Cub Cadet Mowers Any Good?

[Mikeske]

I say that all are similar in this price range be it Deere, Cub Cadet, AYP, Crafsman all will the do the job. As long as it is a level yard you should not have a issue. If the yard is not level I would jump up in price for a better unit with a serviceable transaxle as the entry level machines are just not going to take hills well without burning out the entry level transaxles that are put in any of these machines.

 

[American Locomotive]

All I'm saying is if you work on MTD and cheap Deere's there are a lot of similarities. It would really seem that enengineers from both companies got together at least for brainstorming a time or two.

I've noticed the chassis on modern entry level mowers are almost all the same design. I think a lot of has to do with most manufacturers seemingly using the same transmissions and overall layout. Plus the stamped chassis are probably super cheap to make.

Sorry, I guess my post didn't come out right. It's just that you say they, and all other brands of engines are junk, but I have not seen that in my experience, unless they were poorly maintained or abused. But as for the rest of the mower, well that's another story.

I guess "junk" is a harsh word, my bad. Most of the listed engines will perform just fine for your average home owner, and probably be trouble free. It's just that I don't think the Courage/5400/7000 is better than any other motor or worth searching out instead of something else. The Command is a different story. I'd pay a premium for a Command motor.

 

[seanb02]

Mom's Husky mower with the Kohler always ran like a top. Was probably a mid 90's model of mower. I used it for years as a teenager doing yard maintenance for folks on the street a very long time ago. Repainted it, kept it serviced and in good shape.

It blew up on her and started to torch the woods off during the first mowing of the season last year. I don't think it was the engines fault. Could probably throw a few parts at it and get it going again...

 

[mowersplus84]

When Cub was made by international harvester they where Grate. MTD bought them and Drastically reduced the quality. all the decks are stamped out thin gauge. on the Cubs with Kohlers the cork valve gasket always leaks we have at least 2 cubs a week where the valve cover is leaking so we replace the gasket and valve cover . I am not a fan of cub cadet but if someone where to purchase one spend a little more and get one with a Kawasaki Engine.

 

[merlin1952]

I have a 2006 Cub Cadet slt-1554 with the courage engine and maybe I have been lucky but I haven’t had any serious trouble with my engine. It has just over 700 hours and still doesn’t burn or leak any oil. It has gone through several starters and I have just had to replace the ignition coils but otherwise it has been just routine maintenance for my courage engine. There are other aspects of the mower that I don’t like but wasn’t aware of them when I purchased the mower. Biggest problem with mine is the front wheel bushings and the steering gears and bushings not lasting. If I buy another Cub cadet I’ll opt or a more expensive model with better design steering components and ball bearing in the front wheel assembly. I do regularly check out the offerings at the local big box stores and in the $1200 to $2500 price range, and as others have said, I don’t really see any significant differences. Just my two cents!

 

[klitzke]

I don't really think Mom cares if it takes a bit longer.

I personally got a nice zero turn and cut my mowing from 2 hours to 45 min because I hate mowing.

She's got a 42" deck now, and I honestly think a bigger machine is a bit more intimidating and harder for her to maneuver around her flower beds and such. And I'm just making an educated guess in total acreage mowed. When I mowed it for her, I could get it done in maybe an hour and change. So maybe closer to an acre or so. Still not a ton of land to mow.

She's retired. Who cares if it take another 30 min lol.

I just bought a base model xt1 and it works great. My wife was able to mow our lawn with just a few minutes of instruction and I don't have to fix the thing every other weekend.

I talked to a good number of people who used base model mowers for 10 years and did way more work than most people who have the big fancy mowers. Our neighbor cleared snow with a blower attachment for three neighbors in his little 17HP. A guy from work ran his until the deck started cracking a year or two ago and his yard is basically an old farmfield with grass. And each of these guys had an inferior brand (I believe) to the new cub cadet models.

Your mother will be fine with the 42" and a "budget mower". Frankly after doing my research, this mower seems to be the best value with the frame and engine warranty. Just the fact that they have such confidence in their machine makes them a prime candidate in my book.

