Deck Will Not Engage Craftsman LT1000

[@mariannefaber4151]

Great instructions. Would never have figured it out without your video. I’m an advanced shade tree mechanic but really needed your insight to get this job done. What a generous service you have provided.

[@R2D2743]

Great instructional video. Is there any other areas of concern? Like replacing a broken cable? Thanks

[@judypearson5627]

Thank you! Got my 1st rider and it's an LT1000. Appears I will need this info sooner or later. Certainly appreciate you being straight up, easy to follow , and thorough. I'm 69 and looking forward to a long relationship w my LT!

[@eddie9027]

I have 25 years on my LT 1000, now I need some anti-seize, lol

[@dalelstrand]

One of the best and most comprehensive how to's - Many Thanks for your great instruction ability!

[@KimMiller-v8x]

You are the greatest KZbin explainer that I’ve come across my lawnmowers exactly like that but my blade to cut was not engaging and I cleaned it all out and I found that spring broke and you how to fix it on a 60 year old woman and I fixed my mower and mowed my grass thank you thank you thank you🎉😊😊

[@jeremyspencer1266]

Thanks for showing me where the spring that engages my mower blades (attached to the lever) is supposed to sit! I somehow knocked it loose when I was changing my belt and couldn’t figure out where it needed to be hooked back onto… Thanks to your video, I was able to get it back up and running.

[@IfYouGiveUpYouLose]

Excellent video! I also appreciate your numerous time and labor-saving tips. I came across this because when reassembling the pivoting clutch pulley set-up I couldn't convince myself I hadn't left something out, put it together wrong, or lost a part, but you addressed that specifically. I still can't believe Craftsman designed it so the nut is tightened then "backed off to whatever" so the pulleys will swing, but obviously they did. I'm going to put Loctite on those threads or put a second nut to set the first one if I have enough room after I get the first nut "set." Just seems that over time that nut will back off or tighten up enough to cause problems. Thanks again for a ton of usable info!

[@donsgotmoney]

I have yet to see anyone explain this procedure better than you. I just picked up a LT2000 that someone had did some backwards application work on. I couldnt see any diagram in the manuals good enough to figure out what they did wrong, your video certainly showed the info I needed. You just picked up a subscriber. I use a MoJack to raise up my riders most of the time. I have a older hand chain winch that i can use, but the mojack does a really good job.

[@arghoknot]

I just loosened up the 9/16 nut without removing the carage bolt. Then I just placed a screwdriver between the bracket and the deck then cleaned and greased it, and did the same for the washers as well. It now engages without any effort. Thanks for the video. Yes, that is was some serious toe-out on those front tires!

[@Jaco3688]

The BEST “how to” Craftsman Deck instruction video on KZbin. I had no idea where/how the front tensioner spring attached - or if I had hooked up the engagement cable correctly until I saw your video. This was excellent. (Wish I would have have found it before I started cussing under my break in front of the kids …. 🤷‍♂️)

[@sydecarnutz972]

Dude. Thank you so much for this! I have the same tractor and last year the belt tensioner started getting sticky. Took a while to get the blades spinning and then only halfway disengaged when you disengaged. Last week it stopped fully engaging completely. I dropped the deck late today and this was the same issue! That spring you had rust away. Same on mine. I changed it out for a better one this past Fall when I rebuilt the rest of the deck. My deck had no where near the same rust issue yours had, but that dry pivot did suffer over the years! I used blue marine grade spline grease on the pivot surfaces. That stuff is sea waterproof! Probably never have to do that again while I own it. I'll put it back under the old LT tomorrow. Thanks for the info and inspiration! Subscribed!!

