Rear Finish Mower Finish mower keeps breaking belts

[chipsndust]

PB:

You're probably "sharper" than me when it comes to mower belts.

The first time I changed my belt, I broke two before I figured out I was routing the belt to the outside (instead of the inside) of one of the guides - the finger bars that stick up next to the pulleys.

One of them lasted nearly 15 minutes.

:mur:

 

[Compact1]

It does have an idler for tensioning the belt.
The idler kinda leans just a little when everything is turning.
I'm gonna try tightening the bolt that the tensioner swivels on.

My vote also goes for improper adjustment on the tensioning idler. It is very important that you follow the owner manual's recommendation. For example, my deck requires that I maintain 5 9/16" gap from one end of the spring to the other. As the belt stretches I have to adjust the idler to regain my 5 9/16" measurement. Remember, a new belt has a lot of stretch during it's first use.

Also, I wonder why your tensioning idler "leans"? Is there a bearing problem?

 

[Pooh_Bear]

The whole idler assembly leans.
I think the pivot bolt needs tightening.
The pivot arm is not flat with the deck.
It leans just a little. Barely noticable.

The tensioner has no adjustment.
It is just two big springs that pull on the assembly.
I put new springs on it a two years ago.

Here is the only manual I have for it.
Big Bee Finish Mower Manual

Pooh Bear

 

[sweettractors]

The whole idler assembly leans.
I think the pivot bolt needs tightening.
The pivot arm is not flat with the deck.
It leans just a little. Barely noticable.

The tensioner has no adjustment.
It is just two big springs that pull on the assembly.
I put new springs on it a two years ago.

Here is the only manual I have for it.
Big Bee Finish Mower Manual

Pooh Bear

We sold 2-3 of these units years ago and was not impressed with quality or workmanship. We did like the fact that they were USA made. We went to Italian mowers and tillers and have been very pleased. At some point in time it may be a good business decision to sell that on Craigslist, etc. and buy a quality made Italian made mower. Ken Sweet

 

[Bill Hoffman]

Check to make sure the groove in the pulleys is correct.
If the angled sides of the pulley are worn the belt is liable to ride on the bottom of the groove which will cause it to slip, overheat, and eventually break. Check your broken belts to see if the BOTTOM surface of the belt is worn, not the sides where you'd expect to see wear, but the bottom of the belt. If that surface is shiny or worn, there's your problem. Also check to make sure that the belts are the correct width so the belt is contacting the sides of the pulleys, not the bottom.

Hope this helps.:thumbsup:

Bill

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Take the 2 big springs off and see if the idler arm they hook to moves easily. If the idler arm moves hard the belt tension will wrong alowing the belts to slap causing them to break.
Bill

 

[sweettractors]

I don't know if you are still having problems. I found a Big Bee belt routing picture that I am posting. Hope this may help. Ken Sweet

 

[finsrn]

I've got a Big Bee 72" finish mower and I'm having the exact same problem. Does anyone know how this problem got resolved? This is very frustrating.

 

[Rosedalegarden]

I talked to a Big Bee dealer and was told not to get a Gates belt as it will not last. I had a 48 inch Big Bee finishing mower that still had the original belt on it after 13 yrs when I sold my Yanmar tractor and bought the John Deere with a 60 inch Big Bee. It just ate the belt up, but I think it was because I was in a hurry and trying to mow 3 ft high fescue and a there was a tree stump in there also.

 

[J_J]

Yes, there are different qualities in belts. I went through a lot of manufactures trying to find a belt that would last. The belts I was replacing were costing about $28 each. I always carried a backup in the field.

I had a problem with the shoulder bolts on the idler pulley, and it caused the idler pulley to lean and cause unequal tension on the belt. I was cutting in a lot of sand, and over time the belts and pulleys would become glazed, get hard, and start to throw chunks of rubber.