Description of Replacing a Drive Belt on a 1045 Cub Cadet Lawn Mower

Lower the mowing deck as far downward as it will go, using the mower deck handle. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels of the tractor. Raise the front of the tractor using a floor jack on the frame. Place jack stands beneath the frame, just rearward from the front wheels. Lie beneath the front of the mower and position yourself beneath the bottom engine pulley. Remove the belt keeper rod from around the pulley, using a ratchet and socket to remove the screws.

Position yourself to one side of the mower and remove the belt guard mounting screws. Use a ratchet and socket to remove the hex screws from the cover. Remove the belt guard cover by hand. Repeat this step on the other side of the mower for complete access to the mower belt.

Place a 3/8-inch drive ratchet directly onto the brake lever tensioner bar. Depress the tensioner bar by rotating it counterclockwise. Remove the belt from the outer left deck pulley. Let go of the belt completely, then release the brake pedal lever slowly. Remove the deck belt from the bottom engine pulley.

Position yourself underneath the tractor at the left rear side. Locate the transmission bypass lever just in front the rear left wheel. Pull the lever to release the tension on the drive belt. Remove the drive belt from the idler pulley that is mounted into the bottom of the mower frame, just above and in front of the transmission. Let go of the belt completely, then release the transmission bypass handle slowly.

Move to the rear of the mower and remove the nut just above the hydro fan blade with an open-end wrench. Lock the fan blade in place by inserting a screwdriver between the blades and jamming the tip against the transmission housing if needed. Remove the three-pronged washer, then pull the fan blade of the rear drive pulley. Remove the belt from the rear drive pulley, then remove the belt from the mower completely.

Install the new drive belt onto the front engine pulley first, then hold tension on the belt as you move toward the right rear side of the tractor. Place the belt on the inside of the front idler pulley, then to the outside of the right hand idler pulley. Hold the belt in your right hand and position your body at the rear of the mower.

Reach above the transmission to grab the drive belt with your left hand. Loop the belt around the drive pulley on the transmission. Move to the left side of the mower. Position the drive belt onto the last idler pulley by pulling the transmission bypass lever to gain access to the pulley. Release the transmission bypass lever slowly once you have set the belt in place. Check the alignment of the belt on each pulley and make the proper adjustments to center the belt on each pulley.

Install the hydro cooling fan blade back on top of the transmission drive pulley. Install the three-pronged washer on top of the fan blade, then the nut. Tighten the nut snug with an open-end wrench, then turn the nut a half-turn more.

Install the deck belt around the right side outer deck pulley. Loop the belt forward and around the engine pulley. Move to the left side of the mower to finish the installation.

Route the belt from the engine pulley rearward, the inside of the idler pulley on the brake assembly lever. Pull the belt outward with your right hand. Depress the brake pedal lever with your ratchet and socket, turning the lever counterclockwise. Set the belt around the far left deck pulley. Let go of the belt completely, then release the brake lever slowly. Inspect the alignment of the belt on each pulley. Center the belt on the pulley by hand.

Install the belt guards back onto the mower deck and tighten the mounting screws snugly. Install the belt keeper rod around the engine pulley and tighten the screws snugly. Use your ratchet and socket to tighten all the screws.

Raise the mower deck to the normal mowing height. Raise the front of the mower off the jack stands. Remove the stands from beneath the mower. Lower the mower to the ground slowly.