Hello Good People!

Hello Good People!

So excited to have found this forum!
Time to turn my Cub Cadet LT1040 into the beast I know it can be.

I am starting from the very beginning and learning everything from the ground up. First I need to learn how to make this stock sleep go faster by swapping out the pulleys?

Also looking to adding some custom storage in the rear and possibly the front.

Looking forward to learning a thing or two from you good people along with sharing.

Cubster

hello and welcome cubs are a great platform from what ive seen of em! also is it a hydro automatic transmission or a manual gear selector?

Unless I am mistaken, the Cub Cadet LT1040 was an F-N-R varidrive?

Welcome To ATLTF!

Hey Everyone!
Good to be here. My Cub Cadet LT1040 is a CVT Drive. I am looking forward to learning how I can speed this snail up. Just adding some 4inch LEDs and ready for more.

Easiest minor speedup would be the engine pulley. (bigger engine, smaller transaxle)  Not sure if there are stamped belt guides on that or not.    It gets more complicated I think with the transaxle pulley on those. I don't remember if it is a belt slip issue or not.

my suggestion is get an old mst206 or spicer etc a new transaxle and swap it if you want longevity those yard machines transmissions are tough but belts shred and too many money shifts and they blow up also the diff bushings will need replaced soon doesnt matter how new it is after a couple months of riding on those transmissions it really makes you appriciate manual transaxles

Hello again!
Thanks again for the quick and friendly responses. I am totally new in the subject so apologies in advance for asking the same question 7 or 8 times. LOL

My response to MightyRaze:
So just simply put a bigger pulley on the motor, and a smaller one on the transaxle? Sounds simple enough. Do you think I would be about to locate bolt on parts? Currently I am not a welder.

My response to Budget_gokart:
Are you saying to get another riding mower to trick out or simply get a Murray mst206 transmission with transaxels? Would this be a bolt on setup? I have limited tools and this is my first. I am a hands on guy and do all my repairs, just trying to get my head around the project and cost.

Thanks

either goes the cub is a good chassis even being a mtd those chassis are real good for a first build being steering geometry is real good and the chassis is c channel. if you can hunt down a mst transmission or a craftsman spicer from a scrap mower or something it will save you so many issues, but you will need to re engineer your clutch like a craftsmans unless yours is a pedal drive fnr then you already have the clutch. but you can get a engineless pile of Craftsman to part out. or just play with your cub you dont have to change anything if you dont want to. i just researched the mower and you got one thats good change the front pully its a great chassis. i have a troy bilt thats identical i wanna convert to an mst

CuberCadet wrote:

My response to MightyRaze:
So just simply put a bigger pulley on the motor, and a smaller one on the transaxle? Sounds simple enough. Do you think I would be about to locate bolt on parts? Currently I am not a welder.

Yeah there are some options out there that are already made.  Just have to look.  Stay away from anything aluminum.  Stick with steel or cast iron.

Thanks you All for the response.
I think I will start with doing a pulley swap. At the moment the mower deck is removed and a bit more speed would be desired for working around the property.

Time to source that ol pulley now!
Thanks

Hello guys! I'm glad to join your community.

Welcome! you might wanna make a introducing yourself thread. please stay as long as youd like

Welcome to ATLTF hope you have fun

@CuberCadet buy a parts mower, spare rear end, spare engine, spare steering parts, spare wheels, and more depending on the pulleys you have just put the rear pulley on the front and the front on the back if you dont want to put in the time and money for getting new ones

Hello back to you, and welcome! When you pulley swap, the belt length will change. On a varidrive system that means two belts. From what I have read (don't hold me to this) the rear belt is hard to find a replacement that fits properly when changing the rear pulley. It might be due to belt thickness or profile or something to do with the varidrive pulley assembly. I have seen a front pulley swap done with no problem. I saw a video where the front pulley was flipped and drilled and bolted through the crankshaft. This may or may not be applicable to your machine if the PTO was electric. Remember the belt length will change so you will need to measure for a new belt. A "general" conversion for belt length is for every inch each pulley changes, your belt will change about 1.5" respectively (larger pulley larger belt. smaller pulley smaller belt.)

I recommend starting with a simple pulley swap to get going and read up to see where you want to go with the build. If you find a Murray with MST (as you said) just build the Murray while you enjoy the Cub.

Look around marketplace and craigslist and such for a cheap welder. They can be had for $50-$100. Practice up a little and this will take everything to a whole new level. I got into mowers about a year ago and bought a cheap welder and watched a few YouTube "how to weld" videos. A bunch of mods can be done without, but a lot more can be done with welding. Its not to hard to learn and what looks crappy can be cleaned up with a grinder.

Don't hesitate, jump in and have some fun. Ask questions, learn and apply. Happy modding!