Mislevel Woods 42C-4

[Greenthumbfarms]

Looks like the mule drive is sitting level to me, so ill have to check the deck and see if it is square when i take it off

[Don McCombs]

I agree. From that angle, it looks good.

[Greenthumbfarms]

One other thing I have wanted to find out...my 42C-4 has the two mount holes at the back of the arms...would it be I'll advised to cut the rear ones off so I can raise the rear of the deck to higher mount holes? The belt won't allow it any higher, so the mower's rear has stayed too low

[Don McCombs]

I’m not sure I understand how cutting off the two rear holes will make the mower ride higher.

[Nelson 634]

I would not cut the rear holes off. I think based on the entirety of this thread that your problem with one side being up as was pointed out earlier. It has a twist in the frame. Take the mower deck with the arms to the back off of the tractor. Place on a smooth even surface and straighten the twist. Once the twist is out, then you can adjust the height. My guess is the deck was set down on something just under the left side or ran up over something. The key here is fix the first problem then if you still have a rear height problem, deal with it separately. That means mowing with it to be certain you have a problem any longer. My guess is the second height problem will be gone.

[Greenthumbfarms]

Well the rear height problem is an entirely different issue. Having the 2 sets of rear mounting holes prevents me from setting the rear height any higher than it is. Moving it up means moving it forward, and the belt will not loosen any further to allow the deck forward/up. I had figured removing the resr mount holes on the frame arms of the mower would allow it to sit back when I raise the rear mount adjustment.

[Don McCombs]

Get a longer belt.

[Clemsonfor]

Get a longer belt.

I was going to say this very thing.

[Mht]

Your belt is probably too short. It looks like the adjustment of your idler pulleys is maxed out. The belt should be long enough to work with the deck in any of the mounting holes. I don’t know the correct length right of the top of my head but I’m sure some one else will chime in. I agree with others that if you fix the root cause of the problem there will be no need to cut your mounts

[Greenthumbfarms]

That was the belt the woods dealer got for me, and they checked that is was for a 42C-4

[Scrivet]

Well the rear height problem is an entirely different issue. Having the 2 sets of rear mounting holes prevents me from setting the rear height any higher than it is. Moving it up means moving it forward, and the belt will not loosen any further to allow the deck forward/up. I had figured removing the resr mount holes on the frame arms of the mower would allow it to sit back when I raise the rear mount adjustment.

The mounting holes on the mule drive go forward as they go higher. I don't know the exact measurements but let's say each hole is one inch higher and one inch forward. So the one inch shorter distance from the PTO pulley to the hinge point is taken up by the now one inch longer distance from hinge point to the spindle. The same length belt can be used in any position, provided you have the correct belt to start with, which gives you the ability to properly adjust the mule drive pulleys to be in line with the spindle when in the operating position. Basically following the arm mounting point, if they're mounted low the mule drive pulleys should be low to align with the spindle. Move the arms higher and the mule drive pulleys should go up as well to stay in line with the spindle. As has been mentioned, your belt looks short because you have the arms in the lower position and the mule drive pulleys way up top. The belt and mower are designed so that when the deck is raised the belt has some slack and tightens up as it is lowered into the level position.

42C-4 takes a Woods 1469 which is a 5/8 x 136" outside length belt, usually a B133 but different manufacturers have different numbering systems.

Edit: Sorry didn't see your
That was the belt the woods dealer got for me, and they checked that is was for a 42C-4
reply. I'd look for a number on it and if you can't find that I'd measure it. Are the mule drive pulleys and the PTO pulleys the correct diameter? That belt just doesn't fit right in my opinion.

[Jim Becker]

May just be the picture, but it looks to me like one of the mounting arms (probably the right) is bent. Are you sure the idler pulleys are the right diameter?

[Greenthumbfarms]

I'm not quite sure what size the idlers should be. I'm still a fairly new cub owner

[Jim Becker]

I'm not quite sure what size the idlers should be. I'm still a fairly new cub owner

Measure them and post it here. Somebody will be able to check against their mower.

[Nelson 634]

As Scrivet said "The mounting holes on the mule drive go forward as they go higher." It looks like it is a 45 degree slope that means its 1 over and 1 up with the 90 degrees the idler pulleys it creates the same length between PTO pulley and mower deck pulley. Pretty smart engineers. If the mounting holes were vertical it would change the length between the PTO and mower deck pulley.