You don't have to remove the deck from the tractor. Loosen up the 2 nuts (5/8") so you can wiggle up the idler pulleys that have the L shape brackets. Then use a very...very...very large pair of channel lock pliers to lift off the strong idler tension spring. Put the new belt into place on all of the pulleys. Last step is to pull the strong spring with the heavy duty channel lock pliers to return the spring into the home position. Return the 2 covers. Total elapsed time is less than 30 minutes!
I had the old belt on and off without trouble, but I bought a brand new belt from John Deere, and I can’t get the twist out of it. I route the belt correctly per the photo, but there’s a twist or two. I’ve replaced hundreds of fan belts in 55 years, but I’ve never had one that insists on being twisted before I ever put it in.
Thank you John for making the video. I was struggling to get the belt over the engine pully. I found your video and saw I overlooked the obvious: using a socket wrench to pull the tension pully forward give a lot of slack in the belt. My operators manual just says pull that idler pully forward but does not mention how. So, I was pulling with my hand which did not give me enough slack. LOL. I just overlooked the obvious. With your method, it was so easy.
Js, glad I could help! I put one on once & I was outside & it was fairly cold, so the belt did not stretch very much & my tiny wife had to help me! So, embarrassing! :)
@@harrison4803 I put it out on f/b and a friend helped me figure it out, 15 mm. the bolts wouldn't budge so we are going to try an impact wrench tomorrow.
@@dennisrobbins458 Dennis, hopefully you can get them off with an impact wrench, but years ago (2015) I had to cut a groove in 1 bolt head & break it loose w/a large screw driver. See the link below. Let us know how it goes? ua-cam.com/video/3Dlqupbp8Eo/v-deo.html
Thanks for the video brother. Just picked up a L130. I need to adjust the deck. I can’t find a video to save my life. The L130 doesn’t have the left and right adjustment bolts. Help please lol
Larry, see if it is in this manual? If not, JD should have a video or manual on their web site: manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMGX21647_K3/Output/Index.html?tM=HO
Would it hurt for one still shot of the completed belt installation? I had to pause at 6:02 to see it. Just a bit of advice. My father is also a retired engineer so I'm used to the over "splaining". Thanks for the video.
Thanks, Ken! I had technical difficulties and lost some footage. That's why I point out that one needs to take pictures of the belt before removing it, of course, that is if it's not totally broken and off all of the pulleys. Does your Dad make videos? Thanks for watching!
@@kengalanty2871 Well I am 71 but got into web design, for fun, and then videos with a simple Samsung player and maybe had more technical knowledge, before I retired to fall back on. Thanks for watching and commenting!
It's because I am a retired engineer and 70 yrs. old, at the time. You can fast forward, if you know how? :) Went to your channel to try to pick up some tips but, low and behold, you have not made a single video!
Lisa, if you can get a belt with the same dimensions, thickness, etc. (same specs.), it probably doesn't matter. Let us know what you find out? Thanks for watching!
I fixed my driver mower deck belt today for my L120. This video did help, but I will help add to make it better. Would have been nice to go through how to line the belt onto the pulleys better. I ended up just searching for Diagrams on google images and many popped up that showed detailed images. Also, hard to take a pic when the belt is damaged. The last part could have shown with the camera exactly how to move the belt forward onto the mower pulley . Your explanation was very confusing. I ended up using a regular wrench and you only use it to pull the pulley that is attached to the spring clockwise to lengthen the belt. With that said it was still too tight. I had to have my wife hold the wrench for me while I got to the front of the mower to place belt on. I had to stretch as hard as I could but I got it on. In some cases like myself can't be in two places at once. I figured this would be added valuable information for anyone.
Clayton, the camera stopped on me & I didn't realize it. Sometimes "S**t" happens when you are live. Usually there is a diagram on the cardboard that the new belt comes in, you can refer to, also. Sorry about that! Thanks for watching, though!
Eric, don't know if it is the best but I did try! I doing my filming under actual conditions & usually outside & so some complain about wind, noise, etc. So, I really appreciate the good comments!
This could have been helpful but your video is all over the place, you were pointing the camera at God knows what for the critical part that I needed to see, next time have a cameraman or kid available to help show the job, might have been useful but wasn’t
Sorry about that, Pam! Quite frankly, I lost part of my video & had to improvise. The card board sleeve that holds the belt should have a diagram of how the belt goes. When one is doing emergency work, filming technique is the last thing on one's mind!
32 others do not agree with your assessment, mud, but as a retired engineer, I do tend to "over splain"! Thanks for watching and even a "thumbs down" gives me money! 😀
Hi what was the belt size
You don't have to remove the deck from the tractor. Loosen up the 2 nuts (5/8") so you can wiggle up the idler pulleys that have the L shape brackets. Then use a very...very...very large pair of channel lock pliers to lift off the strong idler tension spring. Put the new belt into place on all of the pulleys. Last step is to pull the strong spring with the heavy duty channel lock pliers to return the spring into the home position. Return the 2 covers. Total elapsed time is less than 30 minutes!
Wow, Darrell, I would like to see a video of that?
I had the old belt on and off without trouble, but I bought a brand new belt from John Deere, and I can’t get the twist out of it. I route the belt correctly per the photo, but there’s a twist or two.
I’ve replaced hundreds of fan belts in 55 years, but I’ve never had one that insists on being twisted before I ever put it in.
So, threading it through the pulleys does not straighten it out?
