Drive belts: Who makes the best belts......

[odie]

for riding lawn mowers? Thanks

 

[chubbs1]

Look up the OEM part. I have had good luck with OEM parts on my Mower. If it is really old call one of the online companies like Jack's Small Engines and just ask. They have some very knowledgeable people working for them.

Hope this helps!

Matt

 

[odie]

Thanks The upper belt is wearing already. This mower was bought last May. This is a Bolens 13.5 hp. Mow about 2 1/2 acres every week.

 

[EricF]

Gates

 

[justinf89]

Originally Posted By: EricF
Gates


+1

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: EricF
Gates


True but they build different grades.

 

[dparm]

I've never had any problems with OEM belts.

 

[dwcopple]

I've used Huskee and PIX with no problems

 

[Errtt]

About a half year ago I went to get new OEM belts for one of my Toyota's. They were out of one of them, but they did have a full set of Banjo belts. He said they have customer satisfaction with them. When he pulled the catalogs up on the counter, Banjo belts were made for all sorts of equipment.
The belts seem well built, time will tell.
Wonder if anyone else is using Banjo belts for vehicles and/or other equipment.
Peeking in the catalog, I saw belts from small to rather very large special industrial application. Belts in different colors too. Sure glad I didn't have to settle on the pink ones.

 

[RF Overlord]

I used to think Gates was the best, but a few years ago I switched to Dayco. They also make pulleys, idlers, tensioners, etc.

 

[Slick17601]

Mower belts are one item of which I will only purchase OEM. I worked in a busy lawn mower shop in my younger years and we had nothing but trouble with aftermarket belts. Put on a genuine Wheel Horse belt and you were good for years.

 

[odie]

Bought the O.E.M. belts from MTD . Not cheap . Almost $60 for both the drive belt and the deck belt . Thanks for the input .

 

[deeter16317]

I just bought OE belts for my Grasshopper online, cost me about $125...I think they were original at 650 hours. The deck belts were at least a full 1/8 inch narrower (read: worn) than the new belts. Probably the reason they were slipping under load.

What makes buying aftermarket belts difficult is that you typically have a used (read: possibly stretched) belt to compare too since most places don't cross reference mowers/lawn equipment. I have had real good success with the Kevlar belts sold by Stens, but you need to either have the application or buy one that's close in length.