LT 40 drive belt replacement

[Dan_Shade]

I got to use one of my spare parts last night/this morning.  I was doing some maintenance on the mill, and noticed that my drive belt was "splitting" into two, which is what Marty Parsons once told me is a sign of a failure coming.  At any rate, it wasn't a big deal as I had a spare one.

Is there a trick to getting the old belt out, and the new one one?  I had to remove the brake band, and was finally able to fight the old belt out and the new belt in. 

My new belt is much more quiet than the old one too, the old one had been screeching for years  :-)

[Bibbyman]

A couple of years back I posted about main belt change, how I did it and a mod I made that made it easier.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,19439.msg676798.html#msg676798

Might give it a look see.

One more tip... Keep a watch on the belt tension,  it'll likey need a little more after some use.

[Chuck White]

Dan;
I just changed my drive belt and remembered that the last time I changed it, I just removed the cotter pin and pushed out the pin on the end of the brake band!

You need to adjust the linkage on your clutch lever after changing the drive belt.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

A couple of years back I posted about main belt change, how I did it and a mod I made that made it easier.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,19439.msg676798.html#msg676798

Might give it a look see.

One more tip... Keep a watch on the belt tension,  it'll likey need a little more after some use.

I'm glad I came across your reply Bibby. I have saved your advice and put it on file. I have not yet changed my belt. I only have 411 hours on my LT40, but I know my days coming and I can now review what you said when the time comes.
But just in case, do you make house calls?  :D Thanks!

[Dan_Shade]

my mill has about 650 hours.  this is the first drive belt replacement. 

[Magicman]

Dan, it must not have had enough tension on it to wear out that soon.  I would have to go back in my records to find out how many thousands of hours are on my latest drive belt.

[Dan_Shade]

i think i had too much slack in the brake

[Bibbyman]

You need to adjust the linkage on your clutch lever after changing the drive belt.

Our mill has a 25hp 3ph electric motor and also AutoClutch.  I don't adjust the clutch linkage.  Instead,  I loosen the bolts on the motor mount and scoot the motor over.  Put on the new belt and then adjust motor back until I get the proper tension. 

WM mills with an electric motor is a little more sensitive to belt adjustment than one with an engine because the motor runs at full RPM all the time vs. and engine that idles down when the clutch is thrown. So once the AutoClutch and break band are in the right relationship,  I don't want to mess with it.

[terrifictimbersllc]

My 2001 LT-40 drive belt was separated at 240 hours and I ran it fine until I changed it at 600 hours when the tension adjustment was about at its limit.   There is about 600 hours on the new belt now and it is not separated.  I also had to adjust the newer belt much less. Pretty sure WM told me the newer belt has steel, or more steel, in it than the older belt.

Anyway I remember the belt change was quite a pain.  And I also remember that the motor "fell" a couple inches I believe when I removed the brake strap tension.  This was something that could have easily done me harm if my hand would have been in the wrong place.

p.s. My memory has been adjusted.  Must have been told Kevlar not steel.

[MartyParsons]

Hello the new belt has Kevlar fibers in it. Depending on the model of mill there are a few tricks. One is removing the the fill plug for the up down gear box.
The brake adjustment is important. If the brake adjustment comes on too soon the belt will smoke when the engine is at idle. If the break comes on too late the band will not stop or the belt will keep coming off the pulley.
Hope this helps.
Marty

[Dan_Shade]

Is there a trick to this, or is a trail and error thing?

[MartyParsons]

Hello,
I read the owners manual just now. Everyone should also. It has the information there. I always carry a black marker with me and mark the brake adjustment before I adjust. Then I know if I went the worng way or how much I adjusted the brake. Make small adjustments and recheck. Like Bibbyman said the electric mills are very sensitive you must get them right. The motor never slows down and creates heat when the belt rubs on the motor pulley.
Hope this helps.
Marty