Does the 1046 Mulch?

anthonyk · May 2, 2005

I just bought the Cub Cadet 1046 from TSC.
After using it a few times, I thought that mulching might be easier than mowing while trying to avoid leaving those lines of cut grass. I called TSC and they sold me a "mulching kit" to convert the mower. After struggling for an hour to remove the deck, including dropping it on my toe, and the killing myself to remove one of the blades, I compared them and they seem the same. Does the 1046 come equipped with mulching blades stock? The pitch, angle, etc, are all identical. I can't read the manual because the one they gave me was water logged, and believe it or not, the guys at TSC were clueless.
I'm not too impressed with those guys, especially if they sold me an unnecessary mulch kit. I think all I really needed was the plug.
Anybody know?

7254t · May 3, 2005

thats one reason to buy from a dealer because tsc and lowes have no clue. the mower you have has mulch blades all you needed was a mulch plug which comes with the mower.

JTKub · May 3, 2005

That's correct, you should have received a mulch plug along with the ops manual, etc. You just pop it into the deck discharge opening & mulch away!
G/luck
Joel

LazKat · May 3, 2005

I have a 1045 from Lowes that showed up with no mulching plug. The manual says that it was in the crate and supposed to be installed, so a trip back to the store got it for me. The department manager was looking all over the shelves for it, and I had to describe it for him. He pulled one off of a floor model and asked if he needed to send a tech out to install it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

It slides into the discharge chute and is held in place by a wingnut poking through the top of the deck. I did notice that the plug doesn't fit very tight and after mowing I'm finding a lot of loose cuttings packed in tight around it. After mowing I'm removing it and hosing it off real well. Mulching seems to be working ok.

You should be able to get a .pdf copy of your owners' manual from the Cub website.

gamble77 · May 3, 2005

They are all correct and once again shows the incompetancy of Lowes/TSC peersonnel. Oh well...

Should have been a plug with the owners manual...I would take this so called "mulch kit" back and demand your money back. Then when you get your money back ask for your plug...should get a rise out of them!

anthonyk · May 3, 2005

thanks guys. This is just the last straw in a whole series of bad customer service moves that this TSC has put me through.
I will be contacting their management, and writing a letter.

Thanks again.
Anthony

viking65 · May 4, 2005

The only things that employess at Lowes or TSC knows anything about is what time their lunch break is and what time they get off from work. MTD should do something about this. Leave the Huskees and Yard Machines to TSC and Lowes and let the dealers sell the Cubs. The reputation of the Cub Cadet brand is just going to be hurt more and more if MTD doesn't get the Cubs out of the incompetent hands of Lowes and TSC.

If a consumer doesn't want to pay more for a better tractor, good and knowledgeable service, a service department let that consumer try his luck at TSC on a $899 Huskee. MTD also needs to weed out the "selling out of the garage dealers with the good ol' boy mechanic in the back". I guess I am spoiled. I have a great dealer, very professional and first rate facilities. MTD needs to step up the image of what they say is their premium brand.

I'm sure Lowes and maybe TSC move a lot of Cub Cadet product for MTD but the majority of their customers would be just as happy on a Yard Machines or a Huskee. They're just shopping on price anyhow. If they could save $25 bucks on a Murray at Wal-Mart they'd buy that instead of the Huskee or Yard Machines.

My late night rant has concluded.

JTKub · May 4, 2005

I'm definately not pro 'big-box' stores, but you really have to go into it knowing you are not going to get top knotch knowlege base, personal service, or even top end product for that matter. That all defeats the purpose of pumping out volume for less money. The cub 1000 series are price-point machines developed to be sold in this type of store. Same with the JD "L" series at home cheapo. These are all $$$ generators for the OPE industry. Big box purchases are great if you've done your research, you know EXACTLY what you are purchasing, and what is included with the purchase. You grab it, cash out & bail!

G/luck
Joel