How to Rebuild a Mower Deck - Craftsman LT 1000

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/SubscribeToTheFixer Thanks for watching! 😃

[@awongutume]

Would recommend anyone starting a rebuild to first take a picture. Also, ensure you have a good impact wrench/tool and matching sockets.

[@k9deine351]

I like the mistakes that you made and work through them it makes the video more realistic. Everybody makes mistakes good job.

[@evalynn7005]

Very nice video. Yes, women watch your videos too and I have to add I love your calm demeanor and patience when working on your projects. Inspirational. Thank you!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thank you. That is nice to hear. And thank you for watching.

[@sydecarnutz972]

Your kit came with a 95 1/2" belt. That actually is the correct size for this deck. I have one of these and wind up rebuilding stuff on it every year. I find on mine that 95" worked better as the belt tension engagement isn't working too well anymore. MUCH wear & tear on the sheet steel arms that zigzag back & forth to make it work.

[@tlrcarroll]

I was thinking the old one was probably stretched out from use 🤔

[@hollywoodswngr]

Appreciate the tenacity! You handled those frozen bolts in a great manner.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks Steve! I wish I had more patience, I probably could have gotten them out without breaking. Or maybe not haha . Thanks for checking out the video!

[@matthewedwards5926]

Mine were so bad I had to sawzall the bolts on the pulley off.

[@anthonyferretti28]

Great video. I just picked up a couple of 90's Craftsman's with 42" decks and I'm fixing them up. This helps a lot, thank you! Quick tip; if you use a screw driver like the orange one you used to get the second spindle bolt off, you can you a regular box wrench around the screw driver for extra leverage.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Hey, Anthony! Thanks for the tip and I am very happy to hear the video helped you out!

[@jimmay73]

This is the most accurate representation of me working on anything I own on KZbin.

[@leonardcontarino328]

Nice video, i would suggest using something on the screws and bolts be done early , like the first thing when you start

[@CraigyWaigyplays_official]

I'm going to try to make my 1995 Wizard 42in riding mower mow again also thanks for the ideas and getting to see you remake this deck helps a lot 👍

[@toddbelcourt5012]

Thnx bro just needed to see how the other 2 smaller pullys were situated perfect thnx again 😂😊

[@thedragnslayr1]

im so glad i found this, i forgot to take pictures

[@sundogtune]

im so glad i watched your video. i almost bought that same kit! will be buying a kit from somewhere else. the bearings dont even fit the housing! your spindles will be worn out in less than a year! and you will be wishing you used anti-seize on those bolts! should always spray all bolts the week before with aero kroil. and get a good cheater bar. loved the video, it will save me a bunch of time, now that i know what to look for!!

[@tstahler5420]

If you're going to do all that work, why not go all the way with a good cleaning and rust prevention? Put some anti-seize on the nuts and bolts so in the future, they won't fight you.

[@hudsonriverlee]

Use Aerokroil, Mouse Milk, or half mix of acetone and transmission fluid for spraying on nuts and bolts. Spray then go to lunch. Way before beginning a project like this I begin spraying , soaking the fasteners. Then you do not break off the bolt head or strip them.

[@WeBuildStuff]

7:30 i cheered for you!

[@refuedivulgation1394]

Mine was the same just dismantle it and had lube to top and bottom bearings... it worked like charm for me

[@RonFleener]

Thanks man. Got a 98 Craftsman lt1000 42" for free. This reassured me I'm not a deck destroyer. Lol good video man.

[@AndyTheXTech]

Awesome Dude! Thanks for the shout out. Good job. 👍

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

No problem man. Thank you!

[@darrenkinder1856]

PB Blaster is a wonderful friend. Great job

[@saltylandscaper7193]

And i literally just rebuilt my 46" craftsman mower deck three days ago 😆 i hate that these don't have belt tensioners on them.

[@philliphall5198]

The first thing I do when a job comes in is to look for rust in the area I’m going to be working and spray the heck out of it, and several times later tell I get to it Saves a ton of time messing with frozen bolts and nuts 😊😊😊

[@Ocean_breezes]

A suggestion on tough bolts, use a MAP torch. After some PB blaster.

[@kkeen1450]

I really liked this video too. While watching you struggle with that one bolt I was thinking WD-40 and then you reached for some WD-40 😃 and it worked 👍

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Yes WD-40 is a life saver sometimes. Thanks for watching!!

[@darkrose4704]

A cheater pipe may have really helped with those stuck bolts..

