Belt on Woods 59L on AC C tractor.

[mdm1]

I have a C with a 59L mower deck that I am having a hard time with the belt. The last belt would not stay twisted like it should. Got fed up and just ran it till it broke. Bought a new 226 x 5/8 Kevlat belt this year and put it on. Was good for just a short time and then started to not stay twisted like it should. But some times it would be OK after putting it back on. This weekend it did twist wrong again and I put it back on. Super tightened it and it actually came off. The belt is also starting to separate. See the pic. I have this same deck on a B and have had to problems at all. What am I missing? Looking for all and any suggestions. I have done a web search on this but need more info.

 

[4wdtom]

There are belts made especially for twists and turns. The Surplus Center has some. Possibly a good small engine or lawn and garden tractor supply.

 

[mdm1]

I will check that out. Thanks

 

[Dick L]

I have a C with a 59L mower deck that I am having a hard time with the belt. The last belt would not stay twisted like it should. Got fed up and just ran it till it broke. Bought a new 226 x 5/8 Kevlat belt this year and put it on. Was good for just a short time and then started to not stay twisted like it should. But some times it would be OK after putting it back on. This weekend it did twist wrong again and I put it back on. Super tightened it and it actually came off. The belt is also starting to separate. See the pic. I have this same deck on a B and have had to problems at all. What am I missing? Looking for all and any suggestions. I have done a web search on this but need more info. View attachment 156511

Being a long time combine belt replacer I was never concerned with the word (twist) when installing a belt on the woods 59 or the 59L. I first threadded the belt on the deck with the extra out the back. From the back I pulled on the belt to determining the part that when pulled turned the knives in the correct direction. I then threaded it as seen in my picture to where the drive pulley would turn the blades the correct direction with the belt running flat in the pulleys and used a long bar to make the belt into a banjo string.
The belt in the picture ran for 10 years on a woods 59 until I could no longer get on the tractor.

 

[mdm1]

Dick what did you use for a belt?

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Dick what did you use for a belt?

I used to run the 59 and 306 on a B and C. For reasons of comfort I now run a three point hitch finish mower on a modern tractor. There's no twist to the belt on this one. When the old belt gave out I was able to get a regular B belt locally/quickly. It ran for a year or two without issue. In the meanwhile I had found an OEM (Woods) belt on line and ordered it (at a big savings from dealer price) Good thing, because this year that standard Gates/NAPA belt started jumping off. It's got a spring loaded idler. I could find no reason, except that the warm belt felt like a piece of spaghetti! So I put the OEM one on. It has much more of a fiber cover than the other one. All of that to say the belt makes all the difference, ESPECIALLY in a twisted situation.
In 1972 my first job was working in AC(Simplicity) lawn tractors. The only belts that would stay on the twisted deck drive and hold up were OEM.
Good luck.

 

[mdm1]

I have this same deck on a B and am using the same belt. Have had no problems with it. All the spindles and pulleys seem to be in good condition. If I knew a OEM belt would solve the problem I would put one one but because of the cost I'm somewhat hesitant to ruin the belt. I'm wondering if something is not aligned with the belt and the pulleys to cause it to be this way. This is our main mowing tractor at the cabin as it's a narrow front and rally is nice to mow with.

 

[Dick L]

The belt in the picture is on the 59 which is a right turn blade and was a NAPA belt. I have two 59l's and those belts only last a couple years of hard use. Something about the right hand turnning blades are not hard on belts mounted on my C. I have used belts from Rural king and from Ebay also. I never found much difference in where they came from. I bought a steel belted industral belt once and it lasted longer but not in dollars and cents. (My take only)

 

[Dick L]

I used to run the 59 and 306 on a B and C. For reasons of comfort I now run a three point hitch finish mower on a modern tractor. There's no twist to the belt on this one. When the old belt gave out I was able to get a regular B belt locally/quickly. It ran for a year or two without issue. In the meanwhile I had found an OEM (Woods) belt on line and ordered it (at a big savings from dealer price) Good thing, because this year that standard Gates/NAPA belt started jumping off. It's got a spring loaded idler. I could find no reason, except that the warm belt felt like a piece of spaghetti! So I put the OEM one on. It has much more of a fiber cover than the other one. All of that to say the belt makes all the difference, ESPECIALLY in a twisted situation.
In 1972 my first job was working in AC(Simplicity) lawn tractors. The only belts that would stay on the twisted deck drive and hold up were OEM.
Good luck.

There is a twist in the belt in the picture, I just never worried about if it did or didn't If it runs straight on the side that is pulling on the blades and not on the return side I just don't care. Like I say, It is my opinion and is the way I do things or I shoud say the way I did things when I could (did) things.

 

[mdm1]

Thanks to all for your replies. I will keep all the info in mind. The tractor is 2 hrs away so it may be a little bit be fore I get back to it.

 

[twodogshouse]

The important thing is to have the belt feeding onto the drive pulley (s) in line with that pulley. It is not important if it leaves that pulley at an angle. You can check alignment by using a feeler gauge of some type or credit card between the pulley sides and the belt. The gauge should slip in the same distance on both sides. My memory is poor now but I believe that solves the problem most often. Also, the Woods belts were always better quality, and I assume they still are. I used to be the Woods Company Rep in the 1990's so I gave out that advice probably thousands of times. Good luck and God bless!