Cub 2186 with Snowthrower- Problem - Page 2

Yamahog12 · #11 12-01-2014, 12:03 PM

Installed new belt yesterday but no new snow yet to try it out. Old belt looked fine to me, though. I have always wondered why the belt is so difficult to put on (and remove). Maybe it is ok but it is really a tight fit. The mower deck belt goes on much more easily and I've always wondered if something is wrong that the snow thrower belt goes on so hard. Anyone else see this?

I also noticed there is some play in the area I circled in the attached picture of the PTO pulley. About 1/8" maybe. It may have been there in the past and I didn't notice. Is this a cause for concern?

reidcc · #12 12-11-2014, 02:57 PM

To my knowledge- having some play there by the spacer is not an issue. All that spacer does is keep the body of the PTO from spinning andtaking the wiring with it(ask me how I would know that)!!!

As other have mentioned- if your engine rpms stay up and the Blower bogs-its either the belt of the PTO itself. Since you just did the belt...theres only 1 thing left.

Chris

FrankF3 · #13 12-11-2014, 04:23 PM

I had a problem with the snowthrower on my 1572 during the Thanksgiving Day storm we had. 1/2 way done with the driveway, I heard a metallic clink when I raise the thrower at the end of the drive to turn around. I started on the way back up, and right at the end where the soggy burms are from the plows, the thrower really bogged down. I went through that and then didn't think much of it until I was by the mailbox when the thrower just about stopped spinning. Just as I was about to get off of the tractor it all started working again. It wasn't till I was done and inspecting everything, that I found the belt tensioner was bent into a pretzel shape. The belt developed a flat spot because of the extra slipping. How is the belt tensioner on your thrower? 15 or 20 minutes with a torch and mine was as good as new all straightened out.

Yamahog12 · #14 12-11-2014, 04:39 PM

...and the unit performed very well with the new belt. Threw snow like it did when it was just a cub. Wait. It is still a Cub. Anyway there's more in the driveway waiting for me when I get home!

Yamahog12 · #15 01-07-2015, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankF3

I had a problem with the snowthrower on my 1572 during the Thanksgiving Day storm we had. 1/2 way done with the driveway, I heard a metallic clink when I raise the thrower at the end of the drive to turn around. I started on the way back up, and right at the end where the soggy burms are from the plows, the thrower really bogged down. I went through that and then didn't think much of it until I was by the mailbox when the thrower just about stopped spinning. Just as I was about to get off of the tractor it all started working again. It wasn't till I was done and inspecting everything, that I found the belt tensioner was bent into a pretzel shape. The belt developed a flat spot because of the extra slipping. How is the belt tensioner on your thrower? 15 or 20 minutes with a torch and mine was as good as new all straightened out.

A new belt temporarily seemed to solve my problem. But we got 2 feet of snow last night and this morning, after clearing half the driveway like a champ, my problem is back. It does seem as though the belt is slipping. It throws snow very weakly and I end up pushing as much snow as it throws. I can smell something burning (the belt?). Finally had to quit as I was able to get out of the driveway but gave up throwing snow. What is the "belt tensioner"? Is that the thing that has a spring that attaches it to the tractor? I need to resolve this quickly since I'll have a foot of plowed snow at the end of the driveway when I get home today. THANKS!

Sam Mac · #16 01-07-2015, 11:51 AM

I'm wondering if something on the blower isn't starting to seize up. Maybe a bearing or gearbox going bad?

FrankF3 · #17 01-07-2015, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yamahog12

A new belt temporarily seemed to solve my problem. But we got 2 feet of snow last night and this morning, after clearing half the driveway like a champ, my problem is back. It does seem as though the belt is slipping. It throws snow very weakly and I end up pushing as much snow as it throws. I can smell something burning (the belt?). Finally had to quit as I was able to get out of the driveway but gave up throwing snow. What is the "belt tensioner"? Is that the thing that has a spring that attaches it to the tractor? I need to resolve this quickly since I'll have a foot of plowed snow at the end of the driveway when I get home today. THANKS!

So... we have some info here. If there is a burning smell that is from the belt, it sounds like you are getting all the power you need to run the snow blower through the PTO. If you take the pulley cover off of the thrower, then take the belt off.

Does the pulley turn with a LOT of resistance?
Is anything binding or rubbing on the housing of the snow thrower? Is the gear housing binding up?
Is the lube in the gear housing ok?
How about the belt?, Is is possibly contaminated with oil or grease that could have slicked things up and caused slippage?
Belt idler pulleys, do they turn free or is the bearing shot in them and causing them to be stiff or have a lot of side play in them?
Belt Tensioner, have to ask this question, is it in the right position and set to put the most tension on the belt?
Belt Tensioner Spring - Is it the proper spring, and one that exerts the proper force when the Belt Tensioner is set properly, or is it an aftermarket spring with a weaker extension force?

That's all I can think of for now. Please if anyone has more, please chime in.

Yamahog12 · #18 01-07-2015, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankF3

So... we have some info here. If there is a burning smell that is from the belt, it sounds like you are getting all the power you need to run the snow blower through the PTO. If you take the pulley cover off of the thrower, then take the belt off.

Does the pulley turn with a LOT of resistance? Honestly, I don't know how hard it should turn.
Is anything binding or rubbing on the housing of the snow thrower? No Is the gear housing binding up? I don't think so.
Is the lube in the gear housing ok?I have no idea about that. Have never changed it, though.
How about the belt?, Is is possibly contaminated with oil or grease that could have slicked things up and caused slippage? No.
Belt idler pulleys, do they turn free or is the bearing shot in them and causing them to be stiff or have a lot of side play in them? I checked them when I changed the belt and they seemed ok to me.
Belt Tensioner, have to ask this question, is it in the right position and set to put the most tension on the belt?This is on right. I've owned it for about 12 years so I've put it on and off a lot.
Belt Tensioner Spring - Is it the proper spring, and one that exerts the proper force when the Belt Tensioner is set properly, or is it an aftermarket spring with a weaker extension force?It is the original spring. Believe it or not, it fell off last winter but I found it in the spring and put it back on.

That's all I can think of for now. Please if anyone has more, please chime in.

Please see my answers above. Thank you for considering my plight!

FrankF3 · #19 01-07-2015, 01:29 PM

If the spring fell off, that sounds way too loose. When I have to set the tensioner on my thrower, it takes either a wrench or 2 hands on it to get it to the set position. In the 25 years of running this snow thrower, the spring has only fallen off once, and that was only because the hook on one end cracked off due to a defect/fatigue in the original spring.

Mike McKown · #20 01-07-2015, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yamahog12

What is the "belt tensioner"? Is that the thing that has a spring that attaches it to the tractor? I need to resolve this quickly since I'll have a foot of plowed snow at the end of the driveway when I get home today. THANKS!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

I'm wondering if something on the blower isn't starting to seize up. Maybe a bearing or gearbox going bad?

I am now wondering if the OP knows how to work the belt tensioner???????