Chosen Solution

Used a cheap belt from hardware store for light duty and it heated up and broke. Something tells me I have to use a belt designed for tractor. Right ?

runedruncrilly not necessarily. If your belt is not properly routed or if any of the pulleys are misaligned or the bearings are worn, your belt would do the things you described. Let us know the make and model of your tractor so we can possibly try to help you with this.