how to replace transmission drive belt on cub cadet 1000 Model LT1042

The drive pulley on the crankshaft will not come off. The solution is to remove the engine bolts and shift/ lift the engine to get clearance as the over qualified engineers built the guide into the frame pan. Pull the hood and lift the tractor. PTO clutch/lock bracket comes off, deck comes off, 4 engine bolts(1 of the 4 engine bolts have to come off in such a way that one of the steering links need to come off.)Omit the last part if your pulley actually does come off. The rest is roll the belt over the front pulley, then the back fan/ pulley- then through the two pulley actuator and over the tensioner pulley. Impact wrench is a great idea to remove the PTO clutch. Re-apply loctite to the bolt when installing. 954-0461 I believe is the correct belt. Look under the hood for the part # to be sure.

You can loosen the engine bolts partially and move the engine around a bit to slip the new belt over the engine pully.

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See the image below for replacing the belt, for how the belt is routed:---

Cub Cadet recommends replacing the transmission drive belt with a factory approved belt, which is typically available at retailers that sell this brand.

Park the tractor on a level place. Remove the mowing deck and place the front wheels on blocks or jack up the front end. Place wooden blocks behind the rear wheels to ensure the tractor doesn't move while it is being serviced. Disconnect the battery cables, removing the negative contact first.

Detach the PTO electrical harness underneath the engine. Loosen and remove the hex nut from the electric PTO clutch. Lower the PTO clutch nut off the crankshaft, making sure not to lose the nut or any accompanying washers.

Remove the old belt from the tensioner, or fixed V-idler, pulley. This round pulley is located midway between the PTO clutch and the transmission. Pull down on the engine pulley, which is located on the driveshaft, and remove the belt from the engine pulley. Continue unlooping the old belt from the pulleys. Remove it from the transmission pulley in between the rear wheels last. Discard the old belt.

Place the new belt on the transmission pulley first. Take care not to bend the transmission fan blades. Loop it back through the other pulleys in the reverse order in which it was removed.

Place the PTO hex bolt and any washers that were on the shaft back in place and tighten the bolt. Replace the mowing deck. Reconnect the battery cables, connecting the positive cable first. Lower the front end off the blocks or jack.