38" deck identification help

[CC129]

Greetings
New owner of a 129 and cadets in general.
The 129 came with a deck that wasn't attached to the tractor and no belts.
The deck has been "modified" and the location where the tag should be to ID the
deck is missing.
Is there anyway I can ID this deck so I can figure out which belts I need exactly?
It appears from my reading that there are 3 generations of the 42" deck that my tractor could use.
It appears each generation uses a different size Mule Drive belt so I'm not sure which to get. (80", 81" or I think the 3rd was 78"?)
The deck appears to have the cast iron nose piece. ( did they all come with this?)
I can't tell if the ends are cast or not since they have been cut off and angle iron was added (probably due to cancer)
It does have a spring tensioner on it so I'm thinking it's at least the 2nd or 3rd gen.
Was there anything else that distinguished from the 2nd and 3rd gen decks?
I think the belts I need are
IH477599 R2 1/2x77 (spindle belt) ?
IH 490489 R2 1/2 x 80 (mule drive)

My apologies if deck ID has been gone over, I tried searching here, google, using google to search here and failed locating this information if it's available.
In the meantime I'm charging batteries so I can attempt to snap some pics of the deck if needed.

[Methos]

Originally Posted by CC129

Greetings
New owner of a 129 and cadets in general.
The 129 came with a deck that wasn't attached to the tractor and no belts.
The deck has been "modified" and the location where the tag should be to ID the
deck is missing.
Is there anyway I can ID this deck so I can figure out which belts I need exactly?
It appears from my reading that there are 3 generations of the 42" deck that my tractor could use.
It appears each generation uses a different size Mule Drive belt so I'm not sure which to get. (80", 81" or I think the 3rd was 78"?)
The deck appears to have the cast iron nose piece. ( did they all come with this?)
I can't tell if the ends are cast or not since they have been cut off and angle iron was added (probably due to cancer)
It does have a spring tensioner on it so I'm thinking it's at least the 2nd or 3rd gen.
Was there anything else that distinguished from the 2nd and 3rd gen decks?
I think the belts I need are
IH477599 R2 1/2x77 (spindle belt) ?
IH 490489 R2 1/2 x 80 (mule drive)

My apologies if deck ID has been gone over, I tried searching here, google, using google to search here and failed locating this information if it's available.
In the meantime I'm charging batteries so I can attempt to snap some pics of the deck if needed.

Pics would be most helpful!

[CC129]

Here are a few pics of the deck. I'm not sure if these are enough to give anyone an idea.
Also, this deck measures out to 44" wide total, yet I was told it was a 42"
I took off the belt guards (2) to clean up the deck some, which is why they are not shown in the pictures.

[CC1450]

Welcome to OCC forums 129!

I am usually pretty good about being able to match parts up visually, but I have not been able to find that same deck you have.

From what I see your deck looks very close to a IH-489338-R4, with the biggest visual difference being the closed end of the deck and the way the rollers mount to the rear.

http://www.partstree.com/parts/?lc=c...&dn=0062660007

that link says '71-'74. I'm guessing what you have is slightly older. Here is a pic of the IH-489338-R4 google turned up, you can see it's close but no cigar.


I'm sure someone with a little better knowledge will be along to show you exactly what's what on your deck soon enough.

[CC1450]

also I believe deck width is measured by the cut, so a 42" deck will actually be wider by a hair or two overall.

[darkminion_17]

Wow ,
That is a masterpiece of PO modification on a higher scale,It has parts from a early cast end deck,A triangle deck from the 68-71 and some other stuff I can't ID.The way to measure is from tip to tip of the outer blades.

[CC129]

CC1450, I saw that deck in my searches and thought it looked close to what I had.
I was going to purchase belts for that one which I believe the belt part #'s are what I listed. But ..
with what Darkminion_17 commented on (very nice way of putting I have a bastard deck )
I'm confused now, since I'm still learning the years the decks were made.

Should I still just go for the belts I listed or look up the belt numbers for the 68-71 deck? Any idea what the part number is for the 68-71 decks by chance?
The only part number I found so far for a deck is the one that was linked.

I would ask the PO yet this was bought from someone who just turns them. They stated to me the belts shredded due to age when they tested the mower and didn't bother replacing them.
(guess I'll find out the truth to that soon enough)
I'm already beginning to wonder what else has been "engineered" I'm discovering things by the second the more I dig.

[CC1450]

how are the spindles? if they don't spin by hand you will want to address that first otherwise you may chew up your new belts.

I am guessing you would be fine with the part numbers you posted, especially since the deck belt has the slack tensioner. That said, there's nothing worse than buying the wrong parts especially if you have to mail order it.

I have owned unknown lawn equipment in the past and had to "size" belts with a length of rope. Use nylon rope to follow the belt routing, mark the rope then measure to compare to the belt lengths I see online to verify. If that was my deck, that would be my next course of action so I did not end up with the wrong stuff. My budget leaves little room for errors though. :-)

[darkminion_17]

CC129
The belt that is correct for a 42" deck part #477 599 R2 is for the deck, the mule drive belt #490 489 R2 is for a 129.CC1450 is correct about the spindles,but make sure your mule drive pulleys and the pulleys on the deck are not bent or have rusticles on it.That will ruin a belt.

[CC129]

Originally Posted by CC1450

how are the spindles? if they don't spin by hand you will want to address that first otherwise you may chew up your new belts.

I am guessing you would be fine with the part numbers you posted, especially since the deck belt has the slack tensioner. That said, there's nothing worse than buying the wrong parts especially if you have to mail order it.

I have owned unknown lawn equipment in the past and had to "size" belts with a length of rope. Use nylon rope to follow the belt routing, mark the rope then measure to compare to the belt lengths I see online to verify. If that was my deck, that would be my next course of action so I did not end up with the wrong stuff. My budget leaves little room for errors though. :-)

spindles move freely, no play in them except for the middle and it has a slight up/down play.
I think that should be ok enough to not chew a belt? I greased them all up hoping to get this season use out of them at the least. (winter project hopefully)
You nailed it with the budget. I'll do the rope trick just for reassurance as well.