Belt Keeps Coming Off Your Snapper Lawn Mower
You are having problems with your Snapper mower belt coming off. There can be a lot of frustration when you have to stop your mower all the time in order to change the belt. You have come to the right place if you want to find out what is causing your mower belt to fall off. Then you can get back to mowing and not have to worry about your belt constantly.
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.
Before attempting to work with the components of your mower deck, take precautions to ensure your safety. Disconnect the wires from the spark plugs and remove the key from your ignition switch to prevent your mower from starting once it has been disconnected. If you are going to be handling sharp edges, you will need to wear gloves to protect your hands.
Our Checklist to Diagnose Why a Snapper Lawn Mower Belt Repeatedly Comes Off
There are a number of components that come into contact with the belt on the deck and, if you want to find out what the problem is with the belt coming off repeatedly, you will have to take a closer look at all of the components that come into contact with the belt. It is certain that one or more of these parts or the belt itself will have some sort of problem at some point. There is a reason why they fall off. They do not just fall off by themselves.
Problems mounting mowers
An uneven mowing deck may cause the drive belt to come off when the mounting system of a riding lawnmower is out of balance. The deck needs to be properly mounted, so you should check whether that is the case. It is also a wise idea to check for any parts that may be missing.
There need to be clip pins in the rear hangers of the mower. In addition, the draft rod connecting the front of the mower to the front axle has to be connected to the draft rod. It is possible that the belt is damaged, or other parts may be damaged, if all appears to be well.
A snapper mower belt that is loose or worn out
Your Snapper mower deck pulleys can become detached if the belt on your Snapper mower is loose or worn. With normal use, belts will wear over time due to the wear and tear they undergo. If you notice your mower belt showing signs of wear, you should replace the belt with a more durable one. There are many factors to consider when choosing a belt, including whether it is shiny, cracked, or stretched.
Damage to the belt keeper on a Snapper mower
A belt keeper is used on your Snapper deck to prevent the belt from moving around as you wear it. Generally speaking, belt keepers consist of a rod that sits between 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch away from the pulley, and is used as a preventative measure in order to keep the belt from coming off the pulley when it is being moved.
There is no contact between the belts and the keepers, as they move around the pulleys without touching them. It is possible for the belt to slip off the pulley when there is slack in the belt. However, this is unlikely to happen if there is no slack in the belt.
Result
A hammer or vice grip can be used to bend the belt keeper back into place once it has been bent out of place. A belt keeper should be replaced if it can’t be adjusted correctly and you can’t adjust it correctly.
Installation error
When you replaced your belt the last time it broke, did you do it yourself? Having said that, are you 100% certain that you purchased the correct belt in the first place? Deck belts come in a lot of different sizes and it’s very easy to make a mistake if you order them online. This is because there are so many different options available.
When you order a lawn mower belt that is not the exact size for the lawn mower model you have, it may be too large. This would explain the reason your lawn mower belt keeps falling off. There’s a high chance the problem will be obvious if this is the issue. This is because you will experience this problem right after you change the belt, if this is the problem.
Result
It is critical to get the right belt on order as soon as possible if you purchased the wrong belt. I am expecting to have to pay twice for the belts, but at least I will not have to worry about them falling off anymore.
Snapper mower pulley bearings fail
A worn bearing may result in a pulley no longer sitting flat and perpendicular to the mower deck when it is attached to one. A damaged bearing in your pulley can cause your pulley to sit higher off the deck on one side. You are more likely to lose your Snapper belt when this happens.
Result
Make sure that each of your pulleys is rotating smoothly without any resistance, and that they do not have any binds. Turn each pulley one at a time by hand, slowly turning them one at a time. You will need to replace your pulley if you feel a restriction or hear a noise when using your bearing.
Snapper mower spindle bearings failed
Spindle housing bearings can allow vertical movement in blades, which can cause vibration in decks as they sit flat on pulleys.
Lawn mowers with Snapper belts can be affected by this vibration.
Make sure you have disconnected the spark plug wires and removed your ignition key before working under your deck. Make sure you have gloves on and rock the mower blade up and down while wearing them.
Result
When you feel movement or hear a knocking sound, you may need to remove the spindle housing. Whenever a spindle bearing fails, it should be replaced.
Pulleys/Plate Split
It is most common for people to focus on the belt itself, the pulleys, and the pulley keepers of their mower deck. This is because the lawn mower deck belt is constantly falling off. There are a couple of things you need to look out for first, as these are the most likely suspects.
As long as you do not see any issues with them, you may want to closely inspect the bracket attached to the pulley. You may also want to inspect the plate to which it is attached. The pulley can sometimes get twisted, and this extra “give” can lead to the belt slipping off when the mower is in use, caused by the extra “give” inside the pulley when the mower is being used.
Result
The problem can be resolved by welding a split plate together, and if there is damage to the bracket, then it can be repaired or replaced as appropriate.
Interference caused by debris
When debris is allowed to accumulate on a riding mower belt, it can interfere with the normal operation of the belt. There should be no grass, soil, sticks, acorns, or other debris lodged anywhere along the drive belt as this could result in damage to the speed sensors. As well as causing the belt to slip or fail to function properly, debris can also pose a fire hazard by clogging up.
Result
A clean cloth should be used once the belt has been thoroughly cleaned of debris.
In Summary/Conclusion
You are liable to have a pain in the bum if your Snapper mower deck belt keeps coming off. It becomes very boring very quickly if you do this all the time. The belt and pulleys on your mower can be inspected by removing the deck covers and positioning your mower so you can see them.
There is no doubt that Snapper deck belts are expensive and you want to make sure they last as long as possible. There are a few things that you can do to ensure the life of your Snapper mower belt and keep it from breaking or prematurely wearing out and coming off your mower if you follow these instructions:
- Get rid of debris from your mower deck after each mow
- Deck components should not rub
- Belts should be kept free of oil and rust
- Keep your spindle housings and pulleys in proper condition
- Ensure all brackets and belt keepers are working
