Cub Cadet Transmission Drive Belt Replacement GTX 1054 

Haha you are welcome. That belt probably burned up for a reason. Check that all the pulleys are free and spinning when you get under it.

@@MowerMike Thanks for your info on how to change that belt. I watch other videos and they had a impack to get the PTO off but I didn't have one and your way with the rope work just fine made a hard job so easy to do and I save 150.00 on getting it fix plus to pick up and delivery was going to be 50.00 more. Again thanks so much.

Mine has done that 3 times this yr. Getting sick of changing them. All pulleys move easily so I have no idea why it's breaking belts. Mostly on start up it smokes, stinks for a couple seconds. Scared it's going to break belt number 4. Ugh

​@@ekaybeane The tension spring is either missing and laying in your yard or needs replaced.

@@sixty9harleyPittsburghPAP thanks. I'll have it checked.

@@firebladeclements After 14 years your tension spring is likely tired allowing excess slack. I found a nearby extra hole to stretch it further

It is a true PIA.

@@MowerMike sure is, got it done with your help tho thank you!

Glad it helped. My shirts are short lived down on the shop especially white one. :)

Make sure it isn’t in neutral. Push the lever in in the back

Just a tourqe wrench. I wouldn’t over-tighten the pulleys since they are just bearings.

Nor do I

I have no idea sorry this video was done a couple of years ago, I have no idea what random comments I made.

A lot of what I shoot is very amateur lol take it with a grain of salt

Glad it helps. It is a bear of a job good luck

It isn’t an easy job good luck!

Glad a could help, those cub cadets are fickle beast haha

@@MowerMike ever replaced the idler pulleys? I purchased 2 new ones for my GTX1054 and the one with the belt keeper rod will not spin freely after tightening down. The other side spins fine. Do those pulley caps go bad or wear over time and maybe that’s causing it?

@@matts6869 The bearings in the pullies go bad and cause the plastic to melt and drag in the belt. Is any easy replacement if there is any roughness at all when you turn them by hand

Yep, me too...still not clear on why it's there or where to hook into the frame, but when I got into it, there's really only one notch in that corner.

That is a bitch of an issue. Can try taping it with a hammer or try prying down with a big flat head screwdriver.

@@MowerMikeThanks! Success! On to the next step

It is the little things my man that help the most. Glad you got’er done, that drive belt is a bear.

I assume they put it there for a reason. I have a video on how to replace it, is super easy. Look at my hydrostatic transmission playlist

@@MowerMike my bolt that hold that bearing is stuck; I can’t unscrew it

Yep Cub Cadets kinda suck. Check out this review video. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GrlvImWzqWs.htmlsi=TMDzy36K1hOU8-y0

Yep. Pure junk.

Glad it helped

Very cool looking forward to the video. Please post it here on the comments so I can check it out.

@@MowerMike Here is the link to my video. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-83Sz3SRte74.html

My son just bent the tab on one side and spun the belt off. I was able to thread it back on the same way. This is the best video for the routing of the new belt, worked great. I am just waiting for new idler pulleys to quiet the noise. Ten years of grass cutting and all three pulley bearings were shot. Clay

Sure

@@MowerMike sweet thanks bro helped me so much mower broke mid job 😅

Haha as long as you got it back out of the hole we are all good my man!

Do you have a video for drive belt replacement on Enduro xt1

Excellent advice for when that PTO is froozen on the crankshaft!

@@MowerMike I thought I'd be clever and remove just 3 (since I had the mower up at an angle) and just pivot it on the remaining bolt. No go because of the muffler. It holds the motor in place. I'll try laying it level and removing all 4. I hope I don't have to try and remove the rusted muffler bolts. Last Cub Cadet I'll buy.