[@87_951]

Nice, ironically those bolt heads busting off for the spindles works in your favor since you were replacing everything attached lol. May have saved you some time ;)

[@beckiblack859]

Excellent job and fun to watch. Remember: women watch these videos too, so you need to finish with showing us mowing some shaggy grass and making it all level and beautiful with your newly fixed machine.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

That is some excellent feedback. I will keep that in mind for sure!! Thanks for being a loyal subscriber Becki!!

[@jasontraxler2946]

A little penetrating oil over night works wonders short of an impact driver or wrench.

[@The1thomash]

When you change the spindle, put the new blades on first before you put on the pully.

[@dalemihocik4732]

If your mower deck looks this rough I suggest replacing the idler arm # 155046 since you have the deck off of the mower . It has a high tendency to wear out causing the blades not to disengage which is very dangerous .

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thank you for the tip. That is good to know. And thanks for checking out the video!

[@sailme2day]

I bought the spindle kit that had grease fittings on each spindle . I also cleaned , primed and painted the underside of the deck to extend its life . those spindle bolts broke when I removed mine also . dang it ! I was hoping you would have addressed the sticking blade engagement sticking when dis engaging the blades on the rebuild. nice video .

[@markmcconnell8705]

Don't put too much faith in those Zirk fittings. I will bet, If you take those apart and look on the inside of the bearings, you will notice that there sealed. If their still good, and you plan on using your grease gun regularly, remove the seals, (google it) and clean out all the grease and then repack them. (Apparently some types of grease will counter act the other if they come in contact.) Select the best seals and only replace the sides facing out. There are some forums that discuss this and have come up with ways to counter the planned obsolescence.

[@philliphall5198]

Can just replace brgings and not remove them, plus 4 brging are cheap, easy repair and you can remove inside brg covers and grease them every year for 10/20 years 😊

[@braidenbatesmatthew]

Amazing video. The same thing happened to me my old bolts broke off and I thought the mower deck was done. But nope it was the spindle. I know mine is bad because it makes a terrible noise while spinning it.

[@johngiardina8259]

Master Blaster was the cure

[@moemoes5989]

Nice clear video. thanks

[@94sn95gt]

There is a reason they come with new bolts. You could soak it in PB blaster for a month and still break them off. Aluminum housing with a steel bolt causes them to weld themselves into place. They assume your breaking most of them off.

[@georgiapeach7291]

How did I miss this video? Either I'm not getting my notifications or I didn't hear my phone? Anyway, great video. My husband and son put two mowers together to make one. The tires were $60 just for the front one's, so my husband bought a used mower with great tires and spare parts for $100. Helped out our mower too. Thanks for the great video! 😁

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Hey Peach! I posted this video quite a while ago. Sometimes YT doesn't send all notifications. I am happy you found it though! The combination of two mowers is a smart thing to do. Take the best parts and make a good mower. Thanks for checking it out as always!!

[@MariaSantos-ni6cv]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge 🎉❤

[@TStheDeplorable]

Put anti-seize on the bolts for the next guy, especially if you're likely to be the next guy.

[@chucksmoko5348]

3 suggestions Use 1/2” drive tools. The 3/8” drive won’t cut it on big bolts. You installed the blades upside down. The originals were ok. The ‘wing side’ goes up. With a 1/2” drive wrench get the blades off the old spindles. They look good and then you can keep them as spares.

[@Jeff97405]

The belt number is on the mowers hood. Or could have asked the guy giving you the mower for the serial number....would have saved you a lot of pain...and have ALL the right parts.

[@tlrcarroll]

I’m not mechanical so people who can repair stuff amaze me 🤭

[@Freedom_Rider915]

Where are the grease fittings for the new spindles?

[@Robthebengalguy]

Just try to put some never sees on your new bolts

[@jimsvo4486]

I think I will spray down all the bolts with Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster a day or two before I do my deck.

[@delmaquezada6733]

Like your videos. Grandma Rose.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks Grandma Rose!

[@benoitchartier929]

One of my spindles spins a little roughly but it'a not jammed like yours. The second one is ok. I dont really wanna replace it and i was wandering if i can just lubricate it in some way...Have you tried that ? With some Jig-a-Loo or something ?

[@eric_seguin]

The spindle housing is built and attached so you can change the sealed bearings. You need a 1/2 inch breaker bar also. You're a carpenter. Build yourself a decent work table. "The hurrier I go the behinder I get." You're a good carpenter. Use the patience you use there when doing mechanical work. If you're going to do something don't be a parts changer. Fix what you have. Good luck.

[@philliphall5198]

Yep 4 brging are 15 bucks, I buy a hundred at a time

[@eric_seguin]

@@philliphall5198 Huh?

