LT1050 PTO Engagement Question

[NickTF]

Well I broke down yesterday and purchased a bran new LT1050 from Tractor Supply Co. They matched Home Depot's 10% off coupon and had the newer models with the 25hp Koehler vs. the older ones with the 23hp Koehler. Also one thing to note is the seats of the older models don't have the arm rests with the newer ones having the arm rests. In any event i've read alot on this forum and yes I know what i've gotten myself into by purchasing from a larger non-dealer, although I'm guessing Tractor Supply Co probably is a whole lot better then Home Depot. Bought from the box store because of their pricing which being a first time home owner is important to me. That and anything that's going to happen to this thing outside of a major defect it would appear the only difference is the amount of time you'd be without your tractor, less being if you bought from a dealer. Seems i'll have to fix any kind of belt throwing type issues which is fine as i'm mechanically inclined.

In any event I take delivery today and the only real question I had was about engaging the mower deck. Common sense would suggest to me that it should be done at half throttle or so to avoid throwing the belt. The manual suggests to do it at full throttle. What do you guys think? I mean it can't really bog down the motor that bad when just engaging the deck unless one engaged it in tall grass/weeds etc. Is there some other reason to have the engine at full throttle while engaging the mower deck?

Look forward to playing with the tractor today! Hopefully it doesn't rain or I'll be livid lol!

P.S. This is a great website with lots of great information!

 

[7254t]

If you bought from a dealer he would explain it to you and would grease the mower to!

 

[NickTF]

If you bought from a dealer he would explain it to you and would grease the mower to!

I talked to a dealer which indicated that belt throwing was caused by engaging the mower deck at too high engine speeds. I was just curious cause the manual is contradictory.

Grease the mower? Wouldn't Cub/MTD do that from the factory? Otherwise i'd certainly think it would be in the manual to do so prior to use? I do understand there are requirements, just like in most vehicles, to grease bearings every so often.

 

[Willis Fecon Bushhogging]

Well I broke down yesterday and purchased a bran new LT1050 from Tractor Supply Co. They matched Home Depot's 10% off coupon and had the newer models with the 25hp Koehler vs. the older ones with the 23hp Koehler. Also one thing to note is the seats of the older models don't have the arm rests with the newer ones having the arm rests. In any event i've read alot on this forum and yes I know what i've gotten myself into by purchasing from a larger non-dealer, although I'm guessing Tractor Supply Co probably is a whole lot better then Home Depot. Bought from the box store because of their pricing which being a first time home owner is important to me. That and anything that's going to happen to this thing outside of a major defect it would appear the only difference is the amount of time you'd be without your tractor, less being if you bought from a dealer. Seems i'll have to fix any kind of belt throwing type issues which is fine as i'm mechanically inclined.

In any event I take delivery today and the only real question I had was about engaging the mower deck. Common sense would suggest to me that it should be done at half throttle or so to avoid throwing the belt. The manual suggests to do it at full throttle. What do you guys think? I mean it can't really bog down the motor that bad when just engaging the deck unless one engaged it in tall grass/weeds etc. Is there some other reason to have the engine at full throttle while engaging the mower deck?

Look forward to playing with the tractor today! Hopefully it doesn't rain or I'll be livid lol!

P.S. This is a great website with lots of great information!

Im not sure about your machine, but I would have it at half throttle and engage the deck. Check how the engine does and is the belts screaming.
Then try the same thing with it at full throttle. Its a pretty common sense thingee, once youve tried it. Just see what one puts the less of a strain on everything.

As far as a comment about buying from a dealer, the way most dealers are now a days (in it for the money, forget the customer) I wouldnt have a problem buying fom a non dealer. Its going to be a PITA, getting service from anybody.
I own a construction business, so Ive been down this road, from JD tractors, Mack dump trucks, Cat and Komastu excavators and bulldozers, skidsteers, etc. I bought a big JD lawn mower, from the JD dealer a few years ago and the salesman, didnt know anything about the operation of the unit. I asked him several standard questions and each reply was "I'll find out and let you know"
So this my 2 cents worth

 

[NickTF]

Im not sure about your machine, but I would have it at half throttle and engage the deck. Check how the engine does and is the belts screaming.
Then try the same thing with it at full throttle. Its a pretty common sense thingee, once youve tried it. Just see what one puts the less of a strain on everything.

As far as a comment about buying from a dealer, the way most dealers are now a days (in it for the money, forget the customer) I wouldnt have a problem buying fom a non dealer. Its going to be a PITA, getting service from anybody.
I own a construction business, so Ive been down this road, from JD tractors, Mack dump trucks, Cat and Komastu excavators and bulldozers, skidsteers, etc. I bought a big JD lawn mower, from the JD dealer a few years ago and the salesman, didnt know anything about the operation of the unit. I asked him several standard questions and each reply was "I'll find out and let you know"
So this my 2 cents worth

Thanks for your reply. You and I are on the same page, it's not like the dealer is going to come and get it when/if it throws a belt or whatever have you so what's the difference? I can tell you, price is the difference! I can find out things for myself if I need to know and take care of any of these items such as belts etc.

