How to change cub cadet ltx 1050vt drive belt?

Answer 1

First you remove the mower deck, but of course you knew that. Make a list of some good curse words because you will probally need them for the rest. It best if you have a air or battery powered impact tool or you will have a very hard time removing the pulleys nuts. You should use a kevlar belt to replace the old one. They hold up better and last longer than the OEM belts. Before you jack up the tractor, reemove the battery and box . Remove the nut holding the fan and drive pully on. See if the pulleys will slip up , if not spray some WD40 on it. Be very careful if you try to use a gear puller. The pulley is flimsy and will bend. Do not try to heat it or it will melt the seal. Now either turn the tractor on it side or raise the front up with some kind of hoist. You Remove the belt guard on the front pulley/ electric clutch. If you notice the guard fits into the electric clutch slot to keep it from spinning.

Remove the 5/8 in bolt holding the clutch on. There will be three tabs around the drive belt pulley. You can try to bend them, but I had to cut them off with a air tool ziz wheel cutter. I don't think the new belt will come off with them missing. But you can alway reweld them on, or bolt on some make shift tabs if you are so inclined. Remove the old belt if its still on. Check the three idler pulleys and see if they still spin free and has a solid feel. If you feel the need to replace them, the two small ones is no problem. To remove the large one. Lock your brake pedal down, this relieves the tension on the bolt. You will have to drill or cut a 3/4 to 1 inch hole on top of the deck where the decal is to get to the nut securing the bolt. The nut will be 2 inches down from the plastic deck wall and 6 3/4 inches from the left side where the deck bend down. This should be where the left little man is on the mower on the decal. Now you can get a 5/8 in socket in there. If the pulleys are good then feed the new belt through the frame and onto the front and rear pulley. You will have to slide up the rear pulley to get the belt on because of some tabs. To put it back togather just reverse the process and use your unused curse words. Remember to put the belt guard back into the clutch slot.