Some people are breaking belts from the belt rubbing on the threads showing on the 2 rear adjustment rods. JD fix is to cut 1/2” off of the threads. Well with my X300 I only have 5/8” of threads showing after I adjusted the deck properly using the gauge in the middle of the deck height adjustment knob. Yes that is the tool you lay on the ground. There are 2 vertical weld marks on the rear to where you set the gauge and for the front adjustment it’s just the middle point. The gauge should slide under with barely any drag. You may need something to pry off the gauge if it’s never been off before. My deck wasn’t adjusted from the factory.
@bigkirke14 жыл бұрын
I previously had a mower repair shop for many years. My neighbor broke 4 belts and asked me to look at it. Nothing was obviously wrong, but the last belt he installed didn't break but was shredded along the top of the belt after 10 minutes of cutting. Sure enough, the idler pulley you are showing was catching the top of the belt where the belt goes forward to the PTO. It also made a loud bang when you engaged the blades. I put 2 washers directly under the shoulder bushing and the banging on blade engagement ceased, but the belt was still close to the top of the idler pulley. I put 4 thick washers raising the pulley at least a quarter of an inch. The belt looked fine after mowing about 3/4 acre. The design really sucks and I see many people online with the same complaint. Local John Deere was no help to the neighbor. As you stated, your fix don't sound like it would solve the problem, but I think you nailed it. You really have to look at that belt when the belt and deck are installed and run it to let it settle where it wants to track on the idler. Then look closely from the right side of the deck at your normal cutting height. It's not an easy catch, but the top edge of the idler was super shiny and the bottom edge dirty. Thanks for the tip.
@cdhamilton674 жыл бұрын
I broke 3 or 4 belts before finally looking closely at the belt tensioner bar that has the pulley mounted on top and the mount bolt through the center. It had just enough play to allow it to dip down and snap the belts shortly after startup. Replaced that and no problems since, just a reminder, take your time and look closely for play at each component because it does add up cumulatively to create enough to cause issues.
@Kokamo442 жыл бұрын
I've been thru this. The couple units I have in my shop do the same thing...break belts for no reason. All the holes for idler and tensioner pullies are not oblong. No slack in the tensioner arm. New pullies. New bearings. New tensioner spring. Both units broke brand new JD belts and the better Gates Blade Runner belts. I found that the OEM blades JD puts on these units are too heavy for the 1/2" belt used on it. Look at all the commercial units that have heavy blades like this X300 and they all have 5/8" belts. I decided to throw a 5/8" belt on it instead....I used a Gates 6767BR (5/8" x 147") and have had zero issues since. Thought I'd come on and leave a note for someone in the future. Hopefully they will see this.
@JLafix2 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I wonder if the blades can be changed to a lesser version.?
@JLafix2 жыл бұрын
I also think that whole belt routing and having the two rear pulleys set at an angle is the worst design and think that plays a role in breaking belts. I've worked on several kinds of decks including other JD models and they all have flat or perpendicular pulleys. That x300 is the only one I've come across that will break a new belt.
@keithhester26482 жыл бұрын
Just broke a belt on my x300, break one about once a season and tired of fighting this junk design. Going to try the heavier duty belt, thanks for the info.
@horacesawyer2487 Жыл бұрын
Kokamo44: thank you for your advice using 5/8 belt on JD. I have 42C 'convertible' deck on an LX277. Hoping you might be able to tell me what size belt it needs. I thought it would tell me that somewhere on the deck! Where is your shop?
@les53864 жыл бұрын
My mother in law has an older John Deere that keeps throwing and breaking belts. She's had friends of friends try to fix it. I think I'll bring it to my shop and take a look at the pulleys. Thanks for the info.
@knighthawk868553 жыл бұрын
Did it fix your problem?
@les53863 жыл бұрын
@@knighthawk86855 Actually, I got tied up with a head gasket issue with my wife's Buick so the tractor was put on hold. It will make a fun project in the shop this winter. Thanks for getting back to me.
@knighthawk868553 жыл бұрын
@@les5386 hey no problem, here to help buddy.
@walterropraz92795 жыл бұрын
thanks been breaking belts 3xs a year ready to buy a goat
3 жыл бұрын
Same - and I'm down in Australia and they're $120 a pop. I just got a generic brand I'll try.
@jonmobl504 жыл бұрын
Just went through this problem and the dealer (who was totally befuddled by this problem) replaced pto clutch and no more breaking belts!!! They had replaced pulleys and everything that could possibly be causing this breakage. My original belt was 8 years old (not broken) when I decided maybe it was time to replace and that is when the problem started!!
