Fix a Cub Cadet XT1 Riding Mower With Deck Belt Issues Full Troubeshooting, Install & Repair Guide

[@deaneliot8230]

I just purchased a used cub cadet XT1, no owner manual, you have been a big help, thank you.

[@IndRepair]

Glad to help! Thanks for watching!

[@ciphercode2298]

Great video,very helpful.my old cub cadet ltx1040 is very similar and at 11 years old is suffering many of these problems. I tire up a spindle at the very end of 2022 and didnt replace it until spring of 2023. I went ahead and installed a new belt and all seemed fine,but after a few mows it kept kicking the belt off. After reinstallung it twice i pulled the deck back off and did a better inspection. It needs new blade brakes,that bushing is wore out,and one of my belt keepers is bent. When i had messed the spindle up a stick had flipped up and lodged itself through around the spindle,blade,and all the way up around the pulley ontop of the deck shearing the star pattern. I guess it did more than i first thought,lol. Thanks for sharing all this,its good knowledge to have.

[@IndRepair]

It is amazing the damage that gets done from a belt throwing or a stick stuck in the wrong spot! Thanks for watching!

[@TheBadbrad9]

Very good video, I have the same issues with my 46 inch deck, I'm an old man and though I'm not a half bad diy mechanic any help is much appreciated!

[@IndRepair]

Glad to be of assistance. Thanks for watching!

[@ebenwaterman5858]

Great video. I learned everything I needed to know about these things. I wouldn't recommend unbolting that drive pulley guard. It's IMPOSSIBLE to line back up. The way you did it is the right way. :)

[@IndRepair]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!!

[@markharding6582]

I've watched a lot of how toos. This is one of the best. Thanks!!!

[@IndRepair]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching!

[@damongraumann2992]

Great video! You really explained it well. Thank you for taking the time to do this to help others with a very common issue.🙂

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for watching I appreciate it!!

[@5thhorseman559]

Wish I would have found your channel earlier! Thanks for the good video!

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for watching!!

[@richardsloan1556]

Awesome video thanks. I’m having an issue that after I have replaced the belt the blades are activating without me using the PTO, specifically when I raise the deck height up it begins to smoke the belt

[@IndRepair]

Sounds like something is on wrong or the belt is wrong. Was OEM belt used or aftermarket?

[@richardsloan1556]

@@IndRepair a new OEM from tractor supply (packaging stated cub cadet) I'm wondering if I tightened the pulley’s down too much ?

[@IndRepair]

Sounds like there is an issue with the brake or routing to me

[@BobbyJackson-n3s]

It comes off partly because the the belt wears and stretchs quickly and there is no tension adjustment on the xt1. If you can't get the belt to keep the blades spinning under load, you have to replace the belt.

[@IndRepair]

Sad there is no adjustment. Thanks for watching!

[@outlet6989]

Thanks for your well-produced and informative video. There are many manufacturers of mower belts. Which brand do you recommend? I only use the Gates brand. When I remove the deck, I place a piece of thick cardboard or thin plywood underneath the deck. This makes sliding the deck easier as it keeps the wheels from scraping the floor. After I remove the deck, I push the mower and deck to my driveway. Doing this allows me to pressure wash the top and bottom of the deck and the mower itself. How do I decide if a new mower is excellent or so-so? I count the number of Zerk fittings it has. The mower with the most fittings wins.

[@IndRepair]

Gates makes a good belt but mostly we use OEM belts unless asked otherside

[@george420]

Now I don't know if they have it on the Cub Cadet. But my Craftsman that's also a MTD product and is extremely similar to Cub Cadet, and does use the same deck. It has a belt installation diagram under the hood where their parts list is. Mybe worth mentioning to customers like this one.

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for mentioning this!

[@foster461]

That was a most informative video in every regard. Thank You.

[@IndRepair]

Glad it was helpful!! Thanks for watching!

[@RandyBarnes-ox3nu]

Thank you.

[@IndRepair]

Glad to help!

[@drsuesst2025]

If you push that idler pulley towards the center of the deck that engage spring is easier to tilt to get it off.

[@IndRepair]

Great tip! Thanks for watching!

[@theresamoore7634]

If you dont clean the grass under your deck out the grass will some times accumulate & throw the belt off ! You forgot to mention that !!! Specially wet grass

[@IndRepair]

Good tip! Thanks for watching!

[@drsuesst2025]

Could you do a video on replacing the drive belt flat idler pulley on the same type of tractor?

[@IndRepair]

I do not believe so on this one sorry

[@Rick-ib3cj]

I found my mtd deck engagement cable on backwards after I put 2 new belts on it don't figure ?

[@IndRepair]

Never heard of that one

[@fartsackjack7081]

good job boss man !!!!

