Cub 2186 with Snowthrower- Problem

[cubs-n-bxrs]

Originally Posted by Yamahog12

Well, we got about 8" of snow yesterday, and my wonderful wife cleared the driveway while I was at work. She said it worked very well and had no issues. I used it last night to cut back one side a little more and it worked fine. We got a bunch more snow this morning so we'll see how it goes. We could get 3-5 more feet (yes, FEET) by the end of tomorrow. I sure hope that doesn't happen, but if we do it will be a good test for the cub. Thanks to all who have tried to help me out.

You must in or around the Tug Hill Plateau region. Lucky you. I am 25 miles south of Syracuse.

[Yamahog12]

Originally Posted by cubs-n-bxrs

You must in or around the Tug Hill Plateau region. Lucky you. I am 25 miles south of Syracuse.

I live just north of the Tug Hill, but we have been getting pounded this week. Bright and sunny at the moment though!

[Yamahog12]

Early this winter I had the same problem of the belt slipping and therefore the snowthrower not working properly. I again called the dealer who sent a guy out. He told me (as I already knew) that the tension on the belt was insufficient. He said he could weld something to the piece that is attached to the idler pulley and hook the tensioning spring to that (increasing the "stretch" of the spring). I asked him why, after owing it for 12 years or more, the (new) belt would not have enough tension. It seems like the belt is too big.

He told me maybe a different belt manufacturer was now making the belts. Whatever, I guess, and I let him take the thing to the shop and do his alteration. Got it back and it worked fine, although it seemed to me that there was maybe a bit too much tension on it now. He welded a bent washer to it so the spring was now stretched a little more.

Today we got a lot of very heavy wet snow and my wife tried to clean the driveway while I was at work. I told her to go very slow or it will clog up. She called me back 15 minutes later to tell me the belt had snapped. Great. She said she went very slow but it stopped working quickly.

I got home and put the old belt back on it. Right away I could tell it was too loose. Of course once I tried to move any snow the belt started slipping and it wouldn't work. Can anyone tell me why this is happening? I mean, how can the tension again be too light and allow the belt to slip? I'm beyond baffled. Of course it is snowing like hell out right now and I have no way to move it except with a shovel. My driveway is about 80 feet long and 2 cars wide.

I'm at a loss. Any help is appreciated.