@mattador68914 жыл бұрын
Looking at the product manual, the area that you focused on is supposed to be lubricated regularly. I am curious if not routinely doing this maintenance procedure caused the oval shape to form under the spindle. I will have to check this out on my own deck. Thank you for the follow up!
@gregwickstrom48734 жыл бұрын
I have a John Deere x300, and have replaced 26 deck belts!
@gregwickstrom48734 жыл бұрын
@@billsmith1770 I cut both height adjustment bolts off about 1", and it seems to have solved the problem.
@horacesawyer2487 Жыл бұрын
Excellent video, thank you. Here it is 6-14-23 and tall grass and lack of time for maintenance is winning. I have 42C 'convertible' deck on an LX277. Can you tell me what size belt it needs. I thought it would tell me that somewhere on the deck! Where is your shop? Be happy to pay for the help.
@vanceheck91305 жыл бұрын
Have the same problem put a new belt on last week didn't even last mowing my yard and the leveling screw has the threads wore slick on the same side you fixed in the other video should I do the washer on the pulley to you think
@JLafix5 жыл бұрын
there are way more people that are not shredding the belt from the bolt hanger then there are just breaking it clean snapping for no reason. Which to me indicates those pulleys are misaligned and most likely from either a wowed out hole or something along those lines but in my experience it's been that idler pulley needs the attention with adding the washer deal. Take all your pulleys off except for the mower spindles and inspect closely I guess that would be my first thing to do if there was no evidence of a belt shredding
@seththechef23504 жыл бұрын
My dad got a x300 John Deere and we replaced the mower belt about almost every time we mow and it’s getting annoying. And I don’t know what the problem really is.. but I think it’s in this video is probably the problem. But I will definitely show my dad this video and see if that’s the problem because it’s breaking the Belts clean. So do you think that’s the problem @J La?
@JLafix4 жыл бұрын
Most likely. It fixed this machine in video
@knighthawk868553 жыл бұрын
Great job.
@davidtabler88342 жыл бұрын
Thanks had the same problem
@anonnomus60704 жыл бұрын
check the rear deck hanger bolt, on 1 side of the deck it is too close to the belt, and it rubs the belt, this may cause the belt failure
@3820jack4 жыл бұрын
I see that hole is oblong. I'm just wondering why that happens? The bolts job is to hold the idler pulley. The bolt shouldn't be turning just the outside of the idler! Do you have a theory on how the hole got oblong?
@JLafix4 жыл бұрын
No not really other than mowers create a lot of vibration and it's possible the bolts loosen up and just vibrate. But really this is the only duck that I've ever come across that has this breaking of a belt with no explanation. Sorry I couldn't help more
@reedfarrar25393 жыл бұрын
2 excellent videos - a few questions. Video 1 (hanger bolt rubbing) : Is there any other way to fix the hanger bolt issue without welding an extension? That may be beyond my level. Will it fit on the outside of the bracket instead of the inside? In video 2 (update) you simply disassembled the pulley and added washers. One above and one below? Would you try one fix first before the other?
@JLafix3 жыл бұрын
Unless you're shredding your belt the hanger extension is most likely not necessary. If your belt is breaking clean then I would say adding the washer on the bottom is most important because the bushing seems to wear down the deck and get the pulleys offset. You may need to add more than one washer underneath if your decks worn pretty good
@markoldendorf53935 жыл бұрын
When the blades hit something, the weakest point in the deck, is the belt. Keep the deck a little higher and miss those obstacles.
@dferret45965 жыл бұрын
Are you dense? If something is mechanically wrong it doesn't matter if a new belt is installed, it will break.
@marvinshaw48075 жыл бұрын
@@dferret4596 7
@crisprtalk69634 жыл бұрын
I'm sorry.. this is a different deck with a different problem?
@sarapetersen85005 жыл бұрын
Thank you.
@santini19534 жыл бұрын
Congratulations! You succeeded in confusing everyone.
@herkyhawk20038 ай бұрын
Not everyone....just you.
@mccullough87894 жыл бұрын
Mine is shredding the belts I'm on the fourth one this year ive mowed 3 times
@JLafix4 жыл бұрын
Well if it shredding it and not breaking it clean chances are it's rubbing on something
@JLafix4 жыл бұрын
I have 2 videos 1 for shredding the belts and one for breaking it clean I hope 1 of those help you
@7viewerlogic6704 жыл бұрын
Everyone is missing the obvious, a bad batch of Chinese belts.