This is from the CPE-2 Parts Catalog

Then I would say the deck is NOT mounted to the tractor correctly.

Would make sense since I think the tractor is a '72..not certain though. I got it with my house in '81. The guy we bought the house from asked if I'd give $500 for it. At the time, I knew nada about garden tractors. My Dad said to absolutely buy it - great decision since, of course, I still have it.

Thanks for all the great info! Guess I'll take a chance on the 81". Even if I give as much slack as possible on the right pulley (left side has the spring) I can't get the belt anywhere close to it. If I take the spring off the left one, then maybe I can get the belt over both and go from there. I'm betting the one I've been using is probably stretched out to beyond 81" at this point since I could just about slip it over the deck spindle without even making any adjustments up front nor taking the belt off the PTO.

Well, it's mounted on there the same way it has been for the past 40 years. Once the spring loaded pins are locked into the undercarriage (the correct name for this eludes me at the moment)..that's it. The deck at that point really cant be shifted any farther back or front.

Mule drive....! Couldn't think of the proper name. It sure does look like that 490 is the correct belt. I must have gotten that one at least 10 years ago and just never used it. No idea how I wound up with the 473462R4 that I've been using for probably far longer than 10 years. Hmmmm....such a decision.

One interesting point though. Not sure how much difference it makes, but my deck doesn't look anything like the one pictured in the chart. Mine looks like this.

I am not there and can't see the mount, but something is not right.

The belt IH-490489-R2 comes up as the correct, in the Online parts lookup, the IH CPE-2 paper parts catalog, and the Cub Cadet Belt Chart.

I went by this information you supplied
* 129 Tractor
* 422U1113 42" Mower Deck

The information I supplied you, is based on that data.

Thanks so much for trying to help. I have the 80" here, so maybe pick up a new 81" and see it if works. Certainly alot easier to put on!! It's not like I ever had slack on the belt - I've always been able to adjust it as tight as I want.


Here are few pics...

Have the mule drive pulleys ever been changed? That may cause an issue if they are bigger...

Nope...original. Replaced the spring already but not the pulleys. Pretty sure I have a new one laying around somewhere but never used it yet. Just put an eBay offer in on an 80" Cub belt. Should work fine since I've been using that same size for umpteen years.