Nick Hull wrote:
My Dixon ZTR lawnmower has the main traction v-belt failing and needs
replacing. Looks like a real dog of a job, I obviously have to remove 3
other v-belts and a countershaft, plus other stuff I don't know about
yet. Looks like they dropped the belt on the assembly line and built
the lawnmower around it. Seems like a good place to use a segmented
belt, BUT there is an idler pully that bears on the outside of the belt.
Will this cause any trouble?

I wouldn't use a segmented belt if an idler pulley bears on the back of
it. I think the uneveness could cause problems. You might just get away
with it if the idler pulley is of a large diameter, but I still think
that it isn't a great idea.

At least the belt only goes one way, and the belt stops and tension is
removed when the brake is set, but the belt does twist from horizontal
to vertical pulleys.

That sounds like a really complicated drive. Do you have any pictures?
It might be that there is a straightforward (but not obvious) way of
replacing the belt. But then again it might be every bit as hard as it
looks!

Chris