Is it possible to over tighten the belt on a QA42A?

[DoubleO7]

If they are carriage bolts, maybe you can use a 3/8 machine screw nut.
Some are 1/4" high.
Grind two of the opposing flats to fit the slot.
Screw it onto the carriage bolt and line the flats up with the slot.

[Muzzy]

I'd stay with the IH design. It works.

[jimbob200521]

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

Spacers:
http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/s...hlight=spacers

Originally Posted by Muzzy

You should be able to get the spacers at a hardware store. They're about 3/8" long. The carriage bolts are hardened as well.

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

If they are carriage bolts, maybe you can use a 3/8 machine screw nut.
Some are 1/4" high.
Grind two of the opposing flats to fit the slot.
Screw it onto the carriage bolt and line the flats up with the slot.

Well, I checked this morning before work and boy do I feel like I've got egg on my face

I have all 4 spacers in the thrower and have basically been tightening and loosening them for nothing every time I put a belt on Oh well, you live and you learn. Thank you guys for the advice!

And btw, I still need to get another couple pics of the belt up, too.

[macman81]

I don't like to bash MTD but your belt appears to be the cheap kind that snap all the time! I run a gates ax32 on mine or a blade runner but not sure what part number. Both have been up to the task for over a year now. First year with my qa42a I ran a wood handled lawn take right throw it and didn't even break the belt! Lol

I have found on a new belt it will stretch a LOT on these I stop after 10 min of use the first time and re tighten it's always loose already. Then check each time before use til the stretch is gone. Dot take much for these belts to slip and then they are pretty much junk at that point.

[jimbob200521]

Originally Posted by macman81

I don't like to bash MTD but your belt appears to be the cheap kind that snap all the time! I run a gates ax32 on mine or a blade runner but not sure what part number. Both have been up to the task for over a year now. First year with my qa42a I ran a wood handled lawn take right throw it and didn't even break the belt! Lol

I have found on a new belt it will stretch a LOT on these I stop after 10 min of use the first time and re tighten it's always loose already. Then check each time before use til the stretch is gone. Dot take much for these belts to slip and then they are pretty much junk at that point.

Would you happen to have a link to the 5/8 Gates AX32 belt that you use? That'd be something I'd be interested in having on the shelf

[jimbob200521]

Well I had to run a couple errands for work and one of them happened to be by Napa so I picked up my going-to-be spare belt and had to try it out. I stopped at home and popped it on then took it out for a test run. Works grreeaattt! With the weather we have potentially coming this weekend, I had to get something going with it so well see if this belt holds up or not. Either way, she blows!

[Cubcrazy]

Originally Posted by jimbob200521

Well I had to run a couple errands for work and one of them happened to be by Napa so I picked up my going-to-be spare belt and had to try it out. I stopped at home and popped it on then took it out for a test run. Works grreeaattt! With the weather we have potentially coming this weekend, I had to get something going with it so well see if this belt holds up or not. Either way, she blows!

Good to hear and cool pic!

[ACecil]

Glad to hear, you are back in business!

[jimbob200521]

Originally Posted by macman81

I don't like to bash MTD but your belt appears to be the cheap kind that snap all the time! I run a gates ax32 on mine or a blade runner but not sure what part number. Both have been up to the task for over a year now. First year with my qa42a I ran a wood handled lawn take right throw it and didn't even break the belt! Lol

I have found on a new belt it will stretch a LOT on these I stop after 10 min of use the first time and re tighten it's always loose already. Then check each time before use til the stretch is gone. Dot take much for these belts to slip and then they are pretty much junk at that point.

I did a little looking and found that the belt I got (Gates B33) seems to be rated as a high power belt. So far I haven't had any bad luck with it, and it actually "feels" like a better belt (more solid in construction) than the MTD/IH belt. I still have an IH belt coming so we'll see how the two stack up to each other.

Here's a link to the belt I got for anyone interested. It's a 36" belt and was actually quite a pain to get on the blower. I think next time I'm going to order a B34 which is a 37" belt, assuming this one stands up to this season.

http://www.gatespowerpro.com/Comerge...TOKEN=39219512

Edit: macman81, I looked up the Gates AX32 you said you used and found that it is a ribbed belt at 34 inches (per the Gates belt lookup). Ever have a hard time getting it on the pulley's? I'm kinda curious now how the ribbed belts perform vs the non-ribbed? Almost seems like a standard non-ribbed belt would hold up better but who knows, time will tell. I'll soon have 2 to test it with

http://www.gatespowerpro.com/Comerge...TOKEN=39219512

[BCDSFCRET]

Your belt looks like it was junk before it was broken. I always keep a spare belt on the blower shute.
Brian












More cubs than I need but I like them and they are all mine.