After market belts any good?
 

Looking at stens, a&I, d&d etc. Some in these brands claim to be a direct cross over to IH numbers.

Here are my findings, others will vary.
a genuine belt, be it an IH, Deere, Scag etc. is good, some aftermarket are equivalent, others not so much.
One aftermarket I find holds up is Goodyear "instapower" as they designed for 1/4 twists and backside idlers.
If an application is just a belt between 2 pulleys most anything will work.
I tried a blue kevlar TSC belt on my 782 cub once
it lasted about 45 minutes before it shredded but they gave me a cheerful refund.
I replaced it with a good year instapower and got normal life out of it.(85880)
I did use a scag belt once and it outlived a goodyear by about two times. but it is a $60 belt vs a goodyear @ $16
Think I tried a D&D and not good results seems like maybe 40-50 hrs and she done shredded.,
Just my two cents.

Ok thanks. Dunno where to get the Goodyear belts around here. When I could I used to buy the gates green belts but those too are getting tough to get around here. I went to farm and fleet where I got a dayco lawn and garden series belt but realized when I went to put it on that I got the spindle belt instead of the PTO drive belt soy wife took it back.
I wound up ordering a pair of stens belts for this online, one for the PTO on my 129 and another for a spare. I wonder who really makes those? Supposed to be exact cross over. Not really convenient to get the oem ones where I am at. I don't remember what I used but my buddy with the pair of 1200s and the 1250/ one of the 1200s seems to eat PTO drive belts can't remember what brand is on there at the moment. Seems like every couple of mowings. But he's kinda of a ram rod anyways.

I agree with George. It depends. Some aftermarket is OK, and some is all out trash.

I've never had a problem with NAPA (Gates) belts.

I have used belts from VBeltSupply with good success. I mow ~ four acres of field grass with my 54" deck. Second season on the tractor.

I have had a Napa belt on my 126 most of last season, and the beginning of this one with no trouble.