 

[CCinCT]

Thanks for your reply. You and I are on the same page, it's not like the dealer is going to come and get it when/if it throws a belt or whatever have you so what's the difference? I can tell you, price is the difference! I can find out things for myself if I need to know and take care of any of these items such as belts etc.

My dealer came and got the tractor for any warranty work within the first year, so that saved me about $75 once. Not all dealers are like that, so whether buying from a dealer is the right thing to do depends on whether you have a dealer that's any good.

As for engaging the deck, my manual says to engage the PTO at 1/2 throttle. I've got a different tractor, but I can't see why the "philosophy" would be any different. Personally I'd try it at 1/2 throttle and see if the engine lugs. If it does, check to make sure the deck is fully greased then try again. If it still lugs, try it at 3/4 throttle.

Actually, you should probably check all the grease points before you start to play with it. They don't always come greased properly from the factory.

 

[NickTF]

My dealer came and got the tractor for any warranty work within the first year, so that saved me about $75 once. Not all dealers are like that, so whether buying from a dealer is the right thing to do depends on whether you have a dealer that's any good.

As for engaging the deck, my manual says to engage the PTO at 1/2 throttle. I've got a different tractor, but I can't see why the "philosophy" would be any different. Personally I'd try it at 1/2 throttle and see if the engine lugs. If it does, check to make sure the deck is fully greased then try again. If it still lugs, try it at 3/4 throttle.

Actually, you should probably check all the grease points before you start to play with it. They don't always come greased properly from the factory.

Cool, thanks for the input!

 

[Undercover]

As said grease it.They do grease at the factory, but imo it needs more. I have had great luck with my dealer.IMO the day is coming that most small dealers(like mine will be gone)and that will be to bad.
The LT 1050 with 25hp 50" deck with armrest for $1999 and the LT 1046 with no armrest 23hp and smaller deck for $100 less.The SLT1550 is the same as the LT 1050 with 2" bigger rear tires bumper and hood for $2499.Cub most want to sell some LT1050's.
Sorry i got off track,good luck NickTF

______________________________
04 CC GT 3235 60" deck
07 CC GT 1554
99 snapper LT

 

[firstcub]

I have a 1554 with the 27 hs engine. I HAVE TO be at full throttle to engage the pto. Anything less than full will stall the engine upon engaging the pto. When the pto kicks on it puts a tremendous load on the engine for a second.

 

[NickTF]

I have a 1554 with the 27 hs engine. I HAVE TO be at full throttle to engage the pto. Anything less than full will stall the engine upon engaging the pto. When the pto kicks on it puts a tremendous load on the engine for a second.

Interesting, mine will engage the deck at half throttle no problem . I like to engage it at 3/4 though to have a nice even balance.

 

[firstcub]

Really!? Wow. Mine has been like that since new. I just though it was an area that CC needed refinement. Never really though it might not be functioning properly. Does your deck shake pretty good upon engagement?
Do you have 1554 with 54" deck?

 

[NickTF]

Really!? Wow. Mine has been like that since new. I just though it was an area that CC needed refinement. Never really though it might not be functioning properly. Does your deck shake pretty good upon engagement?
Do you have 1554 with 54" deck?

No, I have a smaller LT1050 with the 50" deck. I do have the smaller 25hp Koehler though so I'd think they'd come close to equaling out in difference.

I do get a get shake of the whole tractor when engaging but it's not anything I wouldn't expect being it's a large deck.

I just engage it at less throttle because of what a dealer told me in regards to belts being thrown having to do with people engaging the PTO at full throttle. It's decieving I suppose because Cub says to do it, but not really necessarily in a manner that it will load the motor down just from engagement. To me it reads in a manner that says mowing in less then full throttle is too much load on the motor. That I can see!

 

[firstcub]

Yeah sorry about the dumb question (do you have 1554?) I should have paid more attention as you had already mentioned that.

I agree that it should equal out the difference with the slightly smaller size on the deck and the engine.

Mine is a 2005. I wonder if they have just improved the design? It is quite possible as it really needed improving!

Oh well. I will have to look into it and see If I can make any adjustments to improve it.

 

[RCT]

The manual for my 2138 says to engage the PTO at half throttle, but that is a 38" deck. Maybe with the bigger decks it needs to be higher given the extra weight of the blades, longer belt, etc.

 

[Steve_Miller]

When you go into reverse, does the mower disengage, then re-engage when you go forward again, if you don't have the override energized? If so, isn't the deck engaging at full throttle when you go forward again anyway? If so, this would contradict the manual saying to engage at half throttle. My RZT50 does this and hasn't thrown a belt yet and if I remember correctly it has the same deck as the LT1050. Just wondering.

Steve

 

[micman32]

My manuel for my 2518 says engage pto at half throttle. I have learned that you need to let the engine warm up several minutes before engaging the pto or the engine will die.
I am not sure about the 1000 series tractors as the set up is different from the 2500 series.

Michael