Double blades out of alignment
 

I have LTX1142 with double blades timed deck. After mowing a piece of carpet the blades started to hit each other. I got new blades and attempted to install them. The trouble is that if the two arrows on the pulleys are aligned as per manual the blades are in wrong position. If I align the blades @ 90° the arrows are off. Can I still install them like this or what do I need to do to align both blades and arrows? Thanks

I'm not familiar with that particular model but most older cub decks have a key to keep the pulley and spindle aligned, if so it possible you sheared off the key which let the pulley turn on the shaft.

The machine is 2-3 yrs old with 42 deck.

Don't know much about your deck but I think I recall that Cub had problems with the timed deck. You may want to dig a little deeper. If it was my deck I'd just set the blades 90 degrees apart like the old decks and go for it.

try putting them on at 90 degree and try to turn one blade while holding the other and see if something slips on the keyway and changes the time of the blades

Thank you all for your advice.
I am trying to understand how does all this work. Something must have slipped so I am trying to figure out what: a pulley or something inside the spindle. I was hoping somebody would know before I start taking everything apart.

remove the deck from the tractor and try removing the pulley from the spindle, most likely its keyed and it stripped the key out.

Here are some pics of my deck:http://i59.tinypic.com/2hqvw40.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/symc9d.jpg
How do I get off the nut off the pulley? Just like a regular nut - counter-clockwise?
http://i61.tinypic.com/2dca7pz.jpg

Yes you should be able to remove the nut as usual and hopefully the pulley comes off.

Considering you know what caused this I suggest you take the deck to a dealer and let them fix it. It's a 15 minute job at the most and they can look for other problems. It's always a good idea to pick up debris instead of trying to mow it.:ROTF1:

Just spent some time looking this thing up on Parts Tree and the Cub parts site. None of the exploded views show a key way or any other means of keeping the pulleys and blades in time. I wonder if it just relies on the spindle being good and tight? Also none of the sites show an LTX1142 so I looked at the 1042.

Interesting that the later models no longer use a timed deck. Reviews show quite a few problems with the timed deck.

Looking at your pics I notice that the blades are new, I'm wondering if you got the nut tightened enough? I've never worked on one of these so I'm kind of flying blind.

i also couldnt find anything for the ltx 1142 so i was kinda guessing about the key, it could also be splined. ive never worked on one of these so its hard to diagnose without being there.