Another mule drive belt question- 1/2 or 3/8

[Graflex45]

So in getting my 44A deck belt working for my first season of cutting my new lawn and using the mower deck for the first time it seemed that the quietline (my 1450) could use 1/2 inch belts fine on the mule drive, so I got a 1/2 x 80 napa belt and that worked great mowing my big yard twice so far this season. That is until a patch of low lying yard finally dried out from the spring rains and I could mow it by tractor instead of knocking the grass down with my string trimmer. The blades slowed down and where overloaded by this thick lush grass and i had a smell of burning rubber and then no more mower turning.
Lesson learned I thought, take this section slow and raise the deck for a first pass I thought. well I go to tractor supply and get another belt yesterday to finish up other parts of the yard and now its throwing the belt off the tension adjusting idler every time i start it and has ruined that one.
Does anyone run 1/2 belts on thier 44A mower? is there a wider variant of the mule drive idlers for 1/2 in belts that i didnt get when I replaced them? the pulleys on the engine and deck both have the 1/2 belt sitting way down in so I expected it would work fine, but I guess I didn't look closely enough at how it sat in the idlers. The napa A belts are a little thinner than the tractor supply belts and that I guess was why its immediately throwing them.
Anyway, ordered 2 oem part belts and I guess I'll see how those work.

[West Valley G]

Sounds like you are on the right track with OEM belts. I know that
there are other belts out there that work fine, I guess. I eliminated
all the belt woes in my life by buying the right belt every time. Costs
a bit more and all but ends the frustration. If I break an OEM belt I
know I have mechanical woes, not belt woes.
Are your spindles and idler pulley as well as mule drive pulleys spinning
free and easy?

Ken

[R Bedell]

is there a wider variant of the mule drive idlers for 1/2 in belts that i didnt get when I replaced them?

A "Section A" belt is more heavier duty than a standard 1/2" Belt.

[ol'George]

Take the belt back to tsc and get your $$$ back, they stand behind their junk.
I tried a tsc blue kevlar belt once,
My m-18 had it for a snack
Now I only use Goodyear instapower belts and they last as good or better than OEM.

[Graflex45]

Yep, deck is in top shape now. I broke it all down removed the rust on the spindle housings and got 2 new bearing, was going to make another order of parts and just replace the third for good measure since the threads on the pulley side where a bit munged up, but everything is tight. Vibration isn't bad but i will take blades off and double check they are balanced.

[Graflex45]

Originally Posted by R Bedell

A "Section A" belt is more heavier duty than a standard 1/2" Belt.

the Napa belt I got was simply a "1/2 in" and the tsc belts are also 1/2 in belts. so those aren't "A" belts then? that's a different belt?

[ironman]

Originally Posted by Graflex45

the Napa belt I got was simply a "1/2 in" and the tsc belts are also 1/2 in belts. so those aren't "A" belts then? that's a different belt?

This may help (if you can make it out)...
https://www.regalrexnord.com/brands/...longer-labeled

[Graflex45]

Originally Posted by ironman

This may help (if you can make it out)...
https://www.regalrexnord.com/brands/...longer-labeled

It says 4L belts are 1/2 x 5/16 and A are 1/2 x 5/16
Typo? what's the difference between those?

[R Bedell]

In looking into this farther, the 44A Mower Decker came in two versions. It all came down to the diameter of the Center Pulley. With that in mind, what is the Center Pulley Diameter on the deck you have ??

[ironman]

Originally Posted by Graflex45

It says 4L belts are 1/2 x 5/16 and A are 1/2 x 5/16
Typo? what's the difference between those?

Googles answer....

"While A and B belts can be an excellent upgrade and substitute for 4L and 5L v-belts, the opposite is not true. 4L and 5L belts have lower horsepower ratings and design life compared to Classical A and B series v-belts. Using a 4L or 5L belt in an A or B application will result in reduced performance and belt life."