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I just bought a used LTX 1040 (2012). The guy said he put on a new belt. When I got home and started cutting the front yard the belt smoked and I found out it was put on backwards. I bought a new belt at the Cub Cadet dealer and put it on. It is a manual lever to engage the blades. The belt is loose when the lever is fully engaged. How do I adjust the tension on the belt to take out the excessive play? I know I have to leave some play in the belt so when the blades are disengaged the belt will slip on the drive (motor) pulley. Thankyou

There is a model number under the seat, would you please post it?

The Model Number is 13WX90AS056.

Here is a parts manual and operators manuall for your unit which will also show you proper belt routing. If you are sure that you have the belt routed properly, make sure that the belt tensioner arm, with the two tensioner pulleys is moving freely. http://manuals.mtdproducts.com/manuals/769-07410.pdf
http://manuals.mtdproducts.com/manuals/769-05332a.pdf

Thank you very much for the manuals. I put the belt on right, it does work. But it looked like it had slack in it and wanted to adjust it out. I have no idea why Cub Cadet did not install a way to adjust the tension. Makes no sense. But thankyou again.

Adjustment, or more accurately maybe, correction, of belt tension is done by properly leveling the deck. https://support.cubcadet.com/s/article/563-1

Lift mower deck to highest setting on flat surface

Rotate grass chute blade to longitudinal position

Measure height from ground in front and in rear

Front must be ¼ to 3/8 lower than rear (no need to measure both sides)

Locate jamb nut(s) on bracket mounted in front of deck

Loosen back nut, turn front nut clockwise to raise front, counter-clockwise to lower front, then tighten back nut

With blades perpendicular, measure left and right

Loosen but not remove hex screw on left-side of mower deck hanging backet using socket and rachet

Rotate adjustment gear directly behind hex, clockwise to raise left side, counter-clockwise to lower left side

Tighten hex

Printable text from the video I found the here:

This video is helpful identfying hex nut for left-side adjustment

Don’t know who made that first video, but they forgot one key step and have another one wrong. First step must be to check and adjust tire pressures. Second key point is that front to back heights are set AFTER you have adjusted side to side height at the blade tip.