Hard Clutch Engagement Problem

Ok... I checked last night and the belt I got on ebay was sold as a 1/2", but it is actually a 5/8" It actually appears to be decent quality and isn't just one of those cheap "rubber" ones. I am thinking that a combination of additional pulley surface area combined with the larger 5/8" belt just has too much grip. Unfortunately, I don't have a tractor supply near me so I'm kind of stuck with ordering online or going to a big box store. I'm not sure what to do because if I order one online I risk getting the wrong belt again, but they don't sell the belts by length at a big box store. I wonder if an auto parts store would have belts sold by length other than those rubber ones... I'll check around.

W546 wrote:

Ok... I checked last night and the belt I got on ebay was sold as a 1/2", but it is actually a 5/8" It actually appears to be decent quality and isn't just one of those cheap "rubber" ones. I am thinking that a combination of additional pulley surface area combined with the larger 5/8" belt just has too much grip. Unfortunately, I don't have a tractor supply near me so I'm kind of stuck with ordering online or going to a big box store. I'm not sure what to do because if I order one online I risk getting the wrong belt again, but they don't sell the belts by length at a big box store. I wonder if an auto parts store would have belts sold by length other than those rubber ones... I'll check around.

Yea, I really think the 5/8" is your problem then. I've got a 5/8" before and it just didnt act the same (for the worse) try amazon. I'm quite surprised you got the wrong belt. I wouldn't really think it would happen again.

Edit: I remember that 5/8 belts are longer then 1/2". Like, a 78" belt can actually be 81", or something. It's like a 2"-3" difference between them because the 5/8" belt seats farther out in the pulleys, making it longer.

i know Northern tool sells blue kevlar belts, Pix brand too. very cheaply priced as well. auto parts stores should have lawn and garden belts as well

Ok... so I got it all sorted out and it's running like it should now. I bought a 1/2" belt, but it was about 2" too long due to it being 1/2" and not 5/8". (I didn't see the post about the differences in lengths until after I placed my order online) So I order another 1/2" belt (2" shorter this time) and put it on. Viola! Now the mower runs like a dream. No more mandatory wheelies and I'm sleeping better at night now that my neck isn't being jerked back every time I try to start off.

I was concerned that I would get excessive belt slippage when pulling hard, but the belt doesn't seem to slip at all once fully engaged. At one point this weekend I even loaded up a small utility trailer three deep with 16" blocks to move them up a pretty steep hill and it didn't miss a beat. (I'm absolutely amazed at the pulling power of these mowers even when pulley swapped!)  Thanks for all the tips and ideas guys. Hopefully someone down the road will read this and avoid some of my headaches...