Could anyone please tell me whats going on with my mower deck?

[Marcu5]

I've downloaded the manual for this deck and those familiar with it may notice the tension arm is on the wrong side. The (brand new) Mitsuboshi belt isn't happy with it as you can see- just testing the mower caused lots of slip and burning, probably due to not enough tension in the belt.
Have I got the belt on correctly for this configuration? The mower blades do all turn the same way with the belt on like this.

 

[Jchonline]

What have you tried to do so far? Have you adjusted the tension? It looks loose to me (I can see slack below the left pulley wheel).

 

[Marcu5]

I have tried adjusting the tension arm to almost max. The other direction appears to make the belt even slacker.
Also- I ordered the correct belt (96inch) for the model mower and it was too long so I measured with rope and purchased an 84 inch belt. This appeared to be too tight to fit the pulleys so the belt on there in these photos is an 90 inch belt.
Although the deck has a lot of welded repairs the tension arm is almost definitely factory mounted in this position.

 

[Marcu5]

I'm wondering if I should try the shorter belt again or whether the belt should be configured the same way as this photo of a Bx mmm?

 

[Roadworthy]

How was the mower working before you replaced the belt? Are you SURE you have the correct belt? The new belt should be close to the same length as the old one. It is possible the old one stretched a bit over time but the new belt should be the same length or perhaps very slightly shorter.

 

[Marcu5]

How was the mower working before you replaced the belt? Are you SURE you have the correct belt? The new belt should be close to the same length as the old one. It is possible the old one stretched a bit over time but the new belt should be the same length or perhaps very slightly shorter.

The mower was purchased recently and no- the deck did not work at first. The OEM belt definitely seems to be too long to fit a deck with the tension arm positioned where it is. IF the tension arm was on the other side then the OEM belt would fit fine.

 

[Marcu5]

I can't be certain I have the correct belt no. So far it has been an expensive 'trial and error' to get a belt of the correct length.

 

[Marcu5]

This is how the belt and pulley configuration SHOULD look on the Rc48-g20 deck.

 

[arto98607]

Not familiar with this particular mower deck but the belt routing in the first posting looks proper to me provided the spindles rotate clockwise, however the belt is totally loose and beyond worn out!
Next time a little shorter belt may help?

In your posting #8 you have photos of different mower model with different style belt all together.

 

[Marcu5]

Yes indeed- the routing appears correct to me too and the blades turn correctly.
The fact that the brand new belt is fubar after 30 minutes use and too loose exactly describes the problem I'm hoping someone has a solution for.

 

[Marcu5]

Plus according to the kubota manual the only difference between my deck and the deck in post 8 is that mine is rear discharge. They are both Rc48-g20 decks otherwise.

 

[arto98607]

Yes indeed- the routing appears correct to me too and the blades turn correctly.
The fact that the brand new belt is fubar after 30 minutes use and too loose exactly describes the problem I'm hoping someone has a solution for.

Was the new belt tensioned or tightened properly before using?
Asking since it's totally too loose in the photo you showed earlier.

 

[Marcu5]

No it wasn't, hence the slipping. I have tried adjusting the belt both ways- 1 way is too slack whilst the other way pushes the belt against itself causing rubbing and damage.
I guess the next step is try routing the belt the same as in the picture of the BX belly mower above?

 

[arto98607]

No it wasn't, hence the slipping. I have tried adjusting the belt both ways- 1 way is too slack whilst the other way pushes the belt against itself causing rubbing and damage.
I guess the next step is try routing the belt the same as in the picture of the BX belly mower above?

No it's not the same at all based on the photos you have shown.
Different pulleys, two belts, tension adjuster in a different location etc.


The worn out belt in you mower is too long so get a shorter belt please.
Almost any Napa etc. store can help you, just take the old belt with you and explain.
They will of course ask you how much shorter?

My guess would 1" or 1 1/2" shorter?

 

[whitetiger]

The deck you have, RC48-G20R was not sold in North America so it is going to look different than our decks. Your belt is routed correctly from the one sketch I could find of the European model. It looks like the belt is just a couple of inches too long.

 

[torch]

Make sure you are buying a belt rated to be bent backwards. Many industrial belts don't take well to being bent backwards like that.

 

[D2Cat]

I agree with Torch. Industrial belts and made to go around pulleys and not have an idler to keep them tight. They are not designed for the back side pressure. The belts that are green or blue indicate kevlar material for that purpose.

 

[arto98607]

I see he is in Wales, UK so it may be a long way to nearest Napa store, but pretty sure they will have something similar.

 

[tinkerwitheverything]

I think your right in installing the belt like what the pic of the bx shows. Your main drive pulley is going to slip badly the way you have it right now. The main drive pulley should have the belt wrapped bascially half way around the pulley.Like what the bx pic shows. Your pic is showing a L shape where the belt is making contact which is going to slip.

 

[whitetiger]

Here is a picture that shows the belt routing for your deck.