubota eats anything it can push over. The double v belt on the deck holds back more than the 25 hp diesel can dish out. If I manage to get one blade in a bind it'll slip for a few seconds before stalling the engine. If I overload all the blades ( like mowing dirt ) it'll stall with slipping. I do run out of power trying to use this thing like a bus hog, but the cut quality suffers first.

 

[Buxus]

Thanks for the additional responses. That is what I thought. I had a 1999 720k that could mow 10 inch field grass without burning belts. It bogged a bit now and then, but never burned a belt. This spring when I brought the 930D in for the second set of burned belts I told the dealer I had not been in heavy grass and that I thought something else might be going on. He said he looked it over and everything was fine. The opinions and real world experience of TBN members gives me more evidence that something is awry. Hopefully the dealer listens and figures it out.

 

[ProjectKing]

Sounds like a loose idler pulley or improper routing of belt which causes it to rub on something. The engine should stall out before slipping a belt. Especially on a mower of that price range!

I run a Kubota ZD326 and it will mow anything you can drive it over. Never slips the deck belt. Rest of the driveline is shaft. However your belt system should not slip!

 

[aczlan]

Sounds like a loose idler pulley or improper routing of belt which causes it to rub on something. The engine should stall out before slipping a belt. Especially on a mower of that price range!

Or the pulley at o e end or the other is bent or damaged. That's why I asked about pictures of the bad belt...

Aaron Z

 

[Buxus]

Here are pictures of the broken belt and the belt that is still on that runs in parallel with the broken one. The remaining one is so stretched it's useless. I appreciate all the feedback and suggestions. I have sent at email to the GH and plan to call the dealer tomorrow.

 

[ProjectKing]

Here are pictures of the broken belt and the belt that is still on that runs in parallel with the broken one. The remaining one is so stretched it's useless. I appreciate all the feedback and suggestions. I have sent at email to the GH and plan to call the dealer tomorrow.View attachment 510148View attachment 510149View attachment 510150View attachment 510151View attachment 510152View attachment 510148View attachment 510149View attachment 510150View attachment 510151View attachment 510152

Wow! That belt is seriously worn in one spot. I wonder if there is some sort of resistance that is making the mower hard to turn?

When you engage the mower deck do you do it at idle or wide open?

It would be good to have a pic of the top pulley where the belt goes. Can't see it in the pics

 

[ProjectKing]

So a couple things to check.

1. Make sure belts are correct length. It's possible belts that have been installed are too long. This will not allow idler pulley to fully tension belts because spring is not extended enough.

2. Make sure idler pulley mechanism is properly assembled and that spring is attached to it. In your pic the spring is barely stretched. This maybe because the belt is stretched as you say... or because spring is in wrong mounting holes, etc. Or belts are too long.

Here's a pic of PTO drivetrain.

 

[IXLR8]

To me, the belt looks like it is sitting very low in the idler pulley, like it is the wrong width. Have you got a 1/2" wide belt where you should have a 3/4" wide belt?

 

[ProjectKing]

To me, the belt looks like it is sitting very low in the idler pulley, like it is the wrong width. Have you got a 1/2" wide belt where you should have a 3/4" wide belt?

Thats great observation. It does look really low.

 

[aczlan]

To me, the belt looks like it is sitting very low in the idler pulley, like it is the wrong width. Have you got a 1/2" wide belt where you should have a 3/4" wide belt?

Or a 5/8" wide belt, that is the size that the eXmark and Huskvarna mowers (60-72" cut) I used to work on used.
Also, it's the size that our current 84" rear finish mower uses.

Aaron Z