@@bobsacket2980 Check out my head gasket video if want to see how I took off the muffler. And if you need a chuckle look at my cub cadet review videos. Good luck

Forgot to mention I have an XT1 54 inch. The GTX looks easier to work on. Ok, I bought a gear puller. The shaft for the puller sunk into the bolt hole! I had to clean up the threads. I found something to use to keep the puller shaft from going in the hole. The freakin pull was so stuck (after using penetrating oil on it a week ago and letting it set) that It just ended up bending the pully lips (?). That was fun trying to bend back. I ended up taking the muffler pipes off, removing all the motor bolts and used a pry bar to lift the motor at an angle to get the belt on. I had to bend the guards to do this. Screw cub cadet for not simply using a removable guard! The guard were just leaves of the chassis opening bent down at right angles. Very sturdy but bad design. The closest service place is 40 miles one way. They want $50 each way just for travel! I don't have a trailer. I guess next time I'll borrow a pickup, remove the deck and put it in the bed. Luckily I have a sharp decline from my drive to my yard so I'll be able to use some 2x10s to roll it on. I guess you could winch it up. If I can sell it I'm getting another yard man. Last one lasted 12 years mowing yard and rough fields. I just wanted a larger deck since it really cut the time down on mowing 3+ acres.

What if the pulley don't want to come off after taking bolt out?

Thank you! As you know these videos take a decent amount of work but it is a blast.

@@MowerMike truly spoken, yes they do. At least you have fun and enjoy your work. It really shows in your final cut.

Yep and you can say Told Ya So!!! This must be my wife lol

Glad it helped out. Check out the playlist section, I am trying to build this out similar to an encyclopedia for mower fixing

Haha I have been there. It doesn’t matter if the wheel is straight or not. If you want to fix it take off the pinion gear and straighten the wheels and the steering wheel. Then reinstall the pinion, they have to all be in alignment to work. As far as the spring there should be a tensioner spring somewhere to hold the belt right

It keeps the transmission cool. I would check and make sure some of that old belt isn’t stuck around the pulley freezing it up. Good luck

You won’t like this answer but here ya go! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5Wcg4OavHmk.html Unless you have some type of lift I don’t think you will be able to avoid crawling under it. It is not an easy, light or clean job.

Excellent point, scooting the motor forward is probably an easier method.

Maybe you need a new spring?

What is up with Mr Griggs?

Great tip!!

Haha so true. Glad it helped

Glad it helped. Working on these Cubs is a challenge

You got all the instruction I know how to on that rig, get’r done!

Sweet now get to mowin!

Haha right this belt is a challenge, glad I could help ya out

Thanks but you can still curse, this is a bear of a job ;)

Glad to help, getting the clutch off is the tricky part

Search my channel I have a few tricks to get the PTO off.

Glad it helped. Those drive belts are a PIA

I really appreciate the review glad it helped!

Strap her on!

Haha best comment ever. Kick that grass’s ass Mike!!

Excellent to hear, those zeroturns are nice but high dollar

Well done it is not an easy job

I would have put the level of difficulty at " for the mechanically inclined with some experience". I found this to be a easy repair but having all the right tools and know some tricks is what made it so. As mentioned. the hoist saved a lot of crawling on the ground and getting up and down. I would definitely utilize an impact tool to make quick work of getting off that PTO. Unlike my LT1045 the GTX also allows for removal of the pulley on the motor shaft and I thought that should've been easier than unbolting the engine and lifting it up to get the belt on the pulley but it looked little troublesome as well. The only other thing I saw in your repair was removal of one of the gulde pulleys to get the belt on and I am not sure why. All I had to do was pull a big screwdriver on the tensioner and pull back until the belt had enough slack. Never the less help me out a lot with your video. Thanks.

Interesting. Just go to a farm and ranch store and find one close inch wise. Good luck

@@MowerMike The sticker called for a 138" deck belt, a 136" worked.

@@Gas_n_Gears Nice well done! Replacing that belt sucks.

Just search my channel for the rope trick have a couple of videos on pulling clutches on Deeres and Cadets

They can get stuck try beating on it or prying it, just don’t bend the pulley

@@MowerMike I got it off. All steering repair and belts replaced and new tires on. This GT1554 is like new again. Mike, I dont know how many of these lawn tractors are still out there, but you may want to do a video on changing out the coils. The 2007 models had coils that were powered by the battery. the were such a pain in the ba-donk-a-donk that they changed them to an alternate type to generate their own power. I had to change mine out when one coil went bad and I only got spark on the drivers side cylinder. It's a bit of a set up with rewiring. Thanks for yer help buddy..

