50A mower replacement

[clodhopper]

Anyone know of a modern cub cadet deck that is a replacement for the 50A deck, or can be adapted to fit a quiet line series? My poor old 50 A is terminal.....

 

[gitractorman]

Probably not an answer you want to hear, but I don't think any of the newer model decks will work. They used the 50A/50C model up through the late 1990s on models like the 782, 1206, 1710, 1811, etc. At that point they changed styles to a completely new style tractor, often referred to as the "Cyclopse" Cub Cadets. These tractors had different subframes for the belly mounted mowers and I'm fairly certain that none of them will retrofit onto the older style tractors. One of the biggest changes is that the decks are taller and more rounded, and also a lot heavier with traction pads on the 54" decks where you could step to get on/off the tractor. I have an 1864 "Cyclopse" with a 54" deck, and an 1811 with a 50C deck, and I'm fairly certain that the 54 would not go under the 1811.

Here is a picture of a newer 54" deck off of a Cyclopse tractor. You can see how wide the front and rear hanger points are:

Here is a 50C like the one you have. As you can see the hanger brackets, especially the front ones are really narrow. Note, someone made extra reinforcing brackets between the wheels on this photo that are not stock... but they're interesting:

Good news though, there are a ton of 50A and 50C mower decks out there, so you should be able to find a replacement. Also, if you really wanted, they still make a replacement deck shell for a 50C mower, but I think they run about $400!!!!!

Bill

 

[clodhopper]

Thanks for all the info Bill. What exactly is the difference in the 50A and 50C? That deck looks identical to my 50A with the exception of the high speed wheel Braces!
EDIT-- are the holes in the belt cover factory? Mine doesn't have those.

 

[gitractorman]

I think the 50A did not have the front gauge wheels, just the loop guides at the front sides of the mower deck. The 50C has both the front and rear guide wheels, without the loops.

Here is a 50A

Here is a 50C

No, those holes were drilled by the owner, and something I'm looking into. He says that you can blow the deck cover out with each mowing and prevent the ungodly buildup of grass that typically occurs under the cover.

 

[indy61]

44/50A decks used a 1/2" belt pulley.
44/50C decks used a 5/8" belt pulley.

 

[clodhopper]

I'm sure debris buildup under the belt cover is the reason it has rusted out almost completely. Also, my 50A has a 1/2 inch belt under the cover, but is driven off the PTO by a 3/8 belt.