LT 1042 - mowing deck spindle or deck problem?

[LowT]

I bought a used cub cadet LT 1042 (model 203712). I ran over a rock when I first got it and wrecked the lawn cutting - it had been cutting very evenly. I pulled off the mowing deck and the left blade is very bent - it actually touches the inside of the deck at one point. The left spindle looks very straight - turning it I see no runout however the top of the shaft (pulley side) leans towards the right spindle. And the left pulley is about 1/2" higher than the other (3) pulleys. Not really knowing how this was supposed to look I think I've damaged the deck and not the spindle. Are the (4) pulleys supposed to all be in line? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks, LowT

 

[travlitt]

:welcome:
From Texas

The 4 pulleys should be the same or the belt would not stay on.

 

[LowT]

:welcome:
From Texas

The 4 pulleys should be the same or the belt would not stay on.

Thanks but the belt has had no problem staying on - the grass is half scalped and half uncut cause the blade is so out of level. Do you think I bent the deck where the spindle attaches? I see no other way the pulley could be high and the left blade so different from the right. I just don't want to buy a new deck if it really is just the spindle or I'm completely missing something...

 

[Topher265]

It sounds like you distorted where that left pulley spindle mounts to the deck. There are 4 bolts holding that pulley/spindle on. Both spindles should be pointing straight up, not pointed to a side.

So, remove the spindle and inspect where the spindle mounts to the deck. You should see four steel tabs. Make sure they're all level and even...I'm willing to bet the outer left (viewed from above) one is tilted up and the inner right one is tilted down and the other two are probably twisted a bit.

You might be able to just pull the spindle back into the proper position. Bending the deck tabs back into position will require a good bit of leverage.

 

[MoKelly]

Seems to me if you hit a rock hard enough to bend the mower blade, it is most likely you damage or at least moved the spindle. It could have also bent the deck where the spindle is attached.

I think you will have to remove the spindle and look very carefully at both the spindle and the deck.

Good luck.

MoKelly

 

[HillStreet]

I did the same thing to a Troy-Bilt ( same manufacturer) a couple of years ago. The deck was bent where the spindle attached. I removed the spindle and threw away the self-tapping bolts, drilled out the spindle threads, and remounted it with grade 8 bolts and nuts. Replaced both blades.

It was easy to straighten the bent deck area near the spindle-- just used a wrench and hammer. I also replaced the pulley on top of that spindle. Used it 2 years after that with no issues, no vibration, clean & level cut. I sold it and bought a bigger machine.

Added edit: the pulleys are flimsy, the pulley may be distorted so it looks like the shaft is bent. Pretty hard to bend that spindle shaft.

 

[Nashuaruns]

If your looking for OEM Cub parts at great prices I stumbled across the website cubcadetpartsbynet.com. I've used them a few times and they've had what I need in stock and ship super fast. Very easy to navigate the site. Just a heads up......

 

[HillStreet]

If your looking for OEM Cub parts at great prices I stumbled across the website cubcadetpartsbynet.com. I've used them a few times and they've had what I need in stock and ship super fast. Very easy to navigate the site. Just a heads up......

Thanks Nashua, looks like a good site, I'll bookmark it.