Thank you John for making the video. I was struggling to get the belt over the engine pully. I found your video and saw I overlooked the obvious: using a socket wrench to pull the tension pully forward give a lot of slack in the belt. My operators manual just says pull that idler pully forward but does not mention how. So, I was pulling with my hand which did not give me enough slack. LOL. I just overlooked the obvious. With your method, it was so easy.
Js, glad I could help! I put one on once & I was outside & it was fairly cold, so the belt did not stretch very much & my tiny wife had to help me! So, embarrassing! :)
Thanks helped a lot!
Glad I could help, wise1!
Hi just wondering...I have an L130 as well but a dealer gave me a GX21833 which is 141 inches long. Could this be?
JDM, mine is 48" long for a 48" deck, PN GX203305. So, that doesn't sound right?
Your video helped me put my jumped belt back on and I was able to finish my honey-do. Thanks, man, you saved my marriage! :)
I'm trying to change the blade's (3) on my L130 I don't know what size socket to use
I can't remember? I guess I don't mention it in the video? Do you have different size sockets you can try? Thanks for watching!
@@harrison4803 I put it out on f/b and a friend helped me figure it out, 15 mm. the bolts wouldn't budge so we are going to try an impact wrench tomorrow.
@@dennisrobbins458 Dennis, hopefully you can get them off with an impact wrench, but years ago (2015) I had to cut a groove in 1 bolt head & break it loose w/a large screw driver. See the link below. Let us know how it goes? ua-cam.com/video/3Dlqupbp8Eo/v-deo.html
I did it!
Fantastic! Good mowing!
Thanks for the video brother.
Just picked up a L130. I need to adjust the deck. I can’t find a video to save my life. The L130 doesn’t have the left and right adjustment bolts. Help please lol
Larry, see if it is in this manual? If not, JD should have a video or manual on their web site:
manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMGX21647_K3/Output/Index.html?tM=HO
John H thank you for the reply and info. Have you ever had to adjust your 130?
@@lyonsnaa No, I have not, Larry. From what I can tell from the cut pattern, I don't see a need.
Would it hurt for one still shot of the completed belt installation? I had to pause at 6:02 to see it. Just a bit of advice. My father is also a retired engineer so I'm used to the over "splaining". Thanks for the video.
Thanks, Ken! I had technical difficulties and lost some footage. That's why I point out that one needs to take pictures of the belt before removing it, of course, that is if it's not totally broken and off all of the pulleys. Does your Dad make videos? Thanks for watching!
@@harrison4803 No, he doesn't make videos any more. He is from the 8mm and VHS eras. :)
@@kengalanty2871 Well I am 71 but got into web design, for fun, and then videos with a simple Samsung player and maybe had more technical knowledge, before I retired to fall back on. Thanks for watching and commenting!
6:02 is exactly the second where I paused it too. Printed that screen and took it out to the mower with me!
I just replaced my belt on my Scotts L2048 made by John Deere. Basically the same thing. I did not have to take the deck off.
So, James what is your secret?
Why's it feel like this guy is in slow motion
It's because I am a retired engineer and 70 yrs. old, at the time. You can fast forward, if you know how? :) Went to your channel to try to pick up some tips but, low and behold, you have not made a single video!
Thanks, John. Appreciate the instructions.
does it have to be a john deere belt
Lisa, if you can get a belt with the same dimensions, thickness, etc. (same specs.), it probably doesn't matter. Let us know what you find out? Thanks for watching!
It also helped us alot thank you 😁
Glad to be of help!
I liked the video but it would be more helpful if someone else was doing the video.
I just need a drawing of how the f belt goes. anyone have something as simple as that?
There should be a drawing on the cardboard that the belt came in? I can make an image of mine, if you want? Let us know how it goes?
I fixed my driver mower deck belt today for my L120. This video did help, but I will help add to make it better. Would have been nice to go through how to line the belt onto the pulleys better. I ended up just searching for Diagrams on google images and many popped up that showed detailed images. Also, hard to take a pic when the belt is damaged. The last part could have shown with the camera exactly how to move the belt forward onto the mower pulley . Your explanation was very confusing. I ended up using a regular wrench and you only use it to pull the pulley that is attached to the spring clockwise to lengthen the belt. With that said it was still too tight. I had to have my wife hold the wrench for me while I got to the front of the mower to place belt on. I had to stretch as hard as I could but I got it on. In some cases like myself can't be in two places at once. I figured this would be added valuable information for anyone.
Why did you cover the pulleys BEFORE you showed the final diagram? Stop the video and take a picture of what it looks like when done.
Clayton, the camera stopped on me & I didn't realize it. Sometimes "S**t" happens when you are live. Usually there is a diagram on the cardboard that the new belt comes in, you can refer to, also. Sorry about that! Thanks for watching, though!
Best video I've seen on youtube about this topic helped me fix the problem thank brother!!
Eric, don't know if it is the best but I did try! I doing my filming under actual conditions & usually outside & so some complain about wind, noise, etc. So, I really appreciate the good comments!
This could have been helpful but your video is all over the place, you were pointing the camera at God knows what for the critical part that I needed to see, next time have a cameraman or kid available to help show the job, might have been useful but wasn’t
Sorry about that, Pam! Quite frankly, I lost part of my video & had to improvise. The card board sleeve that holds the belt should have a diagram of how the belt goes. When one is doing emergency work, filming technique is the last thing on one's mind!
Too much talking
32 others do not agree with your assessment, mud, but as a retired engineer, I do tend to "over splain"! Thanks for watching and even a "thumbs down" gives me money! 😀