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for watching buddy hope all is well with you!! Stop by soon!

[@bobbyabbott5276]

Where do I get the $15.00 belt keeper

[@IndRepair]

You can find the brake for about $20 on Amazon, we use distributors to order parts amzn.to/46HQ4R8

[@HOWMADUR]

Well, the honest truth is that pretty much every cub cadet has deck belt issues and they have for years.

[@IndRepair]

Many with the fabricated decks do halfway decent but all of the lower end stuff isn't designed great but some people put them through a beating!

[@eds.877]

Your calling the blade pulley covers belt keepers. I thought they were just safety covers. I was going to remove mine for easier cleaning after mowing but if they hold the belt in the pulleys then maybe I better not?

[@IndRepair]

They have to be there or the belt will fall off the pulleys

[@Panther7108]

Just replaced the drive belt on mine, the first time I routed the belt incorrectly… fixed that. Now, it drives extremely sluggish or just doesn’t move going in forward or reverse at all. Anyone have any ideas??

[@IndRepair]

Is the belt tight when the brake is released? Sure it is on all the pulleys, many times people miss the one that would be on the drivers side of the mower almost against the frame. I am nut sure if this is the model I am thinking or not but check for tension on belt and belt routing to start with

[@IndRepair]

Was the belt damaged at all when routed like that?

[@Panther7108]

My mower is the Cub Cadet LT46 Enduro. I’m currently at work but when I get home, I’ll check things out again and give an update. The belt was starting to get worn out over the last few years, I was honestly expecting it to happen at some point. Thank you for the quick response.

[@IndRepair]

Did you get it fixed up

[@YooTooobJeff]

There’s a fitting on the deck to put a hose on and wash that stuff out/off under the deck after each mowing! Just do it

[@IndRepair]

To each their own but to me every one that uses the deck wash has more grass packed underneath than someone who doesn't. The rust that accumulates because of packed wet grass with the practice is problematic to me. Thanks for watching!

[@palco22]

Have owned many riding mowers over the last fifty years including Cub Cadet. My last Cub was great for well over ten years. So, I bought a new one. Cub Enduro 50" stamped mower deck. This Cub (23 hp Kohler) struggles to haul that 50" deck. That stamped deck is the worst design I've ever seen. A real pain to re/re, clogs up after one cut, strips the grass in tight turns. Tractor runs great but I'm stuck with a terrible mower deck. I think it might better handle a 48" deck.

[@IndRepair]

I have heard this complaint many times!

[@paulhighbarger3356]

Definitely not a John Deere

[@IndRepair]

Some of their 100 series line tractors are worse than this mower in several ways. All their implement stuff is great, of course

[@paulhighbarger3356]

@@IndRepair I've got a dealer John Deere LT150 21 years old. Mowed 1 acre every week. Original spindles, original Kohler engine, original drive belt, original tires, 1 deck belt. Meticulous maintenance by myself. The Cub Cadet XT1 I just bought has a rinky - dinky cable to the deck actuator. Trouble with it already. The oil change contraption drain is junk. I replaced with regular pipe nipple. It's thrown a belt already.Murray junk all over it. I'm not impressed.

[@IndRepair]

The LT150 was a good machine. I am really talking today's lines the S, D and E series

[@sissymurphy9620]

does anyone ever clean their mowers GEEZE BET THEIR CARS ARE CLEAN

[@IndRepair]

Seems like nobody does!

[@HipaParts]

Very informative lawn mower troubleshooting and repairing video. Are you up for a collaboration? We supply small engine parts affordably and help our customers source small engine parts they need easier.

[@IndRepair]

Good parts I would say at least better quality than most of the aftermarket stuff. We mention Hipa a few times in the videos we do and have been overall happy with the limited amount we have used from the comany. I spoke with someone not long ago about doing a collaboration on these and I do not think it made sense for us so we declined to participate. I appreciate the offer! Thanks for watching!

[@stevenf1953]

Thank you! You have helped ease my mind. I have the same Cub Cadet XT1. Just a few days ago my belt jumped off for no reason I thought. I put a new belt on and 2 mins later it jumped off again. Long story short, I took the blade brake off and it looked worse than what you had. My brake is on order, but I looked over my deck and I think the brake was the problem. I'll make sure the keepers are close to the pulleys and that should fix it I hope. My mower is 8 years old so I guess it was about time for the brake to go bad. Thanks again for easing my mind.

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for watching I hope it all goes well for you!

[@stevenf1953]

@@IndRepair With your video and help I got my mower fixed. The new brake works well. My belt no longer slips out. Thank you for your video.

[@lakeman59]

I enjoyed the video very well explained, I have the same tractor 12 hours on it just over a year old (2022) and the belt keeper rod broke snapped at the lower part at where the bolt goes through, I find it to be a poor design but can not figure out why it would break, is this a common problem?

