The Riding Mower Belt Keeps Falling Off
It is one of the biggest pet peeves of anyone who owns a riding mower that the deck belt comes loose. Slipping it off usually does not cause a big problem and is easy enough to replace. Nevertheless, if your mower deck belt keeps coming off, you must start asking “why?” Unless you do, you’ll keep finding yourself on your hands and knees, and that gets old fast.
A riding mower belt can come off your mower when brackets, belt keepers, or idler springs are worn or damaged; your bearings are worn in your pulleys or spindle housings, or debris is interfering with the tension of your deck belt.
I’ll walk you through the different items to inspect on your mower deck to identify the reason your belt keeps falling off. You will be able to repair your problem and not have to keep reinstalling your belt.
The riding mower belt keeps falling off
Guides, sometimes referred to as belt keepers, are small rods that go around pulleys. Some lawnmowers have belt guides that move along with the belt, depending on how long the belt must travel.
If the belt snaps or has a lot of slack, the guides can move or bend. Slack in the belt guide can cause the belt to hit the pulley, bending the guide back toward the pulley and causing the belt to jump.
You should never touch a belt guide. They should instead be very close to the belt, a maximum of 1/8″ to 1/4″ apart from the pulley. By hammering the brackets with a small hammer or using a vice grip, the brackets can be adjusted back into place.
It is worn out or the bracket or spring for the riding mower idler tensioner is damaged
An idler pulley tensioner bracket and spring hold the deck’s idler pulley in place. In most brackets, a pulley is on one side and a spring on the other. In some cases, the spring can become worn out or the hole in the bracket can get worn out as well.
As a result, your riding mower deck may vibrate. It may also not hold its tension, leading to your riding mower belt coming off. The bracket and spring must be replaced if they break or become worn.
Belt shredding on riding lawnmowers
A riding mower belt can be shredded if it is rubbed around brackets on the deck. You may also damage your belt by not installing it correctly around your pulleys.
You should first check that your belt is routed correctly. Depending on your mower, a diagram or decal will show you how to route the deck belt. Your owner’s manual has a diagram if you can’t find a decal.
The next step involves finding an out-of-place bracket if your belt is routed correctly. From the belt rubbing against it, the bracket should be smooth and shiny.
As soon as you’ve identified the bracket that’s tearing your belt, adjust it so it no longer rubs. Your bracket may have a bushing, in which case you would need to replace the bushing or purchase and replace the bracket altogether.
For a longer lifespan, stop using multiple belts. Find out why your belt is constantly shedding. For a reliable OEM riding mower deck belt, they can cost up to $250. Keeping this problem in mind will help you avoid spending more money.
The deck belt comes off due to damaged bearings in the pulleys or cutter housings
The next step is to examine the pulleys that the belt rides on. Bearings in pulleys can be damaged if they do not run straight and flat. Idler pulleys are most likely to be damaged by the failure of a bearing.
You will need to replace the whole pulley if you find a problem with the idler pulley’s sealed bearing. Each pulley does not always have a sealed bearing. You may find that the drive pulleys or spindle housings have replaceable bearings, allowing you to complete repairs with fewer parts.
The blades of the spindle housing can be swung back and forth to see if they are failing bearings.
You need to replace the housing or bearings if you feel movement. Mower belts can become loose if the spindles vibrate excessively.
The mower belt slips due to rust or oil on the belt
Your lawn mower’s belt may be contaminated with oil from a leak. Another problem that can cause the belt to fall off is this one. To keep your belts in proper condition, you should keep your pulleys clean. In addition to making the belt swell, oil is a petroleum product that can make a belt swell for a long time.
Moreover, an oil-covered belt will slip on the pulleys and is unable to grab, resulting in hot belts. As the belt dries out, it cracks. Belts with cracks need to be replaced as soon as possible if they have any.
Your riding mower belt is greasy or rusted
Rust on your deck and pulleys can cause the belt to become dry, causing it to crack and come off the riding mower. When oil leaks onto your deck, the belt can slip around the pulleys and come off as well due to the accumulation of oil
You need to repair or remove rust around your pulleys. Replacement of rusted pulleys is recommended if your pulleys have a lot of rust. You must install a complete replacement mower deck belt after you have repaired these items.
Conclusion
You can quickly restore your Cub Cadet mower to working order and lengthen its lifespan without the need to hire a technician by performing these repairs.
If you encounter any other issues, look at the mower’s manual for more solutions. A quick repair can be performed by taking the mower to a service facility in your locality if the problem persists.
Deck belts for riding mowers can be pricey, so the longer you can make them last the better. In order to prevent your riding lawn mower belt from prematurely wearing or breaking, you can use these items to extend its life The Riding Mower Belt Keeps Falling Off.
- After every mow, clean your mower deck
- Ensure that no components of the deck are rubbing
- Ensure your belt does not form oil or rust
- You should periodically check the bearings on your pulleys and spindle housings
- Replace or repair any damaged brackets or belt keepers