Than you so much for the kind note. Replacing the drive belt on these is one of the harder jobs for sure. There is no better gift than a riding mower for a young man!

Thanks Steve

You got it!

Thanks, drive belts on all these mowers are a PIA to replace. Good lucj

Glad to help!

Yes sir they are all similar

Make sure to check your pullie bearings when you get that belt off, they could be part of your problem

Knocking was caused by big chunks out of belt and a lot of cracks. Started up when finished. No noise. Original belt for 2013. Thanks tho

Good luck, the drive belt is a challenge. May just put a stronger spring on it and see if that tightens it up to save the hassle.

@@MowerMike I highly doubt thatll fix it. I was underneath it yesterday and theres cracks every 1/2-1" along almost the entire belt 🤦‍♂️😄. I started by seeing if I could get the the hydro box in the rear end to see if I just needed some fluid but the one I have is completely sealed from factory. Cant check or change the fluid so it must be the old belt causing it to "lose power" going up inclines. Plus that belt looks way looser than it should be. I'll just take my time and tinker with it until I get it. Seems like it can be annoying if you try and hurry but taking time and being patient shouldn't be too bad.

@@richstevens5727 I would worry about messing with the transmission, typically it is the belt that is loose. Good luck, I have a hydro video that talks about loose belts also

Yep it is a hard job glad it helped

Haha we have all been there, but it sure feels good when you push that lever in and it fixes it like magic. Glad the video helped

@@randygreiner594 One time I forgot to replace the spark plug! I thought I blew the engine!

I bet you can’t do it while filming it for RU-vid across about 20 different shots.

Good luck, it is a PIA

I have the belts routed right. Have checked that a few times.

Got me, I know it is tight in there. I have some other cub cadet steeering videos you may want to check out

Looks like it's gonna be a once a year event.

Good to hear, welcome aboard

Haha Thanks I think, not sure if I should be offended or complemented. All the stuff I work on though really is broke crap so these fixes are real

@@MowerMike Not bashing you. I get focused too and do the same thing. Just thought it was funny.

@@mikekopf1173 I appreciate it. I got a chuckle out of that, sent a pic of that comments to my buddies.

You are winning my man!

Yep i know the feelin, When you go to mow this mower just keeps breaking. my mower now loves to idle jump so im guessing carb clean job next. after i get this drive line done.

Glad it helped appreciate the comment

​@@MowerMike i have a MTD Super Bronco with a kohler - very similar but more like the Cub Cadet ltx1050vt slightly different rear trans pulley replacement needed - your videos and one by Sneeze Acres will clearly describe the procedure for a MTD Super Bronco and a Cub Cadet ltx1050vt

@@foxmoth5477 That is good to know, thanks for the feedback I will add that in the description

Check out the video description, there is a link to the belt I used there

What are you planning on building?

@@MowerMike Howdy, got to thinking, rear sprockets can you call me?

@@cowboywoodard2569 Nope it isn’t that type of show

You are welcome glad it helped

Maybe for your mower but not this one.

I was actually going to ask what the length was going to be cuz I got to do mine glad I looked at the video cuz I already freaked out a few times and I don't need to kill anybody tomorrow they're nice people at the ace place so you know doing this all psycho they go over there

@@robertreed6635 It is just a mower belt, but I get how frustrating they can be. The size listed for this one wasn’t right online.

Cub Cadet site shows multiple belt lengths based on the year manufactured.

You bet!

Word

Get’er Done!

Glad it helps I appreciate the kind words. The only good spot up front is to hook a winch cable around the front axle. Or remove the deck and you can use the frame rails. Or you can totally make the tractor vertical and sit it on its but just be careful with spilling any fuel.

Haha I can relate, these Cub Cadets are frustrating machines. Wrenching mowers in the air is a life changer

Excellent point. I get a bit loose with torque specs working on these old mowers.

Sorry not buying that, these belts are all made in China same crap just belts

@@MowerMike So how many hours did you are do you get off those D&D belts then? I bet you anything it's not 400 hours. Yes my belt was $40 but at 400 hours since 2006, I will take that anyday.

@@mikeyspeeds1056 No idea have never had to change one twice.