What's the best replacement drive belt?

[David_JH 23]

The drive belt on my '84 GT-1100 is about to snap. I'm looking for a new belt, and I was wondering what the best brand to buy would be. I think it's an 82 inch. There are a bunch of brands (such as Husqvarna, Huskee, Craftsman, and a bunch of obscure brands I've never heard of) that make 82 in belts, but idk which one would be the best. Any thoughts?

Here's a picture of the current belt. I don't want to drive it until I have a new one.

Thanks!

 

Edited June 2, 2021 by David_JH

[daveoman1966 3,752]

OEM belt # 7473.  OEM is ALWAYS the best, at a fair price.  Get your 7473 belt here for about $25.  Best price I've ever found for OEM belts...and they last forever.  https://www.psep1.biz/arinet.asp?aribrand=TO#

 

[Achto 27,603]

I have had good luck with the Huskee brand belts from Tractor Supply. I also have a Mitsuboshi belt from Ace Hardware that has not given me any issues.

[oldlineman 1,481]

That's what I have always used, Wheel Horse belts I have had great results with very little replacements. Others have had good results with other brands I guess what ever you like and have good access too. Bob 

[Pullstart 62,911]

Anything is the best, compared to that!  

[squonk 41,155]

Napa green belt . Huskee blue belt. Only belt that ever gave me trouble was an OEM belt. Just make sure you get the right width. Belts don't stretch but the sides wear down giving the appearance that the belt is somehow longer and since it's thinner. And since it's thinner, it's easy to get the wrong width belt. 

Edited June 2, 2021 by squonk

[Handy Don 12,235]

It may be the angle of the photo, but is that belt riding outside the belt guard? If so, it is likely rubbing up near the engine and that is a formula for premature belt failure.

[pfrederi 17,741]

 

Looks like it on the wrong side of the guide.

[Pullstart 62,911]

14 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

It may be the angle of the photo, but is that belt riding outside the belt guard? If so, it is likely rubbing up near the engine and that is a formula for premature belt failure.

Good eye!  From that side angle, we shouldn’t be able to even see the tear...

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

36 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

 

Looks like it on the wrong side of the guide.

 

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning....  NOT!

[clueless 3,005]

It really doesn't matter what belt you use if it riding in the same position as the one in the picture, won't last long. Now as far as who's belt to buy like many will tell there are many different brands, all of them are probably cheaper than a new OEM Wheel Horse belt, but you pay for what you get. Over the last 35+ years I've found the WH belts works like their suppose to and last forever, especially the drive belts. If the belt on it is original then it's lasted 37 years, why not spend a little more money and get another 37 years out of it. That's my  worth.

[David_JH 23]

45 minutes ago, clueless said:

It really doesn't matter what belt you use if it riding in the same position as the one in the picture, won't last long. Now as far as who's belt to buy like many will tell there are many different brands, all of them are probably cheaper than a new OEM Wheel Horse belt, but you pay for what you get. Over the last 35+ years I've found the WH belts works like their suppose to and last forever, especially the drive belts. If the belt on it is original then it's lasted 37 years, why not spend a little more money and get another 37 years out of it. That's my  worth.

I doubt it’s the original belt, I don’t think it would have left the factory if the belt was installed incorrectly. It must have been one of the previous owners. Thanks for the advice btw!

[David_JH 23]

2 hours ago, Handy Don said:

It may be the angle of the photo, but is that belt riding outside the belt guard? If so, it is likely rubbing up near the engine and that is a formula for premature belt failure.

Thanks for pointing that out! I’m pretty new to wheel horse tractors and I probably would’ve installed the new one the same as the old one. No wonder the belt is so shredded 🤣

[Lee1977 6,666]

When you pick up a tractor new to you, need to check everything. Here is what I found when I removed the belt guard on my 312-8.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

30 minutes ago, Lee1977 said:

my 312-8

 

Hi Lee, not to hijack, just a quick question...

 

When you disengage the idler does it move in the direction of the blue arrow enough to need the guide circled in yellow?

 

[Lee1977 6,666]

1 minute ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Hi Lee, not to hijack, just a quick question...

 

When you disengage the idler does it move in the direction of the blue arrow enough to need the guide circled in yellow?

 

Yes  some of the older 8 speed have a lot longer support to help disengage the belt. but it's built into the belt guard. That bent over piece on the top of the bracket stops the belt when the clutch is disengaged.

