help my 318 mule drive just smoked the belt

[hubie30]

Hi all,
I am a new 318 owner and i just put the mule drive on for the first time to cut the grass and my belt got cooked in about 30 seconds of cutting. I followed the directions on installation. Does anyone have any advice for me.

thanks,

Hubie

 

[glc24]

Hey hubie and :welcome: TO TBN.

Are the pulleys moving freely on the mule drive? Make sure the bearings are OK in both of them.
Is it lining up fairly even with the pulley on the deck? Are the deck pulley bearings spinning freely?
These pics don't show very well,but this is how they should look with the belt.
If no one else posts any,I'll see about taking some better ones.

Greg

 

[hubie30]

Thanks for the response glc. all of the pulleys move smoothly and everything seemed to line up. I will have to buy a new belt and go through set up again. Is there any tricks that are not listed in the manual that I may be missing?

 

[hubie30]

that front end looks beautiful do you have any pictures of the 316?

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:

Trust that something wasn't lined up right, or that the deck won't turn to smoke a belt that fast. Double check that all moves freely before engaging the PTO and be sure all the deck pulleys are moving when the PTO is engaged.

Good luck with it.

If in question, dig out the manual or post a pic of the new belt placement so others here can critique it before you try to engage the PTO.

 

[tbutman]

hubie there is a piece of metal that sticks out (above I Think) of one or both of the pulleys, It's meant to keep the belt from jumping off but if you don't notice it's there you can easily have the belt riding on it instead of under it. I have had one 300 diesel and 2 332 diesels and they all use the same mule as your 318. I'm not talking about those spring arms either.

 

[glc24]

that front end looks beautiful do you have any pictures of the 316?

It's not quite this clean now,as these were taken when I just got it back together in 2010. It was almost (90%) a complete redo.

Greg

 

[beenthere]

hubie there is a piece of metal that sticks out (above I Think) of one or both of the pulleys, It's meant to keep the belt from jumping off but if you don't notice it's there you can easily have the belt riding on it instead of under it. I have had one 300 diesel and 2 332 diesels and they all use the same mule as your 318. I'm not talking about those spring arms either.

They show up in the first pic that glc24 posted. Good possibility they could cause the belt to go.

 

[Kaw235]

Those belt guides can come loose an be out of position. Be sure the belt is. Of rubbing against them. These guides are always on the outside of the belt.

 

[hubie30]

Ok,

I found the culprit. You were right the belt guide on the left side was causing it. I couldn't see it because of the angle I was looking from so I had the belt running over it. THanks for the help everyone. The mower works great.

Take care.

Hubie