X530 frt weight bracket

Event if you take off the weight bracket the blower lift capacity is limited by the mount stopper.

I guess you could try the X3xx/X500 front bumper (a few of us X500 owners have a spare bumper because we upgraded to the heavier front bracket) and possibly shaving some material off of the mounting bracket circled in red on the left above... Of course that might weaken the bracket a bit and need for a slight reinforcement on the back side???

The most important thing to consider it's the snowblower pulley angle, in the picture below you can see in blue the angle of the big pulley, too much angle and the belt will get off.

Yes, pulley alignment (akin to fleet angle) is critical on this arrangement. In fact, when my blower was delivered, I had a heckuva time keeping the belt on. Fortunately, there was a bit of adjustment available in the elevation of the driven pulley (two setscrews on the underside of the pulley) to allow raising the driven pulley and remedy that problem. Throwing the belt must be a rather common complaint because JD issued a bulletin regarding this issue. Raising the blower to a higher elevation, and thus raising the driven pulley, would only contribute to this potential problem.

semiretsdj said:

Yes, pulley alignment (akin to fleet angle) is critical on this arrangement. In fact, when my blower was delivered, I had a heckuva time keeping the belt on. Fortunately, there was a bit of adjustment available in the elevation of the driven pulley (two setscrews on the underside of the pulley) to allow raising the driven pulley and remedy that problem. Throwing the belt must be a rather common complaint because JD issued a bulletin regarding this issue. Raising the blower to a higher elevation, and thus raising the driven pulley, would only contribute to this potential problem.

Click to expand...

That is good to know, I learned something new today (pulley has adjustment). The first time I engage the PTO on my new X540 the belt came off the 47" blower. Not a good first impression. I adjusted the lift height a little and found it would still do it if I engage the PTO when the blower was raised. Since then, I make sure the blower is down when engaging and have not had a single problem since. I'll keep that adjustment in mind if things change. Im surprised JD does not send out a letters to pertaining customers to advise them of the bulletin, issue, and remedy. I know it is probably a way to save for them but it would be nice to know without having to talk with a dealer to find out.

When I did the maintenance on my snowblower last fall I discover that the idler pulley angle as to be perfect otherwise the belt will jump off when the snowblower is raise.

The pulley on the left should be slightly bent inwards to keep the belt on the large pulley and must run in the middle, otherwise the belt will frayed.

It cost me two belt to learn that. :banghead3

Here are a couple of pics of the weight bracket that I added to my old X500. This should be the same bracket the OP has put on his X530. As you can see in the pics the new weight bracket comes out and down. It hangs down a good couple inches lower than the stock front guard that the X500/X530 come with. I think this is why the OP can't get the lift he wants.

8086bruce said:

Here are a couple of pics of the weight bracket that I added to my old X500. This should be the same bracket the OP has put on his X530. As you can see in the pics the new weight bracket comes out and down. It hangs down a good couple inches lower than the stock front guard that the X500/X530 come with. I think this is why the OP can't get the lift he wants.

Click to expand...

Bingo 8086bruce, you have it exactly :thThumbsU