[Solved] John Deere 42 Inch Mower Deck Belt Diagram

john deere 42 inch mower deck belt diagram

John Deere 42 inch mower deck belt is an important unit to let the engine run properly. Without this belt, the engine and the blades won’t have any connection.

But, over time, this belt also goes through some troubles. So, you must be thinking about how to make the mower deck belt long lasting?     

You can do it by avoiding lengthy grasses, adjusting the belt keepers properly, inspecting the pulleys, reducing excessive stretching, and inspecting regularly.            

Only a brief idea won’t help you much. You need to observe the John Deere 42 inch mower deck belt diagram to recognize it quickly. A few more profitable facts are also included.

So, let me drive your attention to the niceties.      

Belt Routing John Deere 42 Inch Mower Deck Belt Diagram

Even you know that the deck belt operates regularly while using the mower. Thus, it can get damaged or there can be other issues, too.

If you know the exact location of the John Deere 42 inch mower deck belt, you can start the fixing process. Therefore, a diagram is attached below to show where the belt is located. 

Let’s not delay anymore and recognize the belt’s place. 

John Deere 42 Inch Mower Deck Belt Size

After reaching a duration of using the John Deere mower, its 42 inch deck belt will start to deteriorate. But, finding the accurate size of it compatible with the mower deck can be tough.

Therefore, check out the John Deere 42 inch mower deck belt size list and get the suitable one.

SerialDeck Belt Model            Deck Belt SizeCompatible With
1M174994144.8 Inches (3678.0 mm)X300 Series
2M12873398.5 Inches (2501.0 mm)LT Series
3M4382073.6 Inches (1869.4 mm)42C, GX Series, LX280, X324
4M15071778.7 Inches (2000.0 mm)LT, SST, X300 Series, GX335
5M11200662.5 Inches (1587.0 mm)GX, RX, SRX, SX Series

John Deere D130 42 Inch Mower Deck Belt Diagram

Not performing the maintenance of the deck belt can turn into a serious threat for your John Deere D130. I guess your thoughts are blank regarding the 42 inch mower deck belt as diverse parts are seen there.

Stay calm and go through the John Deere D130 42 inch mower deck belt diagram and its discussion.

john deere d130 42 inch mower deck belt diagram

The belt is connected through the LH belt cover (1), self-tapping bolt (2), 10 mm lock nut (3, 18,), deck idler pulley (4, 4A, 4B), flat idler pulley (5), John Deere deck drive belt (6), deck rod (7, 7A), and spindle nut (8).

Then, it has spindle drive sheave (9), bushing (10), extension spring (11, 7B), deck idler arm (12, 12A, 12B), deck idler rod (13A, 13B), torsion spring (14), retainer clip (15), screw (16), blade brake pad (17), and bracket (19). 

Moving to the last components, they are RH belt cover (20), deck spindle (21), blade set (22), blade adapter (23), blade washer (24), ⅝” spindle shaft (25), and belt cover rod (26).

John Deere L110 42 Inch Mower Deck Belt Diagram

John Deere L110 42 inch mower deck belt diagram is an unavoidable thing to have as the belt can fall into the need of inspection any time. For that reason, go through the info of each corner of the belt’s diagram.

john deere l110 42 mower inch deck belt diagram

Around the belt, you will see LH belt cover (1), self-tapping bolt (2), lock nut (3, 18, 25), deck idler pulley (4), flat idler pulley (5), deck drive belt (6), deck rod (7, 13), spindle nut (8), and spindle drive sheave (9).

Then, it has bushing (10,16), extension spring (11), deck idler arm (12), torsion spring (14), retainer clip (15), blade brake pad (17), bracket (19), belt cover rod (20), and deck spindle (21).

Moving to the last components, they are spacer (22), blade adapter (23), spindle shaft (24), grease zirk (26), washer (27), blade set (28), blade bolt (29), screw (30), and deck spindle bearing (31).

John Deere X350 42 Inch Mower Deck Belt Diagram

In case you have lost the owner’s manual of the John Deere X350, checking its deck belt must have become confusing for you. As the tiniest component is also important, you must gain enough knowledge of the belt.

Don’t get worried as you can get the in-depth concept of John Deere X350 42 inch mower deck belt diagram.

So, let’s dive into their trifles.

john deere x350 42 inch mower deck belt diagram

Starting from the first, you will see lock nuts (1, 6) and they are two in amount. Then comes the screw (2, 5, 13) located in three different positions.