[@andrewbratos6907]

great job, 95 ¹/²"

[@jimshelton3448]

Shave the plastic like I did. Free all or blaster on rusty bolts helps too.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks for the tips, Jim!

[@mikephillips2550]

Dissimilar metals. The spindle housings are aluminum and the bolts are steel. Antiseize will help!

[@MBailote]

What was the correct size belt?

[@brianshanahan3878]

"Is that not a carpenter doing mechanic stuff or what?" hahahah I love it.

[@bassinbillRC5300]

Who sells the best quality replacement spindles?

[@michaelphillips9037]

Why don't u get a short 2x4 and jam it between the blade and the sidewall of the deck,, works for me

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

That is a great tip! Thank you!

[@sebastien4565]

You installed the washer for the pulleys on the wrong side! They go underneath the pulley to space them off from the bearings. You don't install them on top because that's what the flanged nut is for.

[@winonajr3931]

Is that why there was a grinding sound when he spun his new bearing assembly?

[@sebastien4565]

@@winonajr3931 Maybe but no way to be sure if we can't look at it. If the pulley is scrapping on the seal of the bearing, that's a possibility.

[@donwalsh9426]

I think the new belt would be hard to get on, but that's why the tensioners are there, because the belt stretches with use.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Hmmm thats an interesting point. Do you think it would stretch that much?

[@rayburnett3253]

I rebuilt my LT1000 deck about 2 months ago. I had to, I had to change the deck on it,due to the fact the original one was rusted out

[@markmcconnell8705]

Yup! The Quality Control Department, in Engineering, spent about the same amount of time that you spent on that last little T30 bolt. It's a fine art designing the outcome of what the mechanic thinks and says. Poor planning? HA! Perfect design. The hassle for me was having to dig through my drawer of quarter inch sockets, lots of sockets, and find that three eights socket with the thinnest wall. And it is in there. Thankfully.

[@ReginaBarnett]

Sure wish you would’ve shown the deck spindle pulley brake.

[@jjsnsg]

What can I do if a piece of the deck itself has rusted and broken off? And options?

[@lionelsoto2327]

Excellent

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Hope the video helps!

[@greg6925]

My blades won't engage. I'm about to take the mower deck off now. Any suggestions?

[@Robthebengalguy]

Lol... Yeah I'm thinking you probably should have prelude everything but it's all hindsight you're doing fine

[@Robthebengalguy]

Hey you went 5 for 6 on breaking bolts that's a good stat too bad you couldn't break them all LOL

[@eagleviewhd]

Once you get that plastic shield off from around that pulley: leave the shield off! Just there to collect crap!

[@matthewedwards5926]

I have a question. There is a 42r and 42l marking on the spring brackets. Does this mean the r notch lines up with the mandrel on the right side and the l lines up with the mandrel on the left or do they both use the 42r. Thank you so much for the video no have been working on my deck for weeks.

[@projectfanboy]

Surprised you didn't just cover it in penetrating oil and let it stand for a hour.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Yes I should have. I get very impatient sometimes though haha. Thanks for checking the video out!

[@bradmironik6137]

I got the bolt out now let's spray lubricant.

[@BigAlWillis]

soaked ours for two days. spindle large pulley bolts come off no problem by hand tools. the smaller three bolts snapped just like in the vid.

[@learning_from_scratch]

How do you know the old belt wasn’t stretched some which is common?

[@buckeyebob55]

after taking the spindles off I pressure washed the deck inside and out

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Good idea!

[@ReginaBarnett]

I wish someone on YT would diagnose a spindle pulley brake that won’t pull off the pulley.

[@Greatgadgetsgear]

Here’s my issue after rebuild of deck the belt keeps getting burned up by the deck hanging bracket on the discharge side. The belt clears the bracket when it’s engaged but when it’s not engaged it getting shredded by the bracket! I’ve even had repair guys out and they can’t figure it out either!!! Ugh

[@87_951]

Your old belt was probably just that stretched out, mine is ridiculous how much slack there is in it compared to the new one also

[@robertbecker2910]

You probably could’ve flipped the deck over and clamped a vice grip on the threaded part of the stuck screw, give it a shot of juice and loosened that bugger no problem.

[@Robthebengalguy]

But you have three new bulbs so it doesn't matter you want to get the job done so it's all right to break the bolts

[@excuseme130]

I have two at home maybe I can fix one , I hope that. Thank you !

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks for watching!

[@eagleviewhd]

Your brake arms are shot (no brake pads on them) and the shoulder bolts are in upside down on them.

