37 inch mower deck - what’s the secret to putting on the belt??

[Lane Ranger 10,945]

Ok bought my first 37 inch Wheel Horse deck today for $70.  The new  Toro #111178 V belt cost half that.  141 inches long and 1/2 wide.   
 

So the routing diagram shows that you turn the belt 90 degrees on the mile drive in front of the tractor.   What is the secret to touting this bone belt for the whole mower deck??

 

I am going to install on my 314 just to see how this works.  I have generally heard they mow the lawn well.  

[Pullstart 62,783]

I’d say do it on a warm day, maybe even take the belt out of the package for a good amount of time to get the bends out of it?

[Ed Kennell 38,021]

I never had one Lane, but this is the way I would install.    I would take the guard off the mule drive.     Install the deck on the tractor and install the belt on the deck.  Then pull and twist the belt around the mule drive pulleys.  Then around the PTO.  Put the guard back on the Mule drive.

[Lane Ranger 10,945]

18 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

I never had one Lane, but this is the way I would install.    I would take the guard off the mule drive.     Install the deck on the tractor and install the belt on the deck.  Then pull and twist the belt around the mule drive pulleys.  Then around the PTO.  Put the guard back on the Mule drive.

 

I will try that looks like a plan! 

[Lane Ranger 10,945]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

I’d say do it on a warm day, maybe even take the belt out of the package for a good amount of time to get the bends out of it?

 Belt is suppose to have a double v 

 grrove - I think-on both sides. 

[Lane Ranger 10,945]

Funny thing happened when I bought the belt for it on eBay and it turned out to be sold by Josh Aungst who comes to the Big Wheel Horse show every year! 

[peter lena 8,580]

@Lane Ranger  sold  1 of those , last summer , in addition to belt , install / routing , most important thing is pulley rotation ease. typical spindle failure , incorrect bearing lube , any movement point , can / will fry a belt . also rarely cleaned out underside / structure rot / cracking . metal crack out . sold mine for parts . good luck with it , pete 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

@Lane Ranger Some of the 37 inch decks used a 6 sided belt. I think it was 6 sided , had a 37 inch deck and found out the price of the belt , gave the deck away.

Edited November 15, 2023 by elcamino/wheelhorse

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,295]

@Lane Ranger I think I also had a problem with the front tires hitting the deck . I had 8 inch rims and the deck would only work with 6 inch front rims.

[Rick3478 428]

54 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

@Lane Ranger Some of the 37 inch decks used a 6 sided belt. I think it was 6 sided , had a 37 inch deck and found out the price of the belt , gave the deck away.

Could have changed 3 idlers to flat and use standard V-belt, I did that to mine.  Still have a couple old 6-side belts hanging in the garage, don't know how they escaped the burn pile.  Wasn't one of WH's better ideas, they turn easy and you don't notice it so they tear up fast.

[Lane Ranger 10,945]

46 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

@Lane Ranger I think I also had a problem with the front tires hitting the deck . I had 8 inch rims and the deck would only work with 6 inch front rims.

now that is information I wish I knew before!   Ha. All my six inch wheels on toro models were changed to eight inch - just so I could face this dilemma! 

[Rick3478 428]

45 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

@Lane Ranger I think I also had a problem with the front tires hitting the deck . I had 8 inch rims and the deck would only work with 6 inch front rims.

 

Yeah you can't turn left.  I had thoughts about putting a swept-forward 520 axle on one of my 314's, thought maybe I would try to mount a 60" deck but would probably work with the 37" too.

[kpinnc 11,899]

13 hours ago, Lane Ranger said:

The new  Toro #111178 V belt cost half that.  141 inches long and 1/2 wide.

 

That belt should be a double V belt. These are typically sized as AA or BB belts to annotate the difference. 

 

Your mule drive must have two v pulleys to work with the deck belt as well. 

 

6 inch wheels work better than a swept axle. The 520 front axle is as wide as the deck itself (depending on the tires mounted), which can make cutting close to obstacles tricky. 

[dcrage 627]

Lane

 

The 1/2 twist is not hard to see when using a regular v-belt with the flat idlers and 1 flat pulley on the mule drive. Taking the mule drive cover off is a given. 
 

I have never had the older 37” SD which needs the 6 sided belt and my brain can’t do the spatial gymnastics needed to visualize the twisting required. 

[Rick3478 428]

16 minutes ago, dcrage said:

Lane

 

The 1/2 twist is not hard to see when using a regular v-belt with the flat idlers and 1 flat pulley on the mule drive. Taking the mule drive cover off is a given. 
 

I have never had the older 37” SD which needs the 6 sided belt and my brain can’t do the spatial gymnastics needed to visualize the twisting required. 

 

Twist is really no different from the standard V-belt, just has a backside "V" instead of flat.

 

[Brockport Bill 1,658]

i have owned a 312-8 and its 37 inch side discharge mower deck since bought new in 1989 - its a terrific mower -- never had a problem installing the belt - easiest if removing the mule guard cover -- also loosen mule knob all the way to gain maximum length of belt -- install belt on the deck pulleys first - then over mule pulleys - then onto pto - be sure to put on proper pto slot - then tighten mule knob - leave one inch deflection ( between mule and pto ) in  the belt for proper tightness. The most important install technique is the proper twist between the deck and the mule -- as well as between the mule and the pto. Enjoy!! Bill