Help me decide...

[ChipSmith]

Thank you for all the comments. It really helped me make up my mind. I decided to go with the Cub Cadet GT2550. I picked it up yesterday and got to try on my hills. The first thing I noticed when trailering it home was how heavy it is. With my old tractor on the trailer is was just enough to settle the trailer done nicely. With the Cub in the trailer, I actually had to downshift my truck while going up steep grades. This thing puts the "heavy" in heavy duty.

I am really impressed by how well the Cub handles my hills. It powers up my steepest hills without straining the engine at all and no complaints from the heavy duty hydrostatic transmission either. The way my lot is laid out I have to take some of the hills up and down and others I have to mow side to side. Either way it felt like it was glued to the hill.

I was concerned that the 20" turning radius would be a problem, but it seems to be able to turn much tighter than that. Maybe it's the 50" deck factoring in, but I was able to trim around obstacles tighter than with my previous tractor with a 40" deck.

The real eye opener came when I went to put it away. I had to move my old tractor out of my shed and park it under my deck to make room for the Cub in my shed. After driving the Cub for an hour and a half, the old tractor felt like I was riding on a go kart with a mowing deck.

I'm glad I went with the GT. Now I can look forward to cutting the grass this season.

Chip

 

[Diesel-ME]

.... The real eye opener came when I went to put it away. I had to move my old tractor out of my shed and park it under my deck to make room for the Cub in my shed. After driving the Cub for an hour and a half, the old tractor felt like I was riding on a go kart with a mowing deck.

I'm glad I went with the GT. Now I can look forward to cutting the grass this season.

Chip

Isn't that a great feeling

You won't regret your choice.

~paul

 

[bontai_Joe]

You got one of the best machines out there for the $$$$, just be careful on those slopes, especially as the new tires get a little wear on them and loose the sharp edges on the tread that are biting in good right now for you.

 

[LBrown59]

Thank you for all the comments. It really helped me make up my mind. I decided to go with the Cub Cadet GT2550. I picked it up yesterday and got to try on my hills. The first thing I noticed when trailering it home was how heavy it is. With my old tractor on the trailer is was just enough to settle the trailer done nicely. With the Cub in the trailer, I actually had to downshift my truck while going up steep grades. This thing puts the "heavy" in heavy duty.

I am really impressed by how well the Cub handles my hills. It powers up my steepest hills without straining the engine at all and no complaints from the heavy duty hydrostatic transmission either. The way my lot is laid out I have to take some of the hills up and down and others I have to mow side to side. Either way it felt like it was glued to the hill.

I was concerned that the 20" turning radius would be a problem, but it seems to be able to turn much tighter than that. Maybe it's the 50" deck factoring in, but I was able to trim around obstacles tighter than with my previous tractor with a 40" deck.

The real eye opener came when I went to put it away. I had to move my old tractor out of my shed and park it under my deck to make room for the Cub in my shed. After driving the Cub for an hour and a half, the old tractor felt like I was riding on a go kart with a mowing deck.

I'm glad I went with the GT. Now I can look forward to cutting the grass this season.

Chip

Congrats on the new 2550.
I bought a new 2554 back in october - so far so fine.

 

[crbr]

Yep, buy the Husqvarna with the Kawi. I had a JD 170 with the 14hp Kawi and mowed about 2 acres for 9 years and when I sold it it still ran like new and did not use oil. Great motors - lots of torque.

I'm curious who makes the Husqvarna

Man has said it all. I too swear by the Kawasaki motors. I have two 14s and a 17. Runs like a champ. The two 14s have worn out three sets (each) of mower bearings over the years. Seats arte torn ragged but I don't care. One has had the front axle broken / replaced, both look like they have been rolled down a dusty dirty hill, and each have has new tires twice. The Kawa is still going with oil and filter changes, new plugs, air filter cleaned, and carbs cleaned once. ...

 

[Fordlords]

Congrats on the 2550. Because these Cubs have a high seating position from their large rear wheels, some people new to them think they won't be stable on hills, when nothing could be further from the truth. Their weight truly gives them the advantage there. I have seen some stories where the weight can be a pain if you get stuck in the mud, but I think that is more attributed to operator lack of common sense. With good care the 2550 should provide you with 20+ years of happy mowing.

-Fordlords-