So I put on a brand spanking new belt from UDC (part nbr 174368) this morning and went out to mow on my Craftsman GT3000. Dry grass. No rocks. No branches. Grass not even high. I just wanted to do some touch ups before the holiday. Was mowing maybe thirty minutes, maybe a bit longer. Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, the udc belt shreds itself to oblivion. Cost me $28 and I thought I was buying smart instead of my usual cheapo belts that cost me about eight bucks. But over the years I always got a full mowing season out of those cheap belts. So my day is ruined and my nerves are frazzled with a half mown lawn just in time for the holiday. Could someone give me the name of a company that will sell a mower belt that will last at least one season? My sanity thanks you in advance.
AldenB
Joined
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5,614 Posts
V-belts run a universal parts code. It's not the retail vendor that sells the belt, it's the OEM that makes for a quality belt. If you want quality OEM.... Goodyear, Dayco, Gates
You can buy a Goodyear, Dayco, Gates v-belts for your GT3000 from about anywhere that sells V-belts (Auto Zone, Advance, NAPA) if you just measure the width and the OUTSIDE length of the V-belt.
Two common types of V-belts...... Classic V-belts (1-500HP) Fractional Horsepower (less than 1HP). Mowers use Classic V-belts
Width Code for Classic V-belts--
1/2" wide = A
5/8" wide = B
Length Code for Classic V-belts (measured on the OUTSIDE)--
1/2" wide A code = Subtract 2" from out side dimension.....
1/2" wide x 83" long on the outside = A81
5/8" wide B code = Subtract 3" from out side dimension.....
5/8" wide x 83" long on the outside = B80
If you want a Kevlar belt, add a K -- A81K... B80K
Don't use Fractional Horsepower belts on lawn mowers.... They start with 4L or 5L
You can buy a Goodyear, Dayco, Gates v-belts for your GT3000 from about anywhere that sells V-belts (Auto Zone, Advance, NAPA) if you just measure the width and the OUTSIDE length of the V-belt.
Two common types of V-belts...... Classic V-belts (1-500HP) Fractional Horsepower (less than 1HP). Mowers use Classic V-belts
Width Code for Classic V-belts--
1/2" wide = A
5/8" wide = B
Length Code for Classic V-belts (measured on the OUTSIDE)--
1/2" wide A code = Subtract 2" from out side dimension.....
1/2" wide x 83" long on the outside = A81
5/8" wide B code = Subtract 3" from out side dimension.....
5/8" wide x 83" long on the outside = B80
If you want a Kevlar belt, add a K -- A81K... B80K
Don't use Fractional Horsepower belts on lawn mowers.... They start with 4L or 5L
Joined
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5,614 Posts
The problem with shopping on-line for v-belts is if that belt has been sitting in a warehouse for 8-12 years, you don't know it until you open the package. Belts only have a 5-year shelf life.... Do you really think somebody with an inventory of 100's - 1,000's of v-belts is going through them on a regular basis culling them for age??
With a local purchase, you can at least reject an older belt at the point of sale, that's of course if you can look at a new/unused v-belt and determine the current point in it's shelf life . That's where it helps to know the difference between belt "Dressing" and belt "Conditioner"..... They serve two totally different functions.
If you can't determine the age of new/unused v-belt by sight, touch, or reading the date code, I suppose that "new" eBay belt that was actually made in 2012 isn't going to bother you at all.....
Joined
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5,614 Posts
Look at it, sniff it, touch it...... If it looks, smells, or feels dried out use "belt conditioner"..... It's like treating leather with saddle soap.
"Belt dressing" is sticky and made to keep the belt from slipping under a load....
I've seen more Kevlar belts fail lately that I can ever recall.... Must be climate change, something Trump did, or maybe the Chinese are just making way more
belts than before they sent us Covid-
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