Loose drive belt= No move

[RustyGold 88]

Just picked up a workhorse 700 , I noticed the belt slipping to the point where I can’t climb even a mild hill .  I replaced it with the correct 70” OEM belt & still the same problem . Do you think a new pulley tension spring would fix the problem or go with a shorter belt ? 

[953 nut 55,747]

    Input pulley on the transaxle looks a bit small.   Wonder if a previous owner changed it out to get more speed?

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,176]

Check both engine and trans pulley keys and make sure the engine is mounted correctly in its proper position.   
It’s hard to see in the pic…but if that’s a Tecumseh it should be on a mounting adapter between the engine and the frame for things to be spaced out correctly.

 

[RustyGold 88]

13 minutes ago, Terry M said:

Check both engine and trans pulley keys and make sure the engine is mounted correctly in its proper position.   
It’s hard to see in the pic…but if that’s a Tecumseh it should be on a mounting adapter between the engine and the frame for things to be spaced out correctly.

 

It’s  a tecumseh Model HM80. It’s Not the original tecumseh but it does appear to be mounted on the adapter plate in the correct position . 

Edited August 5, 2022 by RustyGold

[Wild Bill in VA 1,452]

Keep in mind the pull back spring .... does it have good tension or is it the correct spring? On some of the Wheel Horses that I would take to the tractor pull I used a hook type tool and turned the spring just a little bit tighter to keep good tension on the belt. Opps did I just admit to doing that at a tractor pull?  Here is a picture of the spring tool and this is commercially made but I can't remember by what tool company. It works great because it is thin enough to fit by transmission case.

Wild Bill in Richmond VA

[squonk 41,313]

Belt looks like it's setting pretty deep in that engine pulley. If that's a new belt, the pulley is either worn out or the wrong width pulley

[wallfish 17,078]

You can easily verify if the spring tension is the problem by hooking the pedal with your toe and pulling back on it to add tension when it starts slipping. If it stops slipping check the spring

If it's still slipping going up the hill while pulling on the pedal then it's probably something else.

Are you sure it's the belt that's slipping? Typically there would be evidence of black powder around the pulley that the belt is slipping on, engine or trans. Could it be a broken pulley key or rear hub key that"s the problem? If you put straight chalk mark lines across the pulley and shafts they will not be lined up straight after it slips if that's the problem.

If none of the above as everyone mentioned so far check the connecting roll pin on the lever on the other side where the pedal linkage and brake band linkage connects. The roll pin connects the lever to the shaft that controls the idler pulley for the belt

[peter lena 8,719]

@RustyGold  how is the related linkage / movement points for lubrication? would also check out that idler pulley , known for  binding failures , make the rust run out , pete 

[Ed Kennell 38,629]

11 hours ago, squonk said:

Belt looks like it's setting pretty deep in that engine pulley.

 

                        looks like a 1/2" belt on a 5/8" pulley.   Probably bottomed out.

[squonk 41,313]

Looks like a single shaft snowblower engine with snowblower engine pullies. 

[RustyGold 88]

5 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

 

                        looks like a 1/2" belt on a 5/8" pulley.   Probably bottomed out.

The belt appears to fit ok width wise in the pulley. I sourced the oem drive pulley , it’s p/n 1621, which matches mine . I checked all the pulley key ways & hub is fine . I checked the tension spring by pulling back on the pedal  w No improvement. The belt def has a good amount of slack . I’m betting that 1-2” less on the belt length is going to solve my issue. I’ll keep you posted 

Edited August 5, 2022 by RustyGold

[RustyGold 88]

So I used a 1 inch shorter belt. It now climbs hills with no issues. I’m guessing whomever installed that replacement motor, was slightly off from the original. Problem solved ! 

[Rick3478 429]

More likely the small pulley on the transaxle, maybe the same person.