The deck belt snapped on the lawnmower the other day. I called around and they are 50-75 clams. I looked online and found them for 20-25, so I ordered 2. They are at least an inch and a half too short and stink like cheap china rubber. I dug around and finally found some real reviews and they are all 1 star and complain about the wrong length and the belt coming apart in minutes. Guess I just have to “pay the man, the middle man, and all the men in between, along with the corporation….
Yep, it's usually better to buy the OEM made in China parts than it is to buy the cheaper generic made in China parts.
Corporation: How much to make this part for us ? Chinaman: 5 dollar Corporation: How much to make this part for us to the standard our consumer is used to ? Chinaman: 55 dollar
Yup, I've learnt my lesson on belts long ago...pay the man for a good one, and forget about it. That's not to say you can't find a little better deal on a name brand belt on eBay though. (NOS, and things like that) The green reinforced power drive belts at RKO aren't bad either...
Always, always check the reviews when ordering online. Not the good -5 star reviews, the 1 and 2 star reviews are a lot more revealing.
Why do that when you can buy them twice and end up costing yourself more in the long run? Stop making sense...
Curios if the actual pitch measurement is wrong or their 'cross reference' is. BX2380 has an appetite for deck belts. When the last OEM let go I decided to measure it out and try an 'economical' version available to me via my workplace. Outside pitch ended up about 1/2 longer than OEM. Tensioner takes care of that little bit. My cost on non OEM is 22 bucks. My cost for OEM is $128 (online Coleman Equipment my go to for parts). The non OEM appears to be decently constructed (i know a thing or two because i've looked at a few thousand or two prior). If the replacement lasts the summer I won't be purchasing OEM for it anymore. All that said, my other mower still has the same belt (different beast all together) as when I bought it, and it was not new at that time. I blame the less than idea deck design on the 2380. The belt runs all the way across the back of the deck in a straight line with nothing to guide. It's always vibrating/slapping around, OEM or aftermarket belt. No such nonsense on the commercial deck. Belt makes contact on both sides at these little towers that attach to the leveling arms. Poor design, but I do have strong opinions on stamped vs welded decks.
I have some gates belts in sets of 4 on 2 lathes that are around 40 years old and still good. I replaced a 30 year old set of 3, 3vx belts on a saw last year and they are already showing cracks.
I agree, even the "good stuff" now is not the same as old belts...tires are the same way...they dry rot so fast now...
Don’t know where JD sources belts for their mower decks but their OEM belts way, way outlast AM and won’t use anything else again..
If you have a belt that is a bugger to replace, that is even more incentive to pay up for a good belt
Yup! I think these Jr automotive engineers are in a race to the bottom...let's see who can design the dumbest thing!! It still pizzes me off what Ford did with the Duratec V6...took what may have been one of the easiest to change water pumps in a modern car, and put it internal with the timing chain! Dumb dumb dumb and dumber!
Years ago I was in a Chrysler class in Auburn Hills. The instructor said he had a class of engineers the week prior. Said they do a couple weeks hands on training before actually designing for Chrysler. Anyway he said there was a guy in the class that acquired the nickname "Gramps". Wanna take a guess how old he was? A wapping twenty five.
A couple weeks?! Those guys need to do a couple years in the dealership shops before being allowed to design the first knob or hood ornament!!
I agree 100%. He said most were days outta college. Absolutely no real world experience. I remember him telling a story about them doing the transmission class and doing internal tear down of a rwd trans. He said he warned them how sharp stuff is in there and to be very careful. Can't remember the exact details but someone went to the ER to get stitches.
