GWGAllisfan Posted April 14, 2006 Posted April 14, 2006 Does anyone know who manufactured the drive belts for Simplicity? Gates, dayco or whom? I know they are still available, but I just wondered if there was a local equal I could record for those emergency situations.
Kent Posted April 14, 2006 Posted April 14, 2006 Even if we knew who made them, that doesn't necessarily mean they'd be equivalent belts, since the OEM ones are made to Simplicity's specifications.... MTD makes lawn and garden tractors at several different price points and levels of quality, for example...
GWGAllisfan Posted April 14, 2006 Author Posted April 14, 2006 I do understand that the Simplicity belts are better, it's just that in this part of the country, stocking Simplicity dealers in easy reach are rare. Gates, Dayco and Goodyear all had equals listed on-line. I just wanted to get as close as possible to the factory spec, for those Saturdays when the belt breaks halfway through the lawn. I have used a NAPA (Gates) for the main drive on my B-10 for many years, of course I recognize my mowing use isn't as strenous as the plowing and blading, where frequent direction changes occur, but it's been fine. I have had bad experiences on the PTO drive with cheap belts, though. Again I mean absolutely no disrespect at all.
Roy Posted April 14, 2006 Posted April 14, 2006 Randy, I've had good luck with the green Gates Power Rated belts over the years. They are designed for outdoor power equipment. My local Simplicity dealer sells the blue belts from Stens which seem to work good also. Just my experience.
MrSteele Posted April 14, 2006 Posted April 14, 2006 I have tried several belts on the PTO/Mower deck pulleys. So far, Simplicity belts hold together longer, or at least til one of them snaps on startup. I have used the green belts as are available at Lowe's and such in a pinch, on the Simplicity and the Dixon. No comparison! The Dixon spec belt lasts several years, I have yet to get a year out of a green one. But, in a pinch...
RalphABlack Posted April 15, 2006 Posted April 15, 2006 For what it's worth....I have used Stens belts on my 48"mower decks on both my 6218's. I mowe my church lawn every week and it takes me and my son 6 hours to do that. Then an hour for my lawn and haven't replaced a belt in 3yrs!! Stens are about $10's less than Simplicity belts run. Just my thought on this.......Ralph
jlasater Posted April 15, 2006 Posted April 15, 2006 I think a big part of good belts is having a thick backer on them where the idler pulleys run. Most of the ones from NAPA aren't build to have anything rub on the back. Simplicity belts have a nice crowned backer on them.
UCD Posted April 16, 2006 Posted April 16, 2006 [url]http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22257[/url]
RayS Posted April 16, 2006 Posted April 16, 2006 The only aftermarket belt that I have ever had problems with on a Simplicity is for the snowblowers on the old B series tractors. I now have a new blower for the 917H and would never have a blower for the B series because of the belts. I use aftermarket belts on every other attachment and never had any problems. It doesn`t snow much in Georgia.
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