Moving to the sheave assembly (3, 4, 15), two of them are observed. Next is stud (7), and spacer (8) placed near each other in the arm (9).

V-belt or mower deck belt is at number 10 and its appearance is worth remembering. Lastly, two sheaves (11) and two guides (12, 14) are noticed.

John Deere Z345R 42 Inch Mower Deck Belt Diagram

Are you not familiar with the John Deere Z345R 42 inch deck belt and its surroundings?

Not only a newbie, even the experienced can get in a dilemma after reaching the deck belt unit. You can take a glance at John Deere Z345R 42 inch mower deck belt diagram to get introduced with the belt.

john deere z345r 42 inch mower deck belt diagram

While looking at the diagram, the belt appears to have relation with pin fastener (1), cotter pin (2), cap screw (3), bolt (4,5,6), lock nut (7,8, 9), and screw (10,11, 13).

Stepping ahead, there are other parts located that have direct or indirect touch with the belt. Some of these are screws with washer (14), chute (15), anti scalp wheel (16), nut (17, 37), port plate (18) bushing (19, 26), V-belt or deck belt (20).

It also has an arm (21), spacer (22), extension spring (23), idler (24), pulley (25), hinge (27), shroud (28), torsion spring (29, 36), guard (30), quick coupler (31), washer (32), mower blade (33), cover (34), and wire (35A, 35B).

Detailed Talk: John Deere 42 Inch Mower Deck Belt Diagram

No wonder, John Deere mowers are always super handy and top notch for maintaining a garden or yard. They make the job easier and keep the lawn eye-catching.

Are you facing any trouble with the John Deere 42 inch mower deck belt? 

I guess so. Even if not, you should take a look at the diagram. Experts suggest that a mower owner should know where the deck belt is for future needs.

If you see the diagram, you can see the shape of the belt. It is placed in this position around the spindle pulley and other pulleys.

It has an indirect connection with the engine and the blades. When you open the mower deck, you will find that connection. 

Some say that the belt has covered the whole deck area. However, as you have encountered its placement, you won’t have difficulty in recognizing it.

How to Replace John Deere 42 Inch Mower Deck Belt

Replacing the John Deere 42 inch mower deck belt is much easier when you know how to do it. However, here I have discussed the method in effortless steps.

Replace the belt by:

Positioning the mower

Lifting the mower hood

Detaching the deck belt

Taking out the retainer springs

Removing the suspension arm and front links

Pulling out the mower deck

Install the new deck belt

Reattach the mower deck

Catch their in-depth ideas by scrolling below.

Step 1: Position the Mower

First, position the John Deere mower on a flat surface and turn off the ignition key. Disengage the clutch pedal and put the gear in ‘neutral’ position.

Step 2: Lift the Mower Hood

To disengage the spark plug, lift the mower hood. The attachment lever should be kept in a lower state.

Step 3: Dettach the Deck Belt

At this point, dettach the deck belt carefully from the idler pulleys. The pulley bolt has retainer and clutch springs. Remove them, too.

Step 4: Take Out the Retainer Springs

Now, remove the bracket of the anti-sway bar and its retainer springs. Also, the anti-sway bar needs to be removed by taking out the other retainer springs.

Step 5: Remove the Suspension Arm and Front Links

Remove the suspension arm just like the anti-sway bar by taking out the retainer springs. The same goes for the front links of the deck.

Step 6: Pull Out the Mower Deck

The attachment lift lever will guide you to lift the John Deere mower deck. Now, pull it out carefully from the mower.

Step 7: Install the New Deck Belt

Moving forward, take the new deck belt and place it around the idler pulleys. Do it slowly to ensure zero damages catching it.

Step 8: Reattach the Mower Deck

As soon as the belt is installed, reattach the mower deck and its parts. Turn on the John Deere mower to see if the belt is placed correctly.

Why Does My John Deere Mower Belt Keep Breaking?

A John Deere mower belt keeps breaking is a matter to get a tiring headache. There are some drawbacks that are causing the trouble on your John Deere mower.

Check out the reasons to reach the root cause.

Reason 1: Old or Weak Belt

On a John Deere, the mower belt can be old as it also has a lifespan. Sometimes, due to regular use, the belt becomes weak and easier to break.

Reason 2: Rust On Belt

The mower belt with rust is a mostly seen reason that is caused by regular dirt and debris. The rust makes the belt dry and lets it get cracked.