[@eagleviewhd]

I did not realize that the idler pulleys on the Craftsman LT1000 deck were two different pulleys. There are two different part numbers for them. I took them off so I could paint the deck. There are no numbers on the pulleys, and I did not pay attention to which one went where. Does anyone know which one goes where? One of them is slightly wider. That is the only difference I can see.

[@darkrose4704]

Don’t you have to sharpen those blades before you put them on?

[@winonajr3931]

You installed the washer above the pulley. Should go below the pulley

[@patrickd4093]

I think the bolts are self-tapping when they are installed. The same thing happened to me. I broke 4 out of 6 bolts. Also, I had problems with the same bolt on the plastic cover. WOW these decks are so predictable.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Yeah this did not go perfectly haha. Thanks for checking it out. I hope it helped!

[@johnmay6287]

Bray stuck on rotten little more. How do

[@toddmccormick6534]

Nice vid. You should have replaced the breaks too while you were in there. You have metal on metal rubbing.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Good call, Todd. Will have to do that this year. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@mistert0ad]

@@TheFixerHomeRepair - I bought a rebuild kit and it wasn't until I tore down my deck that I realized the brakes were completely gone. Ordering new brakes put me behind by a week waiting for delivery, but its an easy replacement once you have everything removed.

[@tresreys]

I believe the bolts are reverse thread!! At least I know the blade bolt are reverse...

[@jimshelton3448]

Not reverse threads, as seen in video, one came off. The blade bolts are not reverse either.

[@JasonTylerRicci]

Anyone know the correct orientation of the washer(s) for the spindle pulleys? The kit I got mentions not using 1 washer for the (left?) side. Something about each spindle not being level to one another. This is evident when you put the belt on. You can see one spindle hangs a bit lower than the other. I thought it was 1 washer below the pulley and 1 washer above, then the nut

[@goosebumpsmylegs]

Thanks Bradley Cooper's brother.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Haha thanks for watching!

[@frankdavidson9675]

any time you see a crack in the mower deck that needs welding always balence the blades or replace them

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks for the tip, Frank

[@delmaquezada6733]

Your cool.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

You are!

[@RHINOTACTICAL]

The new belt is not the correct size because you need an a93 belt or a 144959 1/2x 95 1/2inhes long as your old belt which is your cutting deck belt. The drive belt is actually longer and is part # 197253 and is 101.4 +- inches hope that helps.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks for the info! Really appreciate it!

[@wbwilhite]

Liquid Wrench or Power Blaster would have helped.

[@ahnilatedahnilated7703]

Galvanic corrosion sucks on dissimilar metals. The rust it creates is very annoying.

[@gerardjones7881]

Anti seize on new bolts.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Great idea, Gerard!

[@MayMay-jv9cp]

If you're looking for the lawn mower belt part number 4l950k, l144959

[@BigAlWillis]

nice vid. have to do this myself in the next couple days. thumbs up

[@johnball5616]

Might as well know. Those spindle bolts ALWAYS.. ALWAYS BREAK!! MAKE SURE you buy spindles with bolts. And move on. Just snap them off. White metal and steel bolts Don't mix. Weld together over time.

[@blaisdelldavid10]

try using a pipe over your ratchet for leverage bro.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Yes I know. Just trying to show people who have everyday average tools. Thanks for the suggestion, David. And thanks for checking out the video!

[@finnz7786]

5:40 agreed

[@philliphall5198]

Put never zee on bolts and nuts when you put them back, yes you may need to go back later and you’ll cry for being lazy 😮😮

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

GOOD VIDEO. two words: cheater bar.

[@bradmironik6137]

If the fixer only has a fisher price tool set to work with he should walk away.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Hey, Brad. Not everyone is going to have ALL the tools in the world. That is why I made the video this way. Problem solving and getting it done with what you got. Thanks for the comment.

[@michaelp1758]

time to retire ryobi and get some dewalt or milwaukee impacts for more torque

[@jerrywestvirginia1430]

the parts you forgot i did also ,we might be brothers thank for information .

[@jasonstarr6419]

just realized today need to replace the left spindle (so why do just one, huh?) and found your vid. thanks, great stuff. it occurred to me as you were removing the spring attachment brackets, "oughta take some spray paint and hit those things to remind you exactly where they to and to remind you, when putting the bolts in, 'oh, yeh, need that bracket'". Will try to remember that for my own rebuild!! Oh, btw.. the link to the rebuild kit on Amzn didn't work.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks for letting me know, Jason.