I'd like to start a 'round table' discussion with other professional repairers, regarding the problem with Fastcut 42 cutter belts. From what I've read elsewhere, this is a very common issue, with some customers reporting as little as 5 hours from a belt (fitted by dealer). Apparently, in an effort to overcome this problem, Greenfield changed belt supplier for this item.
I've had a good look at the deck geometry and have some serious concerns about the placement of the LHS horizontal idler and how it feeds the belt onto the inside edge of the vertical idler (over way too short a distance to allow the belt to twist properly). I know only an idiot would bend and twist a belt so many times in such a short space (and waste heaps of power), but "it's a greenfield".
I'm also concerned about the amount of rub marks present on the upper and lower belt retainers on the vertical idlers. As it's a permanently tensioned system, this would suggest that there is an awful lot of whip happening when those dodgy bar blades hit something a little tough.
Add to that, the stupidly small radius they're back bending a B section belt around (horizontal idlers) and you have what appears to be yet another 'back yard' solution.
No, I'm not a fan of Greenfield products, as I believe them to be very poorly designed and engineered, but my customer has paid through the nose for one, so it's my responsibility to fix it (as he refuses to ever go back to the selling dealer).
I have some thoughts on how to re-engineer this deck to overcome the deign flaws, but I'd be interested in hearing the views of other professionals on this matter, before offering my own solutions.
