hlzbelz
New member
I am in need of some help with my 2010 x324. About one-third of the lower rim of the clutch sheave broke off, resulting in a shredded primary drive belt (the day before leaving on vacation). I went to the local JD dealer that day with the shredded belt to explain what happened and to buy parts, which they said they didn't have on hand (another story for another day). I left the destroyed belt (and apparently my maintenance reminder sheet with all the part numbers and five years of notes) on the counter for them to discard.
When I returned, I bought a new clutch and belt from the local JD dealer. After much cursing, copious amounts of penetrating oil, and a trip to Harbor Freight, I was able to remove the broken clutch and install the new one. Before I reinstalled the mower deck, I started the engine and cycled the clutch on and off several times at half throttle. So far, so good.
Then I put the deck back on and went to install the new drive belt. With the tensioning lever fully released, I was unable to get the belt onto the engine sheave. I headed back to the computer and discovered that my local dealer had sold me the wrong one (part # M143019 I no longer had the data sheet to verify). This revelation was just after they had closed on Saturday. Fortunately, a dealer in a neighboring county was still open, and had several belts on hand for the x324. However, these belts (part # M172924) are a replacement for the OEM belt (part # M154897), which is listed as "no longer available".
The "correct" belt is not much longer in circumference than the "incorrect" one. When I put it on, I had to roll it over the engine sheave, then had significantly more difficulty putting the tensioning lever back in place than I ever had with the original belt. Then, when I started the engine at half throttle and engaged the clutch, she threw the belt almost immediately. Thinking I may have done something wrong, I tried a second time, with the same results.
Has anyone had any similar experiences? The OEM belt and the "incorrect" belt from the local dealer are both notched belts, while the replacement belt is a solid v-belt. And I no longer have the old belt to compare to the replacement.
Also, does anyone have a torque spec for the clutch mounting bolt? The only numbers I could find online was a range of 30-60 ft-lbs. I put some blue thread lock on the bolt and set my torque wrench to 50 ft-lbs, but got something less than that due to lack of hands and leverage while laying on my back under the machine.
Thanks for any help.
When I returned, I bought a new clutch and belt from the local JD dealer. After much cursing, copious amounts of penetrating oil, and a trip to Harbor Freight, I was able to remove the broken clutch and install the new one. Before I reinstalled the mower deck, I started the engine and cycled the clutch on and off several times at half throttle. So far, so good.
Then I put the deck back on and went to install the new drive belt. With the tensioning lever fully released, I was unable to get the belt onto the engine sheave. I headed back to the computer and discovered that my local dealer had sold me the wrong one (part # M143019 I no longer had the data sheet to verify). This revelation was just after they had closed on Saturday. Fortunately, a dealer in a neighboring county was still open, and had several belts on hand for the x324. However, these belts (part # M172924) are a replacement for the OEM belt (part # M154897), which is listed as "no longer available".
The "correct" belt is not much longer in circumference than the "incorrect" one. When I put it on, I had to roll it over the engine sheave, then had significantly more difficulty putting the tensioning lever back in place than I ever had with the original belt. Then, when I started the engine at half throttle and engaged the clutch, she threw the belt almost immediately. Thinking I may have done something wrong, I tried a second time, with the same results.
Has anyone had any similar experiences? The OEM belt and the "incorrect" belt from the local dealer are both notched belts, while the replacement belt is a solid v-belt. And I no longer have the old belt to compare to the replacement.
Also, does anyone have a torque spec for the clutch mounting bolt? The only numbers I could find online was a range of 30-60 ft-lbs. I put some blue thread lock on the bolt and set my torque wrench to 50 ft-lbs, but got something less than that due to lack of hands and leverage while laying on my back under the machine.
Thanks for any help.
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