Single Stage Snow Thrower Pulley

I was out blowing snow the other day with my 520H and single stage snow thrower. All of sudden I heard a pop and the belt ended up on my lap. It had a nice clean break.

I broke out my Crapsman backup (Shudder) and finished the job. I got a new 69 inch B belt and tried to put it on. It will not fit over the jack shaft pulley. I tried to pull the pulley off, but no go. I looked closer and the set screws and key was MIA. I put a puller on the pulley and it would not budge. So I ordered a new cast iron pulley of the same size from McMaster. Today I wrenched on the old pulley and got it off. A little massage and the new pulley went on.

Anyone know why Wheel Horse designed a single stage thrower such that you need to remove a pulley to change a belt.

I think you can loosen the bolts on the bearing thats close to the pulley and slip it on. Or you might have to take it off. You don't have to take the pulley off of it.

I just roll the belt in. Its tight, but it will go.

Scott wrote: I just roll the belt in. Its tight, but it will go.

But the thing thats bad about that is it will leave a groove on the belt. Which will cause premature wear.

I thought about that, and I think that would work. But in my case, the key was gone and the pulley was spinning on the shaft. I had to fix it.

I tried to roll the belt on, but no go. It was really close. My new pulley is .050" under 5.50 in diameter. that might be enough to allow the belt to go on.

I get about 2 winter seasons on a belt and it will start to crack and have gaps starting. I have gone through 2 new belts so far with my tall shout blower in 5 years. Most people get less time then that one a blower belt. My local dealer told me that it is that close to the blower housing so it does not need a pin to retain the belt when the auger stalls if you hit something hard or go too fast. I remember that was a major issue i had on a sertin doe tractor i had with a blower. It would spit the belt every time. As for hurting the belt, it will take a lot more then that to damage it. That is how the dealer would install it as what they told me when i asked the same ? I also spray silicone spray on the blower when i install the belt.

Next time I will try to spin on the belt. I picked up an extra PIX 69 inch belt just to have a spare. Why do these belts always fail when it 15 degrees outside with a 20 knot wind.

They cant handle the cold. In Alaska cheep belts would shatter when it was -40 out. The rubber gets brittle when it gets cold out. I always have a spair blower belt!

I'm with you Scott, I try to keep spare blower and mower belt in stock. This time, I thought I had one, but I couldn't find it. Just a senior moment I guess.