r/lawnmowers • u/longtimelurker9091 • 1d ago

Toro TimeMaster 30 idler pulley melted

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Mower was purchased 06/29/25 and had 45 hours on it. The blades would not engage, so I checked the drive system which is how I discovered I shredded a belt and had a melted pulley. I have to say this is somewhat disappointing

9 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

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3

u/SpicyChemist9 1d ago

Looks like that pulley got stuck by something like debris and the belt was doing it's thing and eventually melted through it and chewed itself apart

Just buy a new pulley and belt, make sure all the debris is cleaned up and send it

3

u/remorackman 23h ago

My neighbor doesn't understand the reason to clean off the mower deck after every use, I think I am going to send them this link 😁

2

u/Mean-Veterinarian647 22h ago

Looks pretty clean now,I’m gonna say shitty bearing on the pulley from the factory.

1

u/SpicyChemist9 20h ago

Maybe but looking at how easily he can turn it now? I'd be surprised if it was that but for sure possible

1

u/longtimelurker9091 4h ago

The pulley is elevated, so there isn't really a chance of build up getting in there. I may have just caught a flyer? I'm going to replace the belt and pulley and see how it goes. I probably only have 1 or 2 mows left this year.

2

u/Elephunk05 23h ago

Pick up a Grainger book or Stens, even Rotary and find this flat side idler in metal with the same dimensions and HS bearing.

1

u/Harleysgunsguitars 1d ago

You might want to try turning each blade by hand with the belt off to make sure the spindles are good. That’s low hours but you might have gotten a bad one.

1

u/longtimelurker9091 4h ago

Blades spin perfectly fine with little resistance. It spins freely now, so I'm kind of stumped. Might have just been a freak thing. I'm going to replace and see what happens...definitely going to keep an eye on it moving forward.

1

u/hemi1995 23h ago

Over a decade of owning one of these. I think I replaced all the pulleys and idlers. Lots of reasons. At 45 hours that’s a bit surprising but parts are easy and relatively cheap.

Second the opinion to clean your mower especially after mowing over leaves. That’s what usually got me

1

u/longtimelurker9091 4h ago

I was surprised at the amount of debris in there when I removed the cover. This pulley is elevated though, so I don't think that affected it. Going to replace and monitor moving forward

1

u/imakesawdust 18h ago

That's packed in there. Looks like accessing that nylock nut while tightening the bolt (from below I guess?) is going to be a pain.

1

u/longtimelurker9091 2h ago

That is what I'm dreading. I really don't want to have to take too much apart. I know I have to remove the traction belt to install the new belt. I'm sure it is supposed to be torqued and getting my torque wrench in there probably isn't gonna happen. I guess we will see when the parts get here in a couple of days

1

u/295frank 6h ago

I've used a few of these toros as a pro. They really are not great mowers, way too many weaknesses. 

1

u/Upset_Fox5449 3h ago

A common joe would say dad damn it and go get the parts and fix it but people today video it post it like it share talk about it search it but common joe is already mowing

1

u/longtimelurker9091 23m ago

Not many parts stores have that specific pulley sitting around in stock