[@rickmcgill2823]

I know this is an old video but I wanted to thank you for it. My blades wouldn't engage and your video gave me the courage to try and tackle it myself. Otherwise it'd be a100+ mile trip to any kind of shop. Everything was right where you said it was and worked just the way you said it would. I could get the engage lever into the notch but it felt really hard and the blades wouldn't turn. The trouble with mine was a piece of gravel about 3/4" in size, stuck up between the left brake arm and (I think) the idler arm. I had to get the whole thing off to see it stuck in there and when I put it all back together-- BOOM! Works like a charm. So THANK YOU! :) :)

[@aj44ish]

Excellent video brother. Just got a free LT 1000 with a 15.5 Briggs. Replacing the cam cause of the decompression pin. While I’m waiting on parts I wanted to drop the deck clean, paint and lube. Your video is clear concise and easy to follow. Should be able to knock this off in no time. Thanks for putting it out there. 👍👍

[@garyp9906]

Thank you for an awesome video! After watching your video, I realized I was missing that spring that you made. No wonder my blades wouldn't disengage. My mower is 20 years old and during the course of owning it, I have removed the deck at least a half dozen times for various reasons like changing belts or cleaning. I never noticed that spring. I'm wondering how the blades could have disengaged without it, but they have. Again, thanks for posting!

[@Rg452]

Great video!! You have shown me exactly what is wrong with my mower. I got a Craftsman LTX 1000 with that same deck. Cut and dry, great explanation. Thank you!!!

[@MikeinVirginia1]

I thought I was going to have to do this earlier this week. Luckily, I was able to get mine working with some lubricant. I see this is quite involved with lots of "gotchas." In fact, the mower had been sitting for 2 years when I just got it! Really valuable info for me! 😊

[@Testing123-g1l]

Thanks for the excellent video. I've never had the blade engage problem yet on my 22 year old LT1000 but now I know how to fix it when it happens. I just today though replaced spindles ( mandrels?), big pulleys on top of the spindles, blades and deck belt. I don't have impact wrench and could not get the big bolts off on top of the spindles in order to remove the pulleys. Since I had new pulleys I used a "demolition and rescue" blade and sawed the two spindles in half in order to remove them. By the way, when I reinstalled the deck I made the same mistake as you. I had the deck halfway installed and found that my anti sway bar was swung over to the wrong side of the deck. I took the sway bar bolt out and repositioned it like you did.

[@randydudeck2451]

This is a 'GREAT' video. I bought 2 Craftsman LT 1000 Riding tractors. I am taking the good parts off of one to 'rebuild' the other (remaking one) for use. The clutch cables were disconnected from both decks. And so, I put the 'good one' on the deck, attached the front connection but "For the Life of me" I couldn't figure-out where the 'end' of the cable W/spring goes to. I looked all over for shiny (scuff ) marks to maybe see where the spring loop mounted! Now, I don't claim to be 'Mr. Goodwrench'. But I have done all types of repairs on all sorts of things. This 'cable' was just "laughing at me"! Then I came in and turned on the "Inter-webs", I found several videos on how to replace that cable, The first few VID's showed how to replace the front of the cable, but NONE, that I found showed that mounting! Then I clicked on your VID' and found the info' in a few minutes...EUREKA!! Thanks a Bunch!! On a side note' I loved how your Kitty got his/her 15 seconds of fame! It's fun to see little kids and critters get in on the action!!

[@biblemademedoit]

Thanks so much for creating this video! My deck has never worked right, chewed so many belts. Someone took things off and never put them back together right.

[@xVoidCypher]

I have a very similar mower but I am fortunate, instead of a cable I have actual metal rods so they didn't break when I forced them up. A Quick disassembly of that washer and nut, grinding wheel with some rust treatment gel, and some anti seize and now it's working great! Thanks

[@WilliamMcEachernSr]

I have watched over 15 videos on this and finally found yours that actually explained the problem and solution, thanks a million.

[@redneckcomputergeek]

WOW! I have wondered often why this video gets such high replay hits. Thank you I an glad it helped.

[@vickiekreger]

Great instruction! You are the best! I am having a problem, but my problem is the mower engages but the mower won't move forward or in reverse. Mine is more of a gear issue which I hope doesn't cost me too much to fix. I wished you had a video like that. You are really good and great to follow. Thanks.

[@danthejunkman]

Just picked up this mower at a yard sale for $150.00 it runs good but blades are stuck engaged and this video was super helpful. Thank you man I’ll subscribe and watch more.

[@rapturedreamvision7205]

Thank you! I replaced my deck engage cable and the darn thing wouldnt move. This really helps to understand why and fix the problem. Inspector kitty cat had a gander at it, 20:43 to make sure everything is ship shape before you put it all together. :)

[@Jeanclaudevanderfield]

Excellent video, very detailed and great video coverage of what is being done! 10 out of 10 stars!!

