yoderjac
Well-Known Member
Yesterday, I started mowing my sunn hemp and buckwheat so it could desiccate a bit before spraying and planting early next month. After about 1/2 hour the Kioti overheated. I found that the fan belt was worn and slipping badly. After the tractor cooled down, I tightened it up and I got an hour or so of mowing before it heated up again. I did notice that the RM990 had a few issues. It wasn't cutting as cleanly as normal and it bound up once or twice and I had to back up to let it clear. I just chalked it up the how thick the sunn hemp was.
I removed the old fan belt and took it to NAPA to get a new one. They could not cross reference the part number on the belt. I gave me a belt that was close and told me it might be "a touch longer". It turned out to be shorter. I estimated I was about 1/2" short of being able to get the new belt one. Another trip to NAPA. I swapped the belt for another that was an inch longer. This one works, but the alternator position is at max, so if it stretches, there will be issues. I figured it was good enough to finish the mowing.
Not so fast. I started up the tractor and when I turned on the PTO, the shaft was turning but I could not hear the blades whirling. I ended up opening the RM990. The nut that holds the pulley on to the idler arm was missing. I'm not sure where it went. I found the washer in the trays, but I could not find the nut. I measured it at 5/8, so I ran to lowes to get a nut. When I get back, I find the nut doesn't fit! It is the right size, but evidently the bold is not a common 5/8-11. The threading is coarser.
So, I through my hands up. I borrowed the neighbors tractor and bushhog and finally finished the mowing!
Tonight, I ordered the nut and bolt for Messicks as well as the actual Kioti OEM fanbelt.
Some days got well...and then there was today...
I removed the old fan belt and took it to NAPA to get a new one. They could not cross reference the part number on the belt. I gave me a belt that was close and told me it might be "a touch longer". It turned out to be shorter. I estimated I was about 1/2" short of being able to get the new belt one. Another trip to NAPA. I swapped the belt for another that was an inch longer. This one works, but the alternator position is at max, so if it stretches, there will be issues. I figured it was good enough to finish the mowing.
Not so fast. I started up the tractor and when I turned on the PTO, the shaft was turning but I could not hear the blades whirling. I ended up opening the RM990. The nut that holds the pulley on to the idler arm was missing. I'm not sure where it went. I found the washer in the trays, but I could not find the nut. I measured it at 5/8, so I ran to lowes to get a nut. When I get back, I find the nut doesn't fit! It is the right size, but evidently the bold is not a common 5/8-11. The threading is coarser.
So, I through my hands up. I borrowed the neighbors tractor and bushhog and finally finished the mowing!
Tonight, I ordered the nut and bolt for Messicks as well as the actual Kioti OEM fanbelt.
Some days got well...and then there was today...
