Stock 38” mower deck for cub 73

Cub73 · #1 06-11-2021, 01:05 AM

Hello,

I had recently purchased a cub cadet 73, but it did not come with a mower deck. I was wondering if someone knows what the stock 38” mower deck numbers are. I do not know a lot about these mower decks, I picked up a mower deck but it had wider slide bars on it that the ones on the pictures of restored cub 73’s. The one I had purchased was also missing the number plate, so I do not know what model it is. I am trying to keep it as original as possible. I had heard from someone that the original one that came on a 73 was 38-1U1114, but I do not know if that is correct.

R Bedell · #2 06-11-2021, 08:34 AM

First, welcome to OCC..........

The are several generations of the 38" mower deck, the one you want to focus in on is the 38" for a Narrow Frame tractor with a Quick Attach (QA) Mule Drive. Although IH was not real keen on identifying with model numbers in their literature, you can look for 381Uxxxx.

ironman · #3 06-11-2021, 10:33 AM

The one that Roland described would look like this, but you may see some with wheels instead of skids that will work fine also.

drglinski · #4 06-19-2021, 08:56 PM

Follow up on this:

I just bought the 38" that's pictured above for my 73 but it does not have the PTO to deck belt and I'm not sure exactly what size it is to get. I ran a string around the pulleys and it's 76.5" taught. Not sure if this is correct?

Thanks

ironman · #5 06-20-2021, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drglinski

Follow up on this:

I just bought the 38" that's pictured above for my 73 but it does not have the PTO to deck belt and I'm not sure exactly what size it is to get. I ran a string around the pulleys and it's 76.5" taught. Not sure if this is correct?

Thanks

The book calls for p/n IH-490489-R2 which is 3/8 x 80, however I think 1/2 x 80 is not a problem.

I don't think string is the best thing to gauge by as it will bottom out in the grooves on all the pulleys and shorten your measurement.
Belts don't ride at the bottom of the "vee".

darkminion_17 · #6 06-20-2021, 04:10 PM

I see it in the picture, did it get lost?

drglinski · #7 06-20-2021, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironman

The book calls for p/n IH-490489-R2 which is 3/8 x 80, however I think 1/2 x 80 is not a problem.

I don't think string is the best thing to gauge by as it will bottom out in the grooves on all the pulleys and shorten your measurement.
Belts don't ride at the bottom of the "vee".

Ok, thanks....I wasn't sure if I had the period correct mower for the tractor, etc, and figured running a string would get me closer estimate than haphazardly buying belts that were wrong.

drglinski · #8 06-24-2021, 10:30 PM

Thanks...that belt works great.