How to Replace the Cooling Fan on a Cub Cadet 1045

Open the hood of the LT1045 by tilting it forward over the front of the mower. Remove the mounting screws from the air intake housing cover, with a ratchet and socket. Remove the air intake cover from the engine, exposing the cooling fan assembly.

Insert a small pry bar between the fan blades, and rest the bar against the crankcase pulley below. Remove the center nut from the fan blade shaft, with a ratchet and socket. Remove the four fan blade mounting screws from the upper face of the blade, with the ratchet and socket. Lift the blade up and out of the engine, using the pry bar to assist, if necessary.

Coat the inner shaft hole of the new fan blade with lithium grease. Slide the fan blade onto the mounting shaft, aligning the four screw holes as close as possible. Insert a small screwdriver into one of the screw holes and turn the new blade to align the holes. Install all four mounting screws and tighten them between 18 to 20 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Install a new washer and then the center nut onto the fan shaft. Insert the small pry bar to lock the fan blade from spinning. Tighten the center nut to 45 foot-pounds with the torque wrench and a socket.

Install the air intake cover back onto the engine. Install the mounting bolts and tighten them snug with a ratchet and socket. Do not use torque on the cover, or you will crack or break the plastic.