Deck belt change on a Green Machine
 

So, I have a John Deere GT 235 in my garage because my gal's uncle sold it to her dad. I am not particularly fond of it, but it has been reliable for several years so far and it has been in service for about 25 years. I can appreciate quality machines, but when I had to change the deck belt my opinion changed quickly. The doggone things has pulleys everywhere! I cannot get the deck off of the tractor, so my change is made even more challenging as I have to strong arm the tensioner pulley. The belt got trapped underneath the driver's RHS far pulley and because a bolt extends up, it took me way to long to free up the belt for removal. All the time I was saying, "Who engineered this train wreck!!!". IH had it well engineered for the QA deck and the simplicity of designing just 4 pulleys instead of 7.

Cub Cadet 123

I feel your pain! during covid I was looking for something to do while I sat at home. I bought, rebuilt and sold 4 GT235/GT245 they are a nightmare of pulleys controls, cheap plastic hood parts and so over complicated.
I will admit the 235 cut grass better than any of my cub tractors ever did - I bought a (used) JD ZTR because of it and got rid of both of my Cub ZTR's

I wish we had Bigger Picture capability on this forum to show you how easy it is to remove. They remove almost the same way as the JD GX300 series decks.

To me, the second-generation JD GT200 series decks are very easy to remove.

But are you guys loosening the tension on the spring assist on the tractor? When do you remove the mowing deck?

BTW, the JD GT200 series decks come off faster than the Cub Cadet XT3 series decks; those can be a nightmare to release the tension on the deck belt.

Funny, I knew the engineers that designed the IH system, and I know the engineers that designed the second-generation JD GT200 series tractors. :ThumbsUp:

Been a while since I've taken the deck on or off of my grandfather's X500, but as I recall it was about as easy as it could be. There's certainly a wide range between the easiest and hardest decks to take off on the tractors that are out there.

4 pins and the belt from the electric clutch for the Current X500 series models:ThumbsUp:

I am not for sure whether modern engineering takes into account servicing is as important as functionality. I am just going to muscle the belt on and leave the deck on the tractor. Even things like changing light bulbs on my 2015 F350 requires the removal of the front end of the truck. Just a PITA. Sorry for venting. We have all been there, done that before.

Cub Cadet 122