3000 Series PTO Pulley/Belt issues

Joelk · #1 08-15-2017, 08:49 AM

Worked on 3206 yesterday that had thrown the front PTO Belt.

I had an old "rear belt" off of it that was still "OK" that was taken off of it when it had previously thrown the front belt.

Belts are fairly expensive and throwing the front belt seemed to be a recurring problem so I decided to try the old belt to see if it matched up to the rear belt that looked "OK".(I know you are supposed to use matched sets)

I put the old belt on the front pulley and manually tensioned the belts. The rear belt was much tighter and I just assumed this was due to belt wear/variations

I then put on a new set of belts and manually tensioned. Same thing happened, the rear belt was much tighter than the front belt.

I started to look harder to see why.

The front belt was recessed into the lower pulley and the rear belt was setting slightly proud of the pulley.

I pulled pulley from my parts tractor and installed it and the belt tension is now equal on both belts.

I had the tractor on a 2 Post Automotive Lift with good light so this was fairly easy to see, once I started looking for it, but if I was laying on the ground in poor light, I probably would not have figured it out.

If you keep having issues with the front PTO Belt comming off, it might be worth pulling the lower pulley off to examine it.

Any idea what would make the front lower pulley spread like that?

Oak · #2 08-15-2017, 08:23 PM

Post up some pics of it if you can. It was probably hit and damaged. I've had one that was bent and needed replaced.

Joelk · #3 08-15-2017, 08:54 PM

A picture of the pulley alone would not show anything.

Holding it in my hands it looks fine, no sign of impact damage, but if you put a belt on the rear pulley it sets proud of the groove, on the front pulley it is recessed down into the groove.

It is like the rear groove is for 1/2" belt and the front is for a 5/8" belt.

It could have been produced defective(I only put about 50 hrs on it since I bought it so it may have ruined a dozen belts before I got it) or it may have gotten distorted in operation, although I don't know how.

It does not appear to have impact damage, it runs true in both grooves, the front groove is just wider than the rear groove.

J-Mech · #4 08-15-2017, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joelk

Any idea what would make the front lower pulley spread like that?

PO running it with only one belt installed. Or a new belt on front, and an old one on the rear. So, the answer is uneven wear.

Oak · #5 08-15-2017, 09:50 PM

That's why I would like to see a pic. I'm thinking the front one is spread open and the rear is not.

I've had good luck so far from these belts. Pretty cheap at a little over $10.50 each with free shipping.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CUB-CADET-MT...item19d1f00a2f

Joelk · #6 08-15-2017, 09:57 PM

I agree that the front one is spread open, or perhaps worn, but I do not think it would be apparent from a photos.

If worn, it is very substantial wear.

I just ordered that exact set of belts about 15 minutes ago. Glad to hear you have had good luck with them.

J-Mech · #7 08-15-2017, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joelk

I do not think it would be apparent from a photos.

Well, post some anyways. Believe me, people post pics on here all the time of stuff we ask to see, and 9 out of 10 times, we can see things that are plain as day to us, but not to the guy taking the picture. Pictures speak 1000 words, is a true statement. Otherwise, we can guess all day.

Joelk · #8 08-16-2017, 01:51 PM

Here are a bunch of photos.

Front is the end where the splines are flush.

Old belt sets further into the grooves than a new belt does.

J-Mech · #9 08-16-2017, 09:13 PM

Yep. Looks to me like it was run with only one belt on it for quite a while. Which would actually wear it down fast, as it was designed for two belts, so one belt alone would wear twice as fast. I'd replace the pulley, install two new belts and be happy, happy.

Joelk · #10 08-16-2017, 09:45 PM

Thanks for the reply.

The pulley and belts have been replaced.

Why the pulley got that way was just a matter of curiosity.

My primary reason for the thread was to warn others to be aware that they might have the same issue with their pulley.

If I had not had the tractor on a lift with good light while I operated the mechanism I probably would never have spotted the issue. I would have replaced PTO belts over and over again, and before long I would have been thinking the 3000 Series is junk.