Cub Cadet 979 Operator's Manual page 16

• Place blade bell support on blade. Make sure the
notches on the blade bell support are aligned with
small holes in the blade.
• Replace hex bolt and tighten to torque: 450 in. lbs.
min., 600 in. lbs. max.
NOTE: To ensure safe operation of your mower, the
blade bolt must be checked periodically for correct
torque.
Drive Belt Removal and Replacement
• Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it
against the engine.
• Drain the fuel tank or place a piece of plastic
beneath the cap to prevent gasoline leakage.
• Place shift lever in the first position and tip the
mower on its side with air filter facing up.
• Remove the center bolt which secures the blade to
the crankshaft followed by blade bell support,
blade, and blade adapter.
• Move the cutting height adjustment to the highest
position.
• Remove the three hex screws holding the baffle to
the deck and pivot baffle towards the rear of the
mower. See Figure 18.
Figure 18
• Remove the hex bolt from the rear of unit holding
the transmission to the mower housing.
See Figure 19.
Cutting Height
Adjustment
Figure 19
• Tilt the transmission forward and loosen the idler
pulley bolt and lock nut half a turn. See Figure 20.
• Using a pair of pliers, pull back and rotate belt
keeper bracket from the slot on the idler pulley.
• Slide the belt out from between the belt keeper
bracket and the idler pulley.
Transmission
Pulley
Belt
Belt Keeper
Bracket
Idler Pulley
Bracket
Idler Pulley
Bolt and
Locknut
• Squeeze the belt together and push it forward,
while pressing the control arm inward towards the
deck and remove the six speed cable from the slot.
See Figure 21.
• Pivot the control arm down away from the pulley
and belt.
Baffle
• Lift off the lower pulley assembly and remove the
old belt from around the crankshaft. See Figure 21.
Hex Bolt
16
Transmission
Figure 20