1973 PTO Belt Questions

149CubLover · Aug 23, 2024

Hi all!

Some of you may remember me, I bought a really nice condition 1973 149 back in June. I did one full 2 acre mow and it worked flawless.

Yesterday since the weather has been cooler I decided to give her another 2 acre mow, except my PTO belt kept smoking. At first I thought I was cutting too low but even after raising the deck up it still was smoking.

Couple questions...

What belt do I need? I'm not 100% sure what model deck I have other than it is a 48" deck and has been modified, as some users have told me.

Second, it looks like the belt isn't sitting right on the right side area when facing the tractor (see pictures)

Third, what is the yellow bar at the front of the mower that can go up and down.

Lastly, how do I release this belt so I can change it out. The previous owner gave me a spare one.

Here's a video of what's happening when I engage the PTO. My guess is the belt is old and too loose.

149CubLover · Aug 23, 2024

Well, I can see my issue. I'm missing the right pulley! Looks like I bought it that way.

Surprised it even mowed 2+ acres!!

Now, can someone help me name and find which pulley and bearing I need? I'm seeing some on ihccw but some not sure exactly which one I need!

digger · Aug 23, 2024

149CubLover said:
Well, I can see my issue. I'm missing the right pulley! Looks like I bought it that way.

Surprised it even mowed 2+ acres!!

Now, can someone help me name and find which pulley and bearing I need? I'm seeing some on ihccw but some not sure exactly which one I need!

https://www.ccspecialties.org/pulleys.html

149CubLover · Aug 23, 2024

digger said:
https://www.ccspecialties.org/pulleys.html

View attachment 157736

Thank you!! Wonder how in the world that pulley wore down and why I didn't see it when I bought it.

digger · Aug 23, 2024

149CubLover said:
Thank you!! Wonder how in the world that pulley wore down and why I didn't see it when I bought it.

I can't believe the belt even stays on. :errrr:

149CubLover · Aug 23, 2024

digger said:
I can't believe the belt even stays on.

LOL! I can't believe I mowed a total of 3 as acres since June with it. First mow was absolutely no issues. Luckily the original owner included an extra belt. Seems like he may have been chewing through them!

149CubLover · Aug 24, 2024

So tonight I took apart the right pulley and man I'm blown away out how it failed and the belt still stayed on!

I did find out that pulley was on there when I bought tractor. Sometime today it fell off. It has to be laying in my yard somewhere.

I then took apart the left pulley and that thing was seized tight too!

One question I have is when I put the belt back on, it sort of twists. The v part of the belt I sits inside the two pulley grooves and the v part also sits inside the grooved part on the center deck spindle. That would mean the v part doesn't sit inside the groove on the clutch pulley. That's how it's been since I've owned the tractor. Here's a picture of the old belt sitting on the clutch of pulley.

dschwandt · Aug 24, 2024

It's been like that since you got it??
Absolutely freaking amazing!!
Make SURE you get the correct pullies and belts for it.
Don't even try to re-use that old belt, it's probably not the correct one anyway
.Charlie at CC Specialties can fix you up with what you need.
Would also be a good idea to drop that deck while yiu are at it and check everything out there as well
Links for Manuals for your Cub and equipment as well as links to parts manuals are available on this site, take advantage of them and learn all about your machine!
Good Luck

PACub100 · Aug 24, 2024

Not sure what brand of belt that is but I haven't seen any with those notches except really cheap belts.

The belt seats in the PTO pulley (using your belt as an example, notches down inside the V of all the pulleys) then twists 90⁰ to seat in the mule drive pulleys, then twists back that same 90⁰ as it goes to the deck pulley.
(It was most likely seated correctly until your mule drive pulley said "I'm outta here")

Quite simple, once you look at it while you're working the belt in place it'll become clear.

And yes, that's pretty amazing that you even got to mow with your mule drive pulleys seized. You might want to find out what brand belt that is cuz it should have shredded or burnt off within a minute or so after the PTO was engaged, or at least from my experience...

149CubLover · Aug 24, 2024

PACub100 said:
Not sure what brand of belt that is but I haven't seen any with those notches except really cheap belts.

The belt seats in the PTO pulley (using your belt as an example, notches down inside the V of all the pulleys) then twists 90⁰ to seat in the mule drive pulleys, then twists back that same 90⁰ as it goes to the deck pulley.
(It was most likely seated correctly until your mule drive pulley said "I'm outta here")

Quite simple, once you look at it while you're working the belt in place it'll become clear.

