How to Tighten the 60 Deck Belt for a Zero-Turn Cub Cadet

The Club Cadet Zero turn riding mower uses a 60-inch drive belt to power the mower deck. The drive belt, made of Kevlar should last many years before you need to replace it. Fortunately, Cub Cadet installed a built in system to maintain the proper tension adjustment on the belt. The system, referred to as the idler pulley, secures to a spring-loaded mounting bracket. When the belt stretches, the spring pulls the pulley tighter against the belt. Unfortunately, the spring only allows so much travel until it's rendered ineffective. The only way to adjust the belt on your mower is to replace it with a new one.

3/8-inch ratchet
Replacement drive belt

Instructions

- 1
  Park the Cub Cadet on level ground, place the mower deck in "neutral" and set the parking brake. Turn the mower off and remove the ignition key.
- 2
  Locate the idler pulley in the center of the mower deck and place a 3/8-inch ratchet into the square hole on the idler pulley bracket.
- 3
  Rotate the idler pulley away from the belt and then pull the belt off the pulley. Release the idler pulley by slowly letting go of the ratchet handle.
- 4
  Remove the old belt from the pulleys on the deck and then place the new belt onto all of the pulleys except for the idler pulley.
- 5
  Rotate the idler pulley again and then place the belt over the pulley. Release the idler pulley to put pressure on the belt and then remove the 3/8-inch ratchet.

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