For bonus points, I picked up a 2015 with 30 hrs on the engine and it came with a bagger for $1500. IMO that's a decent deal for a pretty new mower. I was hoping to get the xt2 with a fabricated deck but finding one of those used would have cost me an extra $500 and it still wouldn't have had a bagger.

I think my advice for someone who likes equipment and tools would be to buy the fancy one they like. For someone who wants a deal, find a newer model on Craigslist. And for the motherly types, I would take my own right down to the nearest dealer and let her grab one in the price range she wants that's she feels comfortable driving.

Best of luck!

Sent from my SM-J327V using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[lakeroadster]

We bought our John Deere 265 (hydrostat) in 1998 and it's still a strong runner. I had to replace the coil once (2007).

If she has a Deere, I'd replace it with another.

I have a friend in Ohio that has about 5 acres. He has a Cub zero turn and just loves it.

My experience, you'll get what you pay for with Deere or Cub. Pick the size mower that they recommend for the size and type of lot your Mother owns... she'll be set for life.

Good luck.

 

[Joe_K]

Cub Cadet does build good mowers but you have to pay for them.

XT1 - cheap box store mowers with bushings, c-clip wheels, cheap engines, K46 or worse hydro, all hydro units I've seen are non-serviceable.

XT2 - XT1 with greasable bearings, some models have a slightly better K56 hydro, still haven't seen one with a serviceable hydro. They tend to put bigger rear tires, arm rests, crazy front bumpers, fab decks on some XT2's to make them look more substantial then they are.

XT3 - 22.5 or 25 HP Kohler Command Pro, greasable bearings everywhere, cast iron front axle, shaft drive fully serviceable (with filter) cast iron hydro unit. Not as tough as the old IH Cub's but as close as you're gonna get from MTD.

Low end Cub's usually have the Tuff Torq K46 hydro. I had one (LTX 1042KW, similar to an XT1 now, with a Kawasaki twin) when I only mowed .25 acres and it was fine. The K46 is built to a price point, and usually fails before the engine. I would not recommend it for 1.5 acres and hills. When I moved to my current house, 1.3 acres and some slight hills it started slowing down (hydro failing). I traded it in for an XT3 this year and the difference is staggering. Hopefully it'll have a long life because I'm a stickler for maintenance. How long do you need the mower to last? A new $1500 mower will have a shelf life. It might be in your best interest to get some quotes from a mowing service.

 

[bpjr]

Comparing $1000-$1500 riders the main differences I see are deck thickness, engine brand, hp and splash vs pressure lube. Most have k46 hydros and some cvt trans.

 

[Newell Kiehn]

Cub Cadets are definitely MTD's top-end offering. But other manufacturers like Husqvarna or John Deere, or Toro/Wheel Horse also offer in best lawn mowers. "Kohler Engine" doesn't mean much these days anymore. Kohler used two have one line of engine - the flathead K-Series. Then they expanded the lineup to their OHV Command series - also a very excellent engine. But Command engines were expensive, and mower manufacturers wanted the Kohler name, so they added the low-end cheap and cheesy Courage series that did a ton of reputation damage to the brand.

But money talks, and they've continued doing that even further now. Kohler has many different engine lines to suit just about every possible price point these days. They're all pretty much junk except for their "premium" Command Pro brand.

Basically, unless it's a Command Pro Kohler engine, it's not going to be any better than a Briggs and Stratton or even a chinese clone v-twin.

Agree, Lots of movers use Kohler's engine.

 

[Jasmith801]

MTD bought Cub from International Harvester. Those old I. H. Cubs are sought after. For years, MTD ran Cub Cadet as their premium brand and did not share any important components with their other brands. Today, Cub has a broader line. The lower end is probably no better than Troybuilt and Yardman and their other cheap stuff. They still make higher end models that are solid tractors but they are not cheap and never were. I am not familiar with the current models but my old 2145 from 1995, with shaft drive, bolted on wheels ( no C clip) ), cast front end, heavy gauge steel, bullet proof hydrostatic axle,14 hp Onan is still going strong. BTW, the low end John Deeres are made by MTD. There is a lot of that. Ariens tractors could be built by one company and the snow blowers by somebody else. Simplicity and Kubota are good brands. I would really have to look if I was in the market. There are a lot of tractor threads. The OP should post his question there. There are knowledgeable people here but probably more on one of those threads.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

The lower price point John Deere mowers are in fact Not made my MTD! They are built in a JD factory by JD employees. That is an old rumor that needs to stop being spread! The L,D,E and now S series mowers from John Deere are not MTD!

