Exmark Belt Keeps Coming Off or Breaking
It may happen that your Exmark belt comes off or breaks during use because of wear, damage, or a faulty bearing in the pulley housing or the spindle housing. It is also possible that a deck bracket may have failed or debris on the deck may interfere with the components.
The deck belt coming off a riding mower is one of the biggest pet peeves of owners. The fact that it slips off is usually not a big deal, and most of the time it can be put back on without much effort. The problem you should face, however, is if the mower deck belt is constantly being pulled off by your mower, you should start asking “why?” If you do not ask this question, you will constantly be on your hands and knees, which can become quite tiring in the end.
Your riding lawnmower’s drive belt may come off for several reasons, and the exact reason depends on the model and brand of the mower you own. Make sure that you perform a safety check before determining what is wrong and trying to work out how to fix the issue.
Putting on gloves and goggles after you have cooled the mower’s engine will make sure you don’t accidentally start the engine while you are trying to fix it. Remove the spark plug wire or wires, and ground them against the engine so you don’t accidentally start it.
You can read below about a few items that may cause the belt on your Exmark to come off, as well as tips on how to fix this problem.
Why Does My Exmark Belt Keeps Coming Off or Breaking Breaking?
When a mower deck belt keeps coming off the mower, there are several reasons that could be the cause. One of the possible causes might be a damaged or worn belt, a stretched belt, a bent belt keeper or you could have a damaged pulley or pulley bracket. In addition, the belt might be damaged or worn.
Problems with the mounting system of the mower
As a result of an unbalanced mounting system on a riding lawnmower, the deck will start to hang unevenly. This will impact the drive belt’s operation and result in the belt coming off the mower. The deck should be mounted properly, so be sure that it is in the right position.
You should also check to see if any parts are missing. Between the front axle of the mower and the rear hangers of the mower, a draft rod should be connected. The clip pins should be in place in the rear hangers of the mower’s rear. A problem may simply be that a belt is damaged or there may be other problems affecting other parts of the machine if all seems well.
Clipping excessively
Grass clippings on the deck are one of the leading causes of belt breakage in lawn mowers. There is a possibility that grass clippings will make their way under pulleys and deck covers and cause a series of problems as a result. If you use your lawn mower on a regular basis, you need to keep it clean and follow the manufacturer’s instructions after each use.
Guards for belts are missing
It is imperative to have belt guards installed on your mower in order for it to work properly. Taking off the belt every time you have to change the belt can be a hassle because of the guard around the pulley. Having said that, the belt must be secured with a guard to ensure that it stays in place. The belt can fly off if there is no guard to hold it in place.
There is stretch in the belt
A belt that may appear to be in pristine condition, but has been used for a long time and is not showing signs of damage or wear, may have stretched if there are no obvious signs of damage or wear on the belt. I am often asked “Are lawn mower belts flexible?” This is usually the response that most people have to this suggestion.
But they can, and they do, and they do it all the time. As a result, it may be the case that your mower deck belt is now too long for the mower, which explains why it keeps coming off the mower. There is always a risk of the belt falling off even if it is only a fraction too large.
Spindle housing bearings
When your Exmark belt comes off your pulleys, it can be caused by worn bearings in your spindle housings.
The easiest way to check if your spindle housings are having problems with bearings is to grab and rock both sides of your mower blade up and down. This will help you to see if any parts are worn. In order to determine whether there is a problem with the bearing, you need to feel movement or notice a knocking noise.
Remove your cutter housings as soon as you notice these symptoms. As with other brands of spindle housings, Exmark uses a sealed bearing in the spindle housing. The whole assembly will need to be replaced in order to fix the problem.
There was a problem with the belt installation
When the belt broke last time, did you replace it yourself or did you ask someone else to do it? Can you tell me if you are absolutely certain that you bought the correct belt if that is the case? If you order your deck belt online, the chances of you making a mistake are very high since there are a lot of different choices available.
There is a possibility that the belt you ordered isn’t the exact belt that’s used on your lawn mower model. This is why it keeps falling off your lawn mower if it’s not the right size. As soon as you change the belt, you will usually start experiencing these problems, and it will become apparent that this is the cause.
Interference caused by debris
Depending on how much debris is accumulated on the belt of the riding mower, it can interfere with its normal operation. As you drive your vehicle, make sure the drive belt is clear of all grass, soil, sticks, acorns, and any other detritus that may get stuck on it.
The debris not only can cause the belt to slip or act differently than it should, but it can also pose a fire hazard. This is because it may cause the belt to malfunction. After removing all debris, clean the belt with a clean cloth, and make sure that the belt is completely clean.
It is possible that the bracket or spring of the idler tensioner is worn out
An idler bracket is used on your Exmark to ensure that the idler pulleys are positioned properly. A spring is located on one side of the bracket, whereas a pulley is situated on the other side of the bracket.
If you have a spring that wears and gets strained with use, or wears the hole in the bracket where the spring attaches, it can result in a broken spring. A constant vibration of the Exmark can be caused by this condition.
Having an idler bracket that doesn’t have grease on it can cause the bushing to wear out over time. There are instances when a pulley can begin running at an angle if this occurs. Exmark belts can be worn out due to vibrations as well as pulleys that are positioned at an angle, which exacerbates the problem.
In Summary/Conclusion
It has been advised by Home and Garden Geek that, if the mower is turned off and the belt is “engaged,” you should be able to loop a finger around the belt and gently pull it away from the pulleys when the mower is turned off. A force of one or two pounds is equivalent to the force of one or two pounds.
By applying pressure between pulley A and pulley B, the belt will be deflected by 12 inches when applied pressure. There should be a reading of 10-15 pounds on the gauge. High readings on the gauge indicate tightness, and low readings indicate looseness.
Your deck belt may be too tight if more than two fingers are needed to operate it.
To avoid Exmark Belts Coming Off or Breaking, check your mower belt before every use!