[@billkrause4585]

I have a Craftsman LT 2000 that I have to locate all the Deck Height Adjusters, so I can level my deck. Yeah the clippings and debris on the deck had caused me problems to where I couldn't engage the mower blades. I suppose this 73 yo dude has to pull off the deck shortly and rebuild it, it's due. I just like these vids, that are full of tips and info that help us. Thanks for you time friend.

[@billkrause4585]

A VERY GOOD VIDEO, and a cool cameraman with getting us those great closeups ... It helps a lot!.

[@111000100101001]

Great instructional video as always! Love the oil drain tech tip!

[@chadfield376]

Good straight to the point how to video; I like how you show the little mess ups the rest of us make when reinstalling these decks like when you had everything hooked up and then noticed the support bar hanging the wrong direction 😂. The same type of thing happens to me when I am getting excited about getting something back together and eager to see it work right again:-)

[@bigchevy350boy]

Awesome video! I just replaced that foolish cable.. (which took wayyy longer than it should have) with zero success.. I now see why. Appreciate the explanation of this process. #allthelove from Maine 🇺🇸

[@robertdykes668]

Thanks for the great videos! Great tech tip for oil change!

[@randysimmons9838]

Good example of what can happen if you don't keep the deck clean

[@larry3099]

Great video! This was exactly what I needed to do on my LT3000, plus a cable. Thank you

[@juansigala4365]

Thanks for the info almost sold my LT2000 cause I couldn’t figured out how to fix until I ran across this video

[@stevewick1]

Appreciate the video... my mower was having problems disengaging the blades because it was missing the spring that you replaced.

[@Glenn-vf8se]

Mate IAM in Australia and my farther was given this mower my brother pulled it apart and couldn't remember how it the cutting deck went back together as it's from the USA he had the pulleys bolted into 2 spots on the deck but thanks to you it all goes together in one point YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW I APPRECIATE THIS POST YOU HAVE PUT UP SO NOW ILL PUT IT BACK TOGETHER TODAY AND GOING YAR WHO

[@stanleyhasting6047]

Thanks.Good video I knew I was missing.A Spring blade would not disengage.Then wouldn't engage all set good job

[@MJM8803192]

Soda can assist for draining oil - excellent!!!!

[@lorinabroda3317]

Thank you sooooooo very much for this video. So sick of asking male friends to teach me things, only to have them say, "That's a job for a man." ☹️ Thank you for pointing out that spring. I would have never known it was missing. New blades the whole nine yards.👍 The only problem I had was placing the deck back under the mower. Finally propped it up on 2x4s and slid it. Thank you again.

[@speedymagic]

One of the best how to videos on youtube!

[@danthejunkman]

Agreed

[@lachie2088]

Make sure you shut them off on idle because they backfire often when you shut them off on high revs and that spins the motor backwards knocking the camshaft weight off

[@americatech9395]

I have the LT1000 (2003)...youre spot on. Cheers mate!

[@michaelwesten1764]

Thanks. I believe I ran with "blades always engaged" for a while. Then the mower sat unused, and some rust developed in the mechanism/pulley-slides. When it last worked (blades always on) - I see a little metal cable sticking out from the lever bar slot (when you illustrated people "slamming it up" - I have a little micro-steel cable protruding out of there towards the steering wheel. So my neighbor and I lubed up the mechanisms with WD40 - but it still smoked through and shredded a belt. I currently have a new belt, I'm hoping I can undo a couple pins, take the old belt off, WD40/make the pulleys move etc., and then put the new belt on and be okay, at least for a bit. A mechanic told me that "blades on" all the time will wear out the starter, but I'm more concerned about shredding the belt instantly. When you do "blade-engage" - that movement moves a pulley so the belt isn't rubbing on a nearby metal piece. So I guess I'm hoping I can change the belt and get away with a couple mows, then take the deck off, look for the infamous "divit", and replace the engage-cable etc. What do you think about "blades on all the time"? Can I can away with lubing parts up good, putting a fresh belt on, and not shredding the belt/burning it up instantly?

[@carloscollado4890]

Your video was spot-on to what I need to do. Thanks for sharing.