[@IndRepair]

I have seen them brake for quite a few different reasons but it doesnt happen often. Make sure when the deck and belt go back on everything is free and lined up. Also make sure the deck is not hitting the rod when at highest setting. Thanks for watching!

[@johnguilfoyle3073]

Why not use a Spring Tool to remove the Spring? I didn't know there was such a thing until I started working with Dirt Bikes. Very handy little tool.

[@IndRepair]

They works in some cases pretty well, this probably would have been one of those times! Thanks for watching!

[@trcass1]

great segment. timely, for me also. my belt is messed up and i think my blade brake might be also as it spins to a stop after disengaging the mower. need to pull the deck and check them out.

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for watching!

[@YooTooobJeff]

FYI… Mower blade nuts are self tightening based on the blade rotation, correct?

[@IndRepair]

They turn the way in which you would think that but if the blades are going and the mower shuts off with a loose nut the blade will loosen it further or remove it completely

[@ninagammar6629]

Great video great video

[@IndRepair]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching!

[@billnewell7491]

Who makes the lift table you are using

[@IndRepair]

This is the Handy S.A.M. 1200. If doing heavy work or you can afford the extra investment I would say the Handy B.O.B. 1500 is better suited. I abuse mine and it shows hard

[@steveriggenbach90]

Great info, easy to follow. No torque wrenches needed.

[@IndRepair]

People many times get carried away with torque wrenches and that is fine. If someone has never tightened anything it may help but in many areas with mowers it is just unnecessary. Thanks for watching!

[@johnsanders5880]

Great job. Thank you.

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for watching

[@dixiedoggy]

I have xt1 lt46 its only got 42 hrs on it the spindle already went bad i put new ones on but my belt keeps jumping off everytime i disengage the blades could it be my belt got stretched?

[@IndRepair]

Sounds like one of the keepers did not get back into the right spot. the one at the front it is very important to go back in the right hole in the side of the frame. There are a couple different holes for the rod there

[@dixiedoggy]

Never removed the deck . But got to thinking and you tell me I haven't put the spindle shrouds back on yet and thought maybe they actually Serve a purpose and keep the belt on is that correct ?

[@IndRepair]

If it is a manual pto the covers will need to be installed or the belt will come off often

[@dixiedoggy]

OK Thank you so much for your replies.

[@IndRepair]

Glad to help

[@donaldlemoine3032]

My son in-law sent me his xt1 lt46. He said the deck belt flipping over. His dad had it since new. said he was always replacing belts on the deck. Son in-law decided to order a new belt, both spindles and both idler and tension pulleys. Calls me and says the belt is way too long. I told him make sure he didn't miss a pulley in the routing of the belt. Says exactly as it should be. So he tried it. Belt engaged and after a couple min, the belt flipped and started a lot of major vibration. So I checked it out. According to the number on it, it is the factory size. Cub cadet sight says 108in. Seems long to me, but.. So I put an old belt on my my old Ariens. Mine is a 105 3/4. After routing it, it also seemed a little loose. 2 1/4 shorter and still loose? I ran it. It cut fine. Belt didn't flip. I cut about an acre of grass. Did just fine. I disengaged the blade when done and it jumped off. I got down there and put it back on. I engaged the blade and started driving a little and the belt flipped. So, what could cause a belt flip?

[@IndRepair]

Are all the keepers in place for the deck? Is the deck level front to back (should be just slightly lower in front) I would use an OEM belt instead of trying to match up the size on these, otherwise they never seem to work right

[@sissymurphy9620]

2022 model 46 inch mower and nothing but issues 47 hours throttle broke . 50 hours coil . 51 fuel pump , 58 hours carburator crappy foriegn gas Anyone know where I can get exteme blades for my cub 942-04244A . i have them on my 42 inch cub and love them . Also paint the undeside of your deck with slip plate it keeps grass from sticking . info from my son who owns flatbed tow trucks

[@IndRepair]

I believe you are looking for these blades amzn.to/4dGuErR if 46"

[@sissymurphy9620]

@@IndRepair those are the ones i bought nd they hit the belly 's on each side of the deck on mine . The number matched and when I said something to cub cadet sight they told me they only fit the RZT model not my model . I have now 2 sets of blades that hit and scrap the front and back bellies in the deck . The garage I took the deck too to see if they could grind off the edge and make them level and then they wre put back on and were not level so he checked spindles to make sure they were not bent and they were fine so then he checked deck and mower and still everthing was fine on the mower . I have them for my 42 inch mower and they are fine and that one is a 2016 model and are the second set of extreme blades on it over the years

[@IndRepair]

@@sissymurphy9620 Never has I seen this issue hmm