Only Cub Cadets

PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR SPONSORS!

CC Specialties R. F. Houtz and Sons Jeff in Pa.

P&K Cub Cadet Machtech Direct

Cub Cadet Parts & Service


If you would like to help maintain this site & enhance it, feel free to donate whatever amount you would like to!




Attention Guest, We have turned off the forum to guest. This is due to bots attacking the site. It is still free to register.

-->
Go Back   Only Cub Cadets > Off Topic > General Talk

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-01-2025, 11:53 PM
Cub Cadet 123's Avatar
Cub Cadet 123 Cub Cadet 123 is offline
Grand Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 4,516
Default Deck belt change on a Green Machine

So, I have a John Deere GT 235 in my garage because my gal's uncle sold it to her dad. I am not particularly fond of it, but it has been reliable for several years so far and it has been in service for about 25 years. I can appreciate quality machines, but when I had to change the deck belt my opinion changed quickly. The doggone things has pulleys everywhere! I cannot get the deck off of the tractor, so my change is made even more challenging as I have to strong arm the tensioner pulley. The belt got trapped underneath the driver's RHS far pulley and because a bolt extends up, it took me way to long to free up the belt for removal. All the time I was saying, "Who engineered this train wreck!!!". IH had it well engineered for the QA deck and the simplicity of designing just 4 pulleys instead of 7.

Cub Cadet 123
__________________
Still don't know what I'm doing in OHIO?.....If you find me, then please point me back toward INDIANA.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-03-2025, 12:02 PM
spndncash spndncash is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Medina Ohio
Posts: 262
Default

I feel your pain! during covid I was looking for something to do while I sat at home. I bought, rebuilt and sold 4 GT235/GT245 they are a nightmare of pulleys controls, cheap plastic hood parts and so over complicated.
I will admit the 235 cut grass better than any of my cub tractors ever did - I bought a (used) JD ZTR because of it and got rid of both of my Cub ZTR's
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-03-2025, 11:21 PM
Sergeant's Avatar
Sergeant Sergeant is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wayne, IL
Posts: 573
Default

I wish we had Bigger Picture capability on this forum to show you how easy it is to remove. They remove almost the same way as the JD GX300 series decks.

To me, the second-generation JD GT200 series decks are very easy to remove.

But are you guys loosening the tension on the spring assist on the tractor? When do you remove the mowing deck?

BTW, the JD GT200 series decks come off faster than the Cub Cadet XT3 series decks; those can be a nightmare to release the tension on the deck belt.

Funny, I knew the engineers that designed the IH system, and I know the engineers that designed the second-generation JD GT200 series tractors.
__________________
0riginal, 60 RER, 70, 106, 1450, 2182, 3208, XT3GSX & SX54 Z Force
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-09-2025, 10:31 PM
CadetTommy's Avatar
CadetTommy CadetTommy is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 141
Default

Been a while since I've taken the deck on or off of my grandfather's X500, but as I recall it was about as easy as it could be. There's certainly a wide range between the easiest and hardest decks to take off on the tractors that are out there.
__________________
'74 IHCC 108 - 38A, supersteer axle
'75 IHCC 1000 - 44A, Sears wheel weights
'87 CC 1872 and 1811 - Haban, 44C
'96 CC 1863 - 54GT
'79 JD 400 - 60" deck
"Projects" '67 123, '65 102, '71 126
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-10-2025, 03:52 AM
Sergeant's Avatar
Sergeant Sergeant is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wayne, IL
Posts: 573
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CadetTommy View Post
Been a while since I've taken the deck on or off of my grandfather's X500, but as I recall it was about as easy as it could be. There's certainly a wide range between the easiest and hardest decks to take off on the tractors that are out there.
4 pins and the belt from the electric clutch for the Current X500 series models
__________________
0riginal, 60 RER, 70, 106, 1450, 2182, 3208, XT3GSX & SX54 Z Force
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-12-2025, 12:08 PM
Cub Cadet 123's Avatar
Cub Cadet 123 Cub Cadet 123 is offline
Grand Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 4,516
Default

I am not for sure whether modern engineering takes into account servicing is as important as functionality. I am just going to muscle the belt on and leave the deck on the tractor. Even things like changing light bulbs on my 2015 F350 requires the removal of the front end of the truck. Just a PITA. Sorry for venting. We have all been there, done that before.

Cub Cadet 122
__________________
Still don't know what I'm doing in OHIO?.....If you find me, then please point me back toward INDIANA.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

Cub Cadet is a premium line of outdoor power equipment, established in 1961 as part of International Harvester. During the 1960s, IH initiated an entirely new line of lawn and garden equipment aimed at the owners rural homes with large yards and private gardens. There were a wide variety of Cub Cadet branded and after-market attachments available; including mowers, blades, snow blowers, front loaders, plows, carts, etc. Cub Cadet advertising at that time harped on their thorough testing by "boys - acknowledged by many as the world's worst destructive force!". Cub Cadets became known for their dependability and rugged construction.

MTD Products, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio purchased the Cub Cadet brand from International Harvester in 1981. Cub Cadet was held as a wholly owned subsidiary for many years following this acquisition, which allowed them to operate independently. Recently, MTD has taken a more aggressive role and integrated Cub Cadet into its other lines of power equipment.

This website and forum are not affiliated with or sponsored by MTD Products Inc, which owns the CUB CADET trademarks. It is not an official MTD Products Inc, website, and MTD Products Inc, is not responsible for any of its content. The official MTD Products Inc, website can be found at: http://www.mtdproducts.com. The information and opinions expressed on this website are the responsibility of the website's owner and/or it's members, and do not represent the opinions of MTD Products Inc. IH, INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER are registered trademark of CNH America LLC

All material, images, and graphics from this site are the property of www.onlycubcadets.net. Any unauthorized use, reproductions, or duplications are prohibited unless solely expressed in writing.

Cub Cadet, Cub, Cadet, IH, MTD, Parts, Tractors, Tractor, International Harvester, Lawn, Garden, Lawn Mower, Kohler, garden tractor equipment, lawn garden tractors, antique garden tractors, garden tractor, PTO, parts, online, Original, 70, 71, 72, 73, 76, SO76, 80, 81, 86, 100, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108,109, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 147, 149, 169, 182, 282, 382, 482, 580, 582, 582 Special, 680, 682, 782, 782D, 784, 800, 805, 882, 982, 984, 986, 1000, 1015, 1100, 1105, 1110, 1200, 1250, 1282, 1450, 1512, 1604, 1605, 1606, 1610, 1615, 1620, 1650, 1710, 1711, 1712, 1806, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1912, 1914.