[@DaveAfergan]

bro thank you so much i could not find any other video that showed me were that spring attaches on to, when i bought it (used)that spring was just hooked on to some random other part ty

[@billberry3669]

Omg dude! Super informative. Gonna do my deck soon. I will probably watch this again. Thanks

[@freedomisfromtruth]

Great presentation when you become a one handed mechanic so you can video it for others. I have one issue as I come down a hill, it takes 10sec for the transmission to catchup and start driving the wheels again. Belt is little over a year but had this problem before. Thanks

[@richardcarver5356]

Thanks nice video. My LTX 1000 just stopped cutting grass. Figure that spring or cable must've snapped.

[@richardcarver5356]

Turns out the belt shredded itself. Think it was the original so pretty old .

[@hernanmorales337]

Beat it till it’s relatively straight💪🏽🤣🇺🇸 great info thanks

[@TheKyice61]

Thanks man! Helped this disabled veteran out alot!

[@immrnoidall]

On mine the cable feels too short or they may have given me a too small belt. I can push up the lever and it engages but can't push it up over the curve that locks it in. So, of coarse I forces it a few times to mow the lawn and after a few times it snapped. looks like it may have just popped off the plastic clip on the lever end . I walked away for now.

[@RaLIrRe]

Just fixed my POS with your video. Thank you so much

[@crazcougg961]

Awesome video, thanks for sharing! Working on a freebie right now that is a MESS!

[@peterandkodiak9762]

Absolutely brilliant! A very well documented video. Thank you for sharing. A+

[@davedennis5537]

I like those old craftsman riding mower I have two of them

[@mikeoakleaf8424]

Excellent video thank you very much for your kindness. This helps me alot.

[@BRICSlayer]

Just got a 1998, Awesome video!!! thanks, man!

[@TCannon-o4e]

This was basically my exact issue, did everything in the video except I ordered parts kit with new rollers and brake arms, cuz my brakes were worn and it came with springs too. Also ended up having to repair front lifting attachment point that was rusted out

[@waterboy181]

Thanks… put that thick spacer washer in upside down and kept slipping the belt. Well done video.

[@immrnoidall]

Leave those two front rods on the frame and take off at the deck and it slides out fine. I drop mine on a thin plywood so it slides easy.

[@danielbrothers1284]

Great stuff Man... you did a really good job.... thanks so much...Jesus Bless You in Many Ways.

[@thomasboulay3309]

I just started refurbishing lawn tractors, Thank you for showing how to on these decks. I find a lot of these on the side of the road. BTW, where did you get the electric hoist?

[@thewoollypig606]

Great video. I picked up a second hand one of these today. Ran great when I tested it. However when I got it home, a plume of white smoke came from under the engine when I tried to engage the blades. And now there is no action at all happening. Any idea?

[@marknye51.thefixitguy]

Really Really great video. I'm working on an Electrolux Ryobi RT190 and there are parts missing on the deck plus it needs alot of work. new belt, new blades and parts. plus my labor. is it worth the 200 to 250 or more to repair this deck or should the customer put that into another tractor ?

[@immrnoidall]

Store pins and washers back on the part they came from helps.

[@scotthorsch5627]

Outstanding video and explanations! Much appreciated!

[@jackfeazel671]

I made the same mistake with the connection bar not on the other side when I bolted the deck on lol. Also didn’t know about the bigger spring on the deck. I was wondering why the release pulley never returned after engaging the blades

[@speed1st]

Best video of lawnmowers I’ve seen.

[@josephosier6878]

Thanks for this. Exactly what I needed to see

[@everythinganything888]

EXCELLENT. Exactly what I'm trying to do right now. Thanks!

[@thedocnak]

6:36 spider creeping at the top left of the screen.

[@lexusautotek8905]

Thank you for this video bro , mine was MOST DEFINITELY stuck I dropped it like u said and I I’m gona install it right now but this video helped me at least know this pivot wasn’t working it was 100% stuck . I will report back just wanted to say thanks

[@richardthorpe8889]

Thanks for the great video. This is the most complete one out there.

