[kubotakid]

I decided to beef up the pto drive line on my 446 to a 5/8 belt system. The one thing thats always bothered me is the OddBall 9/16 belt size. I like options when Iam buying a drive belt. Plus the fact that the xtra horse power rating means less fatigue, less slipage, and less streching = Longer Belt Life... :usa:

Upgrading to a 5/8 drive line also opens up alota doors for pulley choices. Iam switching to the composite pulleys on seasonal equipment, Like snow casters and mower decks. (idler pulleys only) Cast Iron for drive and driven. The steel pulleys rust and pit,.Piting alittle more each year,causing excessive belt wear. Cast Iron pulleys rust too,..But they dont pit.

On another note, Using the factory setup .If you look at the flat belt idler on the mule drive for the snow caster, you wil notice (because its a corrective pulley by nature), The belt rides to the extreme left side, And, Because the pulley is a two piece there is a v in the center about 3/16 wide,
If you lay the belt in there, and you will see it rides up the side of the pulley and the other side of the belt is riding on edge of the v. Notice how the paint is worn. In my opinion this all results in breaking down the most important part of the belt, the outer edges. I think a molded composite pully is the answer, Especially using the orignal 9/16 belt. Because theres NO gap in the middle of the pulley,

Contrary to popular belief, Composite pulleys are NOT a cheap alternative for an (idler) pulley. The ones Ive been reaserching are industrial grade. (Fenner drives) also sold by WW GRAINGER
Your belts will tell ya, "THEY LIKE EM BEST" :thumbsup:

Thats all for now, I got the pulley machined for the 5/8 belt today, Ill post a couple pics in my album below. Kubotakid...aka.. Burnt Orange

 

[Stewart]

I decided to beef up the pto drive line on my 446 to a 5/8 belt system. The one thing thats always bothered me is the OddBall 9/16 belt size. I like options when Iam buying a drive belt. Plus the fact that the xtra horse power rating means less fatigue, less slipage, and less streching = Longer Belt Life... :usa:

Upgrading to a 5/8 drive line also opens up alota doors for pulley choices. Iam switching to the composite pulleys on seasonal equipment, Like snow casters and mower decks. (idler pulleys only) Cast Iron for drive and driven. The steel pulleys rust and pit,.Piting alittle more each year,causing excessive belt wear. Cast Iron pulleys rust too,..But they dont pit.

On another note, Using the factory setup .If you look at the flat belt idler on the mule drive for the snow caster, you wil notice (because its a corrective pulley by nature), The belt rides to the extreme left side, And, Because the pulley is a two piece there is a v in the center about 3/16 wide,
If you lay the belt in there, and you will see it rides up the side of the pulley and the other side of the belt is riding on edge of the v. Notice how the paint is worn. In my opinion this all results in breaking down the most important part of the belt, the outer edges. I think a molded composite pully is the answer, Especially using the orignal 9/16 belt. Because theres NO gap in the middle of the pulley,

Contrary to popular belief, Composite pulleys are NOT a cheap alternative for an (idler) pulley. The ones Ive been reaserching are industrial grade. (Fenner drives) also sold by WW GRAINGER
Your belts will tell ya, "THEY LIKE EM BEST" :thumbsup:

Thats all for now, I got the pulley machined for the 5/8 belt today, Ill post a couple pics in my album below. Kubotakid...aka.. Burnt Orange

:headscratcher: :headscratcher: :headscratcher: Trust me I'm not totally against mods but what's your gain.

I've had a 1979 -224 since 1981 and have kept my driveway clean in southern Sask and have likely used less than 6 belts. $30 apiece, why change something that works fine now. If you were to throw 30 Hp to the 9/16 belt then maybe a change could be used but I would just order the belts OEM and get 5-8 years of service. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :trink: :trink:

 

[kubotakid]

Stewart,
Iam glad your getting excelent millage out of your belts, Some people can get 500.000 miles out of car with only minor repaires, As I stated (I like options), And, there are none available for a case/ingersoll drive belt, You cant go to the auto parts store, Or a farm store, or any store other than a oem dealer, and grab a belt. Besides that most people dont live near a dealer.
Again, it bothers me that If somthing happens to my 9/16 belt, and I dont have one on the shelf,.. Iam screwed.

Same goes for the mower deck, Or should I say, ESPECIALLY THE MOWER DECK.. One of the reasons I like the Ingersoll is that my surrondings arent like a golf course. And my back yard is anything but, mower friendly. And the oem 9/16 mower belt offers no options, Kinda like living in a country where you cant vote, Ya just gotta live with it, Right?.. Wrong... :usa2:

Besides having options on where I buy my belt, Now, What kind I buy is also my choice. One thing I will be doing is increasing blade tip speed on my mower, Why? Because my stock mower dont make the AIRPLANE noise like my neighbors does. :sidelaugh: :sidelaugh: :sidelaugh:

Seriousley, I might crank up the blade speed on my (front yard) deck. And see how I like it :think: Maybe, or maybe not,. Will see, My 5/8 drive line is not only tougher,.. It allowes me options. Like hangin a wood chipper on the front for spring cleanup..

Gotta go, kubotakid....aka......Burnt Orange

 

[Nutcase446]

I've always used 1/2" Kevlar belts. I'm not sure what year Case or Ingersoll decided to go to 9/16" (they used 1/2" for years) but they didn't change the pulleys. I'm sure that the OEM belts will last longer but like you I want to be able to get one quick. You have to remember that when they upgraded to 9/16 it was probably the best way to increase longevity as Kevlar wasn't around yet. This is my opinion and like oil there are a lot of opinions about belts.