[blowinsnow]

Hello All,

I am having an issue with my 551 snow blower throwing and cutting belts. I have it mounted to my 1641 garden tractor. Last year was the first year I used it.
I took it to a dealer last year mid season to get it sorted out, but it came back doing the same thing. As far as I can tell all the pulleys are strait; even replaced one idler for good measure.
When I lower the unit to the ground to start every thing looks normal, and the belt looks to be lined up. When I go to start pushing the unit, it seems like the blower twists. If you are sitting on the tractor looking forward, the left side pulls back to the frame and the right side pulls away from the frame. When this happens the the idler pulley on the left crashes into the main pulley for the blower and the right idler is so far off from being straight up and down the belt has no option but to come off. Unfortunately when this happens more often than not the belt is cut in two from the left idler and the main pulley acting like a sheer.

Right now I have the lift tube set so the blower barley comes all the way down putting very little pressure on the skids. This seems to help, but by no means fool proof.

Any one have an idea about this?
Thanks in advance,

Ben