 

[seber]

Let me add a little more confusion. I would avoid all single cylinder power plants made today. V twins are popular for a reason. They run smoother which translates to longer life of all components from pulleys, deck bearings, transmissions and riders. My personal opinion is that Kawasaki makes the best of them but they are all pretty good. And yes, Kohler Courage is made to a price point and to be avoided.

 

[kelpaso1]

Let me add a little more confusion. I would avoid all single cylinder power plants made today. V twins are popular for a reason. They run smoother which translates to longer life of all components from pulleys, deck bearings, transmissions and riders. My personal opinion is that Kawasaki makes the best of them but they are all pretty good. And yes, Kohler Courage is made to a price point and to be avoided.

BS! I have that engine in my 10 yr old mower and have never had a problem. I have also never had to fix many that were maintained and had oil in them. It's when people run them low on oil that they have problems, which is not the engines fault.

 

[RickyPetite]

Since this mower is for your mom (and not the folks on GJ), I thought that I would frame my response for her consideration. If your mom is anything like my wife, she will only be concerned with the following aspects of her new lawn tractor: Is it simple to use? Does it start every time? Is it the right size (not too big and intimidating or she won't even try it) Is it easy to operate (hydrostatic transmission, tight turning radius)? Is/was it too much money? If I have trouble with it, is there a nearby dealer who (is nice) and can fix it for me?

I believe that the CC that you are looking at answers all of these questions correctly. In your price range, there are always compromises. For example, the transmission is sealed. My 20-year-old JD LX255 has a similarly sealed TuffTorque ****** that has performed flawlessly. As I doubt that your mother plans on pulling implements, a non-serviceable transmission will be fine. Regarding the engine, it's hard to believe that it will see much more that 50-100 hours/year. If you (or the nice dealer) change the oil, it should hold up like a champ. The unibody construction shouldn't be an issue in the absence of towing implements (in which case a body on frame setup would be preferable). I would consider the mulching kit to avoid clumping and eliminate the need for raking. Finally, the value of a local dealer that you (and she) trust cannot be understated. My wife takes great comfort in calling the owner of the place that sold it to us. She has a way of getting extra TLC because she is kind (and always remembers the name of his kids).

 

[Firebrick43]

John deere mowers have never been made by MTD. A similar brand AYP made the sabre brand for them years ago and they were making at least the frame and front axle for them for the L series that the LA and D series superseded. I am not sure but AYP manufactured the entire L series. Tractor data does not list the factory like LA and D series. The frame and front axel were identical to other brands of AYP tractors however. This was from personal experience helping my moms neighbor swap the rear end of toro lawn mower with a blown engine into his L series lawn mower

As far as John Deere "made in america" they try to claim that on many of their compact tractors, saying they are made in Georgia. The tractor comes into the factory from china in a shipping container. To get as many as possible they have no fenders, rops, tires/wheels, loaders, ect. That stuff is what the georgia assembly line adds, and those parts are American made. The main parts of the tractor, front axle, engine, and rear transaxle are not made in the usa.

 

[seber]

As far as John Deere "made in america" they try to claim that on many of their compact tractors, saying they are made in Georgia. The tractor comes into the factory from china in a shipping container. To get as many as possible they have no fenders, rops, tires/wheels, loaders, ect. That stuff is what the georgia assembly line adds, and those parts are American made. The main parts of the tractor, front axle, engine, and rear transaxle are not made in the usa.

For 30 years JD sold Yanmar tractors under their JD banner. That is no longer the case. Parts come from all over the world but the tractors are built in the USA. In one sense that is unfortunate. The Yanmar tractors were and are better built.

 

[gearhead1]

FIL has a Cub Cadet tractor, has the mower deck and snow plow, loves it. Appears to be better built than the standard riding mower.

I got a 54” Zero turn cub cadet last year and have not had any issues. It has the Kohler.