1250 and #2 Tiller

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by Awilson

The lower tiller gearbox pulley is 5" in diameter. Wouldn't that make the 5" center to center of the mule drive pulley the correct alignment?

No, as the gear box pulley is on the rear of the tractor and the mule drive pulleys are under the PTO pulley in front which is the width determining factor.
It also should be noted that worn grooves on the sides of the mule drive pulleys
as well as the PTO pulley, adversely affect belt life!
As the belt turns 1/4 turn coming off the pto pulley and mule pulleys, side wear is accelerated.
In essence,the pulleys are trying to wear the V belt to look like a rope.
BTDT.
The sides of the pulleys should always look like a "V" not a "U" where the belt
lives.
Over the years, I have seen belt life reduced 50% when using worn pulleys,
especially in mower deck applications.

[Awilson]

That's another thing, I put these idler pulleys on right after I got the machine. But they aren't the solid idlers like is recommended, sounds like those are becoming hard to find.

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by Awilson

That's another thing, I put these idler pulleys on right after I got the machine. But they aren't the solid idlers like is recommended, sounds like those are becoming hard to find.

Have you inspected the PTO pulley on the clutch? they are the first thing to wear out the side of the "V"
look and feel it.

[Awilson]

Originally Posted by ol'George

Have you inspected the PTO pulley on the clutch? they are the first thing to wear out the side of the "V"
look and feel it.

Not yet, its at another place. Going to bring it back to my shop and take a look at it there.

[Awilson]

Originally Posted by ol'George

Have you inspected the PTO pulley on the clutch? they are the first thing to wear out the side of the "V"
look and feel it.

Not sure how much you can see in the picture, I cleaned the rust off the pulley. Front side looks like it has less of a slope than the rear. Nothing feels sharp, can feel a slight low spot in the middle of the front side of the pulley groove.

[ol'George]

looking at the pix, I've seen much worse.
I don't think that would cause you excessive belt wear.
What I have noticed over the years is sometimes we purchase NOS parts.
(new old stock) on rubber goods, that is not always a good idea as soft material gets hard/cracks as it ages.
While one might purchase a tiller belt from a supplier, we don't know just how old it actually is.
Since a tiller belt is not sold as often as say a deck belt, it could have been hanging a hook in a mom/pop mower shop for 25 years.
Just saying.

[Grandpa53]

The wear pattern on the clutch pulley indicates a TOO NARROW belt has been used. If the belt rides high in groove the belt sides will be adversely worn. Belt top should not exceed pulley O.D. for proper wear.

[Grandpa53]

I'm sorry, I misspoke. I meant to say TOO WIDE !

[ol'George]

The wear pattern on that PTO pulley is normal.
One has to take in consideration that the belt is making a 1/4 turn coming AND
leaving the PTO pulley.
It is the same situation on the mule pulleys below it.

[Grandpa53]

I'm telling you that the correct belt for that setup will leave a deeper wear pattern on the pulleys. That pattern shows either a belt that is too wide or too shallow has been used. Use EXACTLY what the book calls for or continue to have problems. If correct belt is used pulley alignment is not so critical because belt will be riding deeper in the pulley thus they will have a tendency to self align. Like has been said on this forum many times "your tractor, your money...".