Club Cadet Zero Turn bars

[RB1145]

I just bought a Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42 in. 22 HP Kohler KT7000 Series. They shipped it to my home and have it out of crate and in garage have not ran it yet. I have a question as this is my first zero turn mower.
I cannot adjust the control bars to match up exactly. They have a tooth grid circle adjustment but one always is about 3/4 " out from other. I've tried each several adjustments but just won't match up. Is this normal for these mowers?

 

[GBHRPS]

RB1145,

I would say that it is not normal and that they should match up. I would try a couple of things to try matching them.

Loosen off the two bolts that mount the tubular bars to the the casting on both sides, and try repositioning them (push one bar forward and the other backward and retighten them). If there is no play to allow this, I'd then try swapping the entire bar assembly from one side to the other and see what result you get, or try swapping just the tubular bars side to side.

If you can't get anywhere doing those repositionings, you'll have to see the dealership to get to the bottom of your issue.

Good Luck!

 

[tomplum]

At this point I would run it up and see what you've got. It is more important for them to match when your running forward than not running.

 

[RB1145]

RB1145,
I would say that it is not normal and that they should match up. I would try a couple of things to try matching them.
Loosen off the two bolts that mount the tubular bars to the the casting on both sides, and try repositioning them (push one bar forward and the other backward and retighten them). If there is no play to allow this, I'd then try swapping the entire bar assembly from one side to the other and see what result you get, or try swapping just the tubular bars side to side.
If you can't get anywhere doing those repositionings, you'll have to see the dealership to get to the bottom of your issue.
Good Luck!

At this point I would run it up and see what you've got. It is more important for them to match when your running forward than not running.

Thanks for all the replies, I will try all of them. I bought it through Home Depot. I've sent them an email but no reply yet. I looked at Club Cadet's site for a contact but it did not recognize my order number since it's Home Depot origin. I will investigate on my own soon and then if it's still a problem I will call HD on the phone. I like the mower otherwise, everything is so easy to get to for maintenance. It's only a stamped deck but I only mow my acre and my last stamped deck John Deere lasted 15yrs so not bad cost per price factor there.

 

[MoArk Willy]

I just bought a Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42 in. 22 HP Kohler KT7000 Series. They shipped it to my home and have it out of crate and in garage have not ran it yet. I have a question as this is my first zero turn mower.
I cannot adjust the control bars to match up exactly. They have a tooth grid circle adjustment but one always is about 3/4 " out from other. I've tried each several adjustments but just won't match up. Is this normal for these mowers?

Push both of them forward when the tractor is off. Line them up there. Then give it a test drive and see if it drives straight.
There are two bolts at the front of the lever assemble to adjust them. When pushed forward, the mower should drive straight. If it doesn't, adjust one of the bolts to correct it. Once you have it driving straight with bolt handles
pushed forward, adjust the handles until they are even.
Did I explain that adequately? I know what I mean but not sure if it comes across the same.

 

[RB1145]

Push both of them forward when the tractor is off. Line them up there. Then give it a test drive and see if it drives straight.
There are two bolts at the front of the lever assemble to adjust them. When pushed forward, the mower should drive straight. If it doesn't, adjust one of the bolts to correct it. Once you have it driving straight with bolt handles
pushed forward, adjust the handles until they are even.
Did I explain that adequately? I know what I mean but not sure if it comes across the same.

(Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42" zero turn mower)
Yes very good idea and I did check that already. The mower does go straight (at least for while, my acre has swells etc) so I don't want to change the full ahead adjustment bolts on that. In fact I don't go full speed that long before I have to slow anyhow. I haven't yet tried switching the handles like another reply suggested but it's worth a try when I get time. The handles don't look bent but the gears might only match up one way so I might do that. I did already try loosening the lever handle attach bolts but the holes line up with no play on that. It's appears the adjustment gear just doesn't allow less than 1-1/2" adjustment as it's mounted now.
Home Depot replied with number at Cub Cadet Support 1-877-428-2349. I called and the 1st level tech gave me a case number but had no knowledge if this issue was normal for the mower. They transferred me to a 2nd level tech who also had no knowledge of the issue or if it was normal about the adjustment gear being a minimum incrementation of 1-1/2" on each tooth of the adjusting gear. Or if it could be somehow alleviated. He said I'd have to call the nearest local dealer tech which was 30 miles away. At that point I said the heck with it cause I can only imagine the answers from then on.
The mower works well enough for me to keep. In fact I like the mower for the following reasons. Price was equal to competition. Easy maintenance access to all areas. Well built frame, mows my acre well with no uncut areas at full speed. Very maneuverable. Since non of my previous steering wheel mowers would keep going straight for long on my land anyhow I think the 3/4" handle difference in the Cadet's turning levers won't be that big an issue. I have to steer it as I mow regardless. It has a stamped deck with similar gauge as my old John Deere deck which lasted on my acre for 15 yrs. For normal terrain of one owner use a stamped deck is fine. The old Deere deck is still solid with no bad rust but the blade bearings have gotten noisy. I bought the Cadet due to a gas tank leak in the Deere that will take me awhile to remove the console and frame platform to get to the tank. I plan to still use the Deere to put my trailer around.
Thanks again for the replies they helped in my decipher of the issue. When I do completely switch the handle top gear assemblies I will get back with a report.

 

[GBHRPS]

RB1145,

I'm not trying to throw a monkey wrench into the works here, but you've already discovered that purchasing a motorized item from a big box store, rather than from a dealership, puts you at a disadvantage when it comes to warranty work and service. The big box stores have no service or parts department, or service techs to answer your questions.

Worse, is that when you ask the dealership to answer your questions, they can get less than cooperative since you didn't buy from them. I have a neighbour who bought a residential grade JD tractor from a local big box, and when off warranty it needed repairs during the mowing season. His tractor went to the bottom of the list when the dealership came to scheduling service time, and it took 3 weeks before he got his tractor back. During that same time, my JD 175 Hydro (purchased at the dealership) stripped the drive axle splines. I got it back in 3 days.

For some things it pays to buy from a supplier that services what they sell.

 

[MoArk Willy]

RB1145,
For some things it pays to buy from a supplier that services what they sell.

And Cub Cadets are priced the same from dealers as the big box stores. You can buy them from a dealer or direct from Cub Cadet but they still go to the dealer first for setup buy a mechanic.....not a high school kid learning what a wrench is.
The big box stores are less intimidating though....since you probably know as much about what you buy there as those selling it to you.
I'm not trying to jump on the OP, by any means. I have learned the hard way myself.