And yes, that's pretty amazing that you even got to mow with your mule drive pulleys seized. You might want to find out what brand belt that is cuz it should have shredded or burnt off within a minute or so after the PTO was engaged, or at least from my experience...

It's a dayco 3vx800. The original previous owner gave me a spare and it looks like he's been using them since at least 1990, as I see notes in the manual on that belt number.

Where at in pa? Maybe my to pulley landed in your yard

I remember my 5 year old son was sitting on the deck and said Dad, why's your mower smoking lol

PACub100 · Aug 24, 2024

149CubLover said:
Where at in pa?

Below Altoona.

dsarow · Aug 24, 2024

This is just plain amazing.You are wise to ask questions and post pictures on this site!!Their is a wealth of info here,and eager members to help you.Our sponsors on the top of the page have the parts and will answer your questions.you'll enjoy your Cub more when you get the problems addressed and you understand how it works.Good luck

mgonitzke · Aug 24, 2024

Belt info can be found here: http://cubfaq.com/belts.html

48" deck on that tractor uses IH-489397-R3 3/8 X 75-1/2". I'd suggest getting this OEM belt. Aftermarket 3/8" belts do not work well in this application.

149CubLover · Aug 24, 2024

mgonitzke said:
Belt info can be found here: http://cubfaq.com/belts.html

48" deck on that tractor uses IH-489397-R3 3/8 X 75-1/2". I'd suggest getting this OEM belt. Aftermarket 3/8" belts do not work well in this application.

So what I find interesting is the belt the guy I got it from was an 80" and he has hand written notes in the manual that he was using this belt as of at least 1991.

Then then there's multiple people online saying they've had success using an 80" as well.

Then another guy swears by Oregon brand belt that's 78".

Currently I have a gates 3vx800 which is an 80" 3/8" belt. The belt listed that's genuine Cub Cadet is a 75" belt. I feel like that belt which is 5" shorter than the one I took off and have, will be very hard to get around the last pulley when installing...

Maybe I'm missing something here... Educate me!

etopel · Aug 24, 2024

What is that deck? It looks like somebody fabricated it and used parts from an IH deck for the hangers and belt covers. That could explain the longer belt. It also looks like at the least the pto needs a new bearing if not a complete rebuild. It's not supposed to wobble like that.

149CubLover · Aug 24, 2024

etopel said:
What is that deck? It looks like somebody fabricated it and used parts from an IH deck for the hangers and belt covers. That could explain the longer belt. It also looks like at the least the pto needs a new bearing if not a complete rebuild. It's not supposed to wobble like that.

I am not sure what deck I have. It has been painted and all serial numbers or anything are gone.

Another user on here said it's a third version of a 1973 48" deck, that has been modified.

I thought that wobble wasn't normal as well. I'm new to this old mower world so I'm assuming I would need to take off the PTO and buy a bearing?

mgonitzke · Aug 24, 2024

Got any pics of the center pulley on your deck? I wonder if someone put the huge center pulley from the oldest version of the 48" deck on there. Those tractors used an 81" belt...

Since you are going to start tearing into this thing to fix the PTO bearing, you'll likely find the service manuals here helpful: http://ccmanuals.info

149CubLover · Aug 24, 2024

mgonitzke said:
Got any pics of the center pulley on your deck? I wonder if someone put the huge center pulley from the oldest version of the 48" deck on there. Those tractors used an 81" belt...

Since you are going to start tearing into this thing to fix the PTO bearing, you'll likely find the service manuals here helpful: http://ccmanuals.info

Here's the center pulley...

I won't be doing the clutch bearing myself. I have a friend who charges $20/hr. But I will be sourcing the parts for him.

Any help on what I should get would be great. Should I just to the bearing and collar or a whole rebuild kit?

So far I found these options:

https://mowthelawn.com/products/cub-cadet-ih-60071-c92

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1335855647...Kp3s6JwSHK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

149CubLover · Aug 25, 2024

Here's a video I took for a mechanic friend. Shows me looking for excessive play in the bearing.

-CӞ · Aug 25, 2024

were you able to find the expired pulley?
like before it whacks your mower blade next time you’re out mowing (after repairs)?

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