Reason 3: Leftover Grass Clippings

Leftover grass clippings are always a threat for the deck components. These turn into corrosion on the belt and gradually, the belt keeps breaking.

Reason 4: Faulty Tensioner Spring

The tensioner spring on the mower deck can become faulty. Eventually, it creates excessive friction of John Deere mower deck parts and the belt is significantly affected by it.

Reason 5: Defective Pulley Bearings

When the pulley bearings get defective, their movement gets imbalanced. The more friction they generate, the belt goes closer to being broken.

How to Keep the Mower Deck Belt Long Lasting?   

The deck belt is a unit of the mower that will perform till the last of its efficiency or until it is not damaged. But, each of us wants it to be longer than average.

Well, when I replaced a new deck belt, I applied some ideas and guess what, they truly worked. That’s why I am describing them below to help you.

So, why don’t we know them one by one?      

1. Avoid Lengthy Grasses  

Lengthy grasses tend to take more time to be cut and noticeably, they are difficult to cut at once. As a result, the mower and its deck belt undergo extra pressure.

It can cause the deck belt to wear out or weaken gradually. Therefore, if the grasses of your garden or lawn have not been cut for a longer period, use a weed whacker.

It will cut the super long grasses and make it simple for the mower to do its job.               

2. Adjust the Belt Keeper Properly

Belt keepers are aside the pulleys that help the belt to be in the correct position. But, as the belt and the mower move with the engine, these belt keepers can be bent.

In my opinion, you can inspect the belt keepers twice or thrice a month to avoid their bending. Adjust them if needed. Thus, the belt won’t move towards injury so easily.        

3. Inspect the Pulleys

The deck belt surrounds the pulleys in the deck and therefore, they play a significant role in keeping the belt safe and sound.

Over time, the pulleys can get jammed or weakened or carry rough edges. These will deteriorate the condition of the belt.

To avoid these, you can inspect the pulleys while checking the belt keepers. I suggest greasing them to get rid of these issues. Hopefully, the belt will be alright for a better duration.              

4. Reduce Excessive Stretching  

Excessive stretching of the deck belt is a way to invite its expiry date earlier. Besides, the belt will carry worn signs in it to let you know that it is going to be damaged soon.

Therefore, you will have to keep an eye if the belt is facing excessive stretching issues. You can find it by checking if the belt is loosened or not.

The deck belt can stay alright and do its task for an extended duration if you can balance its stretching.                  

5. Regular Maintenance  

Last but the easiest way to expand the lifespan of the mower deck belt is regular maintenance. In this respect, you can clean the belt using a clean cloth after running the mower twice or thrice. 

Cleaning keeps dust and dirt away and the belt remains free clogging. Moreover, you can check if the belt is positioned too tightly or too loosely.

Thus, your regular inspection will keep the deck belt safe and sound. Being free from interferences, the lifespan of the deck belt will be improved.

What is the Difference Between a Mower Drive Belt and Deck Belt?

Answer: The difference between a mower drive belt and deck belt is their different functions. The mower’s movement is guided by the drive belt and the power provided to the blades is by the deck belt.

Should I Over Tighten the Mower Deck Belt?  

Answer: No, you should not overtighten the mower deck belt. If you over tighten it, it won’t let the blades and engine do their job. As a result, the mower will show malfunctions in running.

How to Measure the Accurate Size of a John Deere Mower Deck Belt?     

Answer: To measure the accurate size of a John Deere mower deck belt, you will need a measurement tape. Hold the tape at the spindle pulley 1 and measure it till the last spindle pulley. The measured size is the accurate one and it will be in inches.

What is the Lifespan of a John Deere Mower Deck Belt?

Answer: Though there is no fixed lifespan of a John Deere deck belt, it can last for up to 3 to 4 years on average. If you take good care of it and do regular maintenance, its lifespan can be expanded. 

Final Verdict

How time flies! You reached the end of the article, buddy. In conclusion, you should always remember the John Deere 42 inch mower deck belt diagram.        

It is because without this diagram, you won’t be able to locate the belt and the problems will still remain. In my opinion, every garden and lawn mower owner should carry this knowledge.

Hoping best for your lawn. Take care, buddy.   

Also read:

Scott McFadden

Hi! It's Scott McFadden. I'm obsessed with farming. All my life I grew up around my grandfather and his farmhouse. I cannot put in words how they inspired me to farm. From taking care of cows to looking after our gardens I have learned a lot. It would be a real pleasure if I get to share this with you.

Recent Posts