[tom2p 2,394]

the molded / wrapped OEM belts with Wheel Horse name and / or the number stamped in the belt are great ... I refer to these belts as true 'OEM' belts 

many of the made in Mexico OEM belts with the Wheel Horse name and / or part number printed in white on the belt are lower / inferior quality ... many of the aftermarket belts are better quality 

 

[D_Mac 8,621]

On my newly acquired 1075 the belt that was on it was all cracked and ready to break. It also banged around making a lot of noise under the cover. I replaced it with a blue Huskee from Tractor Supply. Tractor drove as it should, all the noise stopped. Well I thought I would get " a better" belt for it. So I ordered the correct BLACK belt for it. Put the more expensive original black belt on it and all the noise came back. Banging and squealing. Took that belt off and put the blue belt back on. Back to being quiet as a mouse again. I like how quiet the blue belt is but I do not like the blue dust it leaves behind. I rather deal with the dust the blue one leaves behind then the noise of the black one. Blow that pic up you can see the blue belt and the blue dust it leaves around the pulley.

[David_JH 23]

9 hours ago, D_Mac said:

On my newly acquired 1075 the belt that was on it was all cracked and ready to break. It also banged around making a lot of noise under the cover. I replaced it with a blue Huskee from Tractor Supply. Tractor drove as it should, all the noise stopped. Well I thought I would get " a better" belt for it. So I ordered the correct BLACK belt for it. Put the more expensive original black belt on it and all the noise came back. Banging and squealing. Took that belt off and put the blue belt back on. Back to being quiet as a mouse again. I like how quiet the blue belt is but I do not like the blue dust it leaves behind. I rather deal with the dust the blue one leaves behind then the noise of the black one. Blow that pic up you can see the blue belt and the blue dust it leaves around the pulley.

I think your the third person to recommend the blue huskee belt, so maybe that’s the one I should get. The blue dust shouldn’t be a problem, I can just take a shop towel and clean up around the pulley every once in a while.

Thanks for the advice!

Edited June 3, 2021 by David_JH

[David_JH 23]

13 hours ago, Lee1977 said:

When you pick up a tractor new to you, need to check everything. Here is what I found when I removed the belt guard on my 312-8.

Yeah I probably ought to make sure there isn’t anything else wrong with my tractor.

Edited June 3, 2021 by David_JH

[David_JH 23]

10 hours ago, tom2p said:

the molded / wrapped OEM belts with Wheel Horse name and / or the number stamped in the belt are great ... I refer to these belts as true 'OEM' belts 

many of the made in Mexico OEM belts with the Wheel Horse name and / or part number printed in white on the belt are lower / inferior quality ... many of the aftermarket belts are better quality 

 

Yeah when I was searching for a new belt, I couldn’t find anything that looked like an actual oem belt. I mostly found $10-15 belts on websites in never heard of, and I didn’t want to risk it.

[David_JH 23]

16 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning....  NOT!

I would catch a whiff of rubber every once in a while, but I every time I checked to see if anything was wrong, I didn’t see anything I thought looked suspicious, so I would just keep driving. And the smell would go away after a minute or so. But now I know exactly what the problem was, and I’ll make sure to install the next drive belt properly.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

7 minutes ago, David_JH said:

I would catch a whiff of rubber every once in a while, but I every time I checked to see if anything was wrong, I didn’t see anything I thought looked suspicious, so I would just keep driving. And the smell would go away after a minute or so. But now I know exactly what the problem was, and I’ll make sure to install the next drive belt properly.

 

I think it was two years ago now... I 'bumped' a cut tree stump with the mule drive whilst mowing and didn't realize it was a hard enough bump to actually bend the mule drive cover such that it was rubbing on the belt.  By the time I smelt the rubber burning a BRAND NEW belt was ruined!  I think it was like the second time using that belt.  Sometimes I'm such a dope.

[tom2p 2,394]

14 hours ago, David_JH said:

I think your the third person to recommend the blue huskee belt, so maybe that’s the one I should get. The blue dust shouldn’t be a problem, I can just take a shop towel and clean up around the pulley every once in a while.

Thanks for the advice!

the blue Huskee belt might be similar to the blue Stens True Blue belt (?) 

 

both might be manufactured by A&I Products (at one time made in  USA - but now in India ?) 

 

I have a Stens True Blue belt on one tractor (drive / PTO to mower deck) - has worked well and so far durable (after two years of use) ... shows little wear ...

 

replaced a lower quality made in Mexico 'OEM' belt that began to show significant wear almost immediately 

 

Edited June 4, 2021 by tom2p