[@kirkd3209]

When adjusting the deck is it best to lower it all the way down or àll the up .,

[@Psqwall]

I have a Weed Eater lawn tractor that is a lot like this mower and two springs on my deck have come off. I think the spring and pin you show in this video are the same position as on my mower but I have a spring in the front of the deck that I can not figure out where it goes.Also a bar on the left side fell off as well and I can't figure out what that connects to? Maybe the mystery spring in the front ?

[@shatnersufolanded7785]

What is that part number or name of it actually it's two pieces that hold down the spring on the end of the cable. One is a flat type washer the other is a cotter pin that you were talking about. I got a mower and it had no cable when given to me so I bought the cable and replaced it but I'm missing the part that holds down the spring to the pulley. Much appreciated and great video.

[@jeffrandolf5673]

15:50 "LIBERAL GLOB" i love that. lol

[@andrewlopson3394]

Hello and great video! Can you tell me the size of the cotter pin that holds the blade engagement cable to the bracket on the mower deck? Thank you very much in advance.

[@larrymorrow4875]

Very helpful lots of detail and info

[@buddyv3457]

WOW!!! Excellent video, just what I was looking for!!! New subscriber here!!!

[@joshmanis9860]

I had the opposite problem with mine it wouldn’t turn off but I took a brake spring to make it fully disengage

[@bax6077]

Thanks alot...you show and explain it better than the rest and it makes doing this alot easyier for those of us who are mechanically impaired

[@solucionandofacil5500]

Thank you for the video it helped me so much.

[@kevinhodge1238]

doin mine right now and found your video very helpfull

[@wandastevens3183]

All that Gom on the deck needs getting off(it would help to blow that mess off right quick so we can see where belts go ,please) it makes me loose my focus with the wheels and belts as to where they go,my sight is not that good anymore...so I have to do my own puttin' on belts the best I can...

[@JWimpy]

I enjoy watching your videos and learn some things along the way. But these mower decks look so small when your use to maintaining a brush hog deck.

[@redneckcomputergeek]

Agreed I just got done rebuilding a 8 blade hay cutter with a friend that is 4 times as wide as this.

[@FRBYND]

Question about where the other two springs are purpose. I don’t have them on my mower. Just bought it trying to figure out what’s going on with mine. Exact same just missing the three springs. I see the engage release spring you did. But what about the other two for blades. Can you help a fella out. Thanks.

[@MLesvia1802]

Super good video that is how to do a great video and just in time for me thanks

[@GregG628]

Great instruction, thank you 👍👍

[@robertsoriano9441]

Thanks that was very informative.

[@stoveboltsix]

I know this is an older video, however it is very informative. I just followed your instructions and now my mower works as it should. Do you have any idea how long the belt is? I think I'll replace it while the deck is off. Thanks in advance..

[@redneckcomputergeek]

There are about 4 different possible sizes. Use parts tree to look up your machine model number under the seat.

[@peanut71968]

Thanks, Redneck! This is EXACTLY the vid I needed to reconnect my mower engagement pulley!

[@jerkyturkey007]

I gotta get me one of those ooga dooga cordless drill things, lol.

[@lexusautotek8905]

FOLLOW UP. Works like a charm

[@Azzne-]

What about if when you try to pull the handle up; the cord doesn’t move at all? Does that just mean the cable that pulls the initial spring needs replaced? I’m sorry, my mower worked last year but not this year 😬

[@KingKasheesti]

Great video. Do you know what size belt this mower takes? I bought the 95.5" belt with matching model numbers and I have about 3" of slack even when the belt is engaged. Everything functions, just replaced the cable, etc. I just can't seem to get the right belt size, even with the model number.

[@redneckcomputergeek]

There are a few odd balls with 38 inch deck setups that ran 94

[@philliphall5198]

Yep and I got one that requires a 94 belt but I put 93 on

[@skipsmith743]

thanks so much .. life saver video....

[@linkwallace2144]

R there 2 sizes to the spring cable. To ingage blades

[@marcschlaiss7441]

When you loosened the 9/16 nut, the pully on top what is that part? Mine just sheared off and I don't know what to order or where to order from. Any help would be appreciated.

[@MultiTazmo]

Ive never seen a 12oz can of arizona tea lol. I will use my coors light cans

[@rjminton534]

Thank you so much for this video!