How to Change a Drive Belt on a Lt1050 Cub Cadet

Cutting Deck Removal

• 1

  Drive the tractor onto a firm, level area. Set the PTO Blade Engage knob to the Disengage or Off position.

• 2

  Move the deck lift lever all the way forward to the bottom notch on the right fender to lower the deck. Set the parking brake.

• 3

  Reach under the tractor and roll the deck belt off the tractor's electric PTO clutch pulley.

• 4

  Move to the left side of the tractor and locate the U-shaped support pin on the side of the deck, just forward of the rear wheel.

• 5

  Pull the support pin outward, rotate it a half-turn clockwise and release it so that the head of the pin rests against the support bracket.

• 6

  Move to the right side of the tractor. Pull the support pin outward, rotate it a half-turn counterclockwise and release it.

• 7

  Move the lift arms out of the way by raising the deck lift lever on the right fender to the upper notch. Turn the engine off and remove the ignition key.

• 8

  Slide the cutting deck forward gently to free the deck pins from the deck stabilizer rod

• 9

  Move to the right side of the tractor and slide the deck out far enough to gain access to both sides of the deck.

42-inch Deck Belt Replacement

• 10

  Remove the self-tapping screws securing the right and left belt guards covering the outer spindle pulleys, using a nut driver. Lift the belt guards off of the deck and lay them aside.

• 11

  Unscrew the belt keeper rod on the outer face of the forward engine pulley with an open-ended wrench.

• 12

  Locate the square hole on the idler pulley bracket just inboard of the right spindle pulley, as viewed from the rear of the deck. Insert the 3/8-inch square lug of a ratchet wrench into the hole with the wrench handle facing backward and set the ratchet to "loosen".

• 13

  Grasp the handle of the ratchet wrench and pivot it toward the front of the tractor to release tension on the deck belt. This will move the idler pulley backward against the idler bracket spring.

• 14

  Maintain forward pressure on the ratchet wrench handle with your right hand and roll the belt off from the top of the spindle pulley with your left hand. Release tension on the ratchet wrench handle, once the pulley is free

• 15

  Remove the worn belt and thread the new belt around all pulleys inboard of the spindle pulley.

• 16

  Replace the ratchet wrench in the square hole on the idler pulley bracket. Apply forward pressure on the handle, loop the free end of the belt over the spindle pulley and release the ratchet wrench to tension the belt.

• 17

  Ensure that the belt is seated properly in all pulley grooves. Reattach the two belt guards and replace the belt keeper rod removed earlier.

• 18

  Mount the cutting deck back onto the tractor by reversing the steps described in the “Cutting Deck Removal” section.

46-inch Deck Belt Replacement

• 19

  Remove the right and left belt guards as described in Step 1 above.

• 20

  Locate the square hole on the idler bracket just inboard of the left-hand spindle pulley, as viewed from the rear of the deck. Insert the square lug of a 3/8-inch ratchet wrench into the hole with the wrench handle facing backward and set the ratchet wrench to the "loosen" position.

• 21

  Repeat the procedures outlined in Steps 5 through 9 in the “42-inch Deck Belt Removal” section.

50-inch Deck Belt Replacement

• 22

  Remove both the right and left-hand belt guards. Use a box wrench to loosen the bolt securing the pivoting idler pulley to the idler pulley bracket situated inboard of the right-hand spindle pulley. Do not remove the bolt. This will simplify deck belt removal and replacement.

• 23

  Locate the square hole on the idler pulley bracket just inboard of the right-hand spindle pulley, as viewed from the rear of the deck. Insert the 3/8-inch ratchet wrench lug into the hole with the wrench handle facing toward the right as far as possible.

• 24

  Pull the ratchet handle toward the back of the deck to relieve tension on the belt.

• 25

  Maintain backward pressure on the ratchet wrench handle with your right hand and roll the belt off from the top of the spindle pulley with your left hand. Once the pulley is free, release tension on the ratchet wrench handle.

• 26

  Remove the worn belt and thread the new belt around all pulleys inboard of the spindle pulley next to the idler pulley bracket.

• 27

  Replace the ratchet wrench in the square hole on the idler pulley bracket. Apply backward pressure on the handle, loop the free end of the belt over the spindle pulley and release the ratchet wrench to tension the belt.

• 28

  Tighten the bolt securing the pivoting idler pulley to the idler pulley bracket loosened earlier.

• 29

  Ensure that the belt is seated properly in all pulley grooves and reattach the two belt guards.

• 30

  Mount the cutting deck back onto the tractor by reversing the steps described in the “Cutting Deck Removal” section.