what's up with cub cadet?

[art]

I own a 1046 which I bought last year. It's got the 23 hp kohler command engine in it, which seems like a pretty good one. Overall, I like the unit a lot.

Yesterday though, I was in Home Depot and saw the "new" 1046, and it looked like a plastic disposable toy
It only had a 20 hp motor and that was the "courage" model, which I understand is not as durable.
Why on earth would they go backwards in power, quality and finish???

anthony

Lawn mower sales are driven buy numbers, the units sold in the box stores and hardware stores add up, were told as a dealer that that is where the numbers are. So look at the price, how good of a unit could they build for that kind of money? Does MTD build good quality machines, yes, do they build some that isn't so good, to me yes and to you to but it might fit someone! I can't think of to many companies that hasn't built something that was more trouble then it was worth to them.
Study the mowers, don't pay for a name, feel comfortable with the dealer, there is a lot of info available. Talk to repair people, they know the short comings of the machines. There will always be junk being built, some that will still claim that it is the best because of a color, some people just feel they have to have it because of! Personally, I most machines all have some short coming, as there is no one machine built for everyone! For me I'd say it would be tough to build the ideal unit for under 5000 so I guess I be out of the market!

 

[craigw]

I just bought a new Cub Cadet i1046, this is their new zero turn model. It has the Kohler Courage 20 HP. I will be using it tomorrow for the first time and will let everyone know my opinions.

CW

 

[SPYDERLK]

I own a 1046 which I bought last year. It's got the 23 hp kohler command engine in it, which seems like a pretty good one. Overall, I like the unit a lot.

Yesterday though, I was in Home Depot and saw the "new" 1046, and it looked like a plastic disposable toy
It only had a 20 hp motor and that was the "courage" model, which I understand is not as durable.
Why on earth would they go backwards in power, quality and finish???

anthony

Ironically your wording of post is perfect for what you are trying to convey. When I was a boy, my Dad drew a distinction between engines and motors. He had me look it up in the dictionary. In original concept, now all but lost, engines are the prime movers - they are self sustaining. Motors are parasitic, living on the output of an engine. What better way to describe an inferior product!
larry

 

[prpbmw]

I bought my 2544 from a dealer, but was sure nice to go to Lowes and find my maintenance items. Depot doesn't carry crap for maintenance on anything they sell. Up until last week, Lowes still had a larger selection of CC parts than depot and they haven't sold the line it in over a year.

I too thought it would be convenient to buy parts at HD/Lowes.

My local cub dealer sells filters for $7.50

HD wanted $11.95.

As an added bonus, I get to drool over new tractors while I am there.

 

[franmech]

I own a 1046 which I bought last year. It's got the 23 hp kohler command engine in it, which seems like a pretty good one. Overall, I like the unit a lot.

Yesterday though, I was in Home Depot and saw the "new" 1046, and it looked like a plastic disposable toy
It only had a 20 hp motor and that was the "courage" model, which I understand is not as durable.
Why on earth would they go backwards in power, quality and finish???

anthony

I believe the Cub 1045 has the Kohler 20hp Courage single cyl. and the 1046 has the Courage 23hp twin. It was told to me that in 2006 the Cub 1046 was supposed to have the Courage 23hp, however Kohler could not supply Cub with enough engines so they shipped them Commands instead, for the same money!! So all of you who purchased 2006 model 1046 Cub tractors got a good deal!! You see, the factories that build the Courage single cylinder engines were in the path of hurricane Katrina??

 

[franmech]

I too thought it would be convenient to buy parts at HD/Lowes.

My local cub dealer sells filters for $7.50

HD wanted $11.95.

As an added bonus, I get to drool over new tractors while I am there.

I too have checked parts prices in HD, even filters at auto parts stores (good auto parts stores) and my dealer was cheaper.

 

[ibgolfr]

I have a 2544, or I should say the dealer has it, now the second time. Last fall, with 70hrs on it and properly maintained, it stopped going in forward or reverse. I took it to the dealer and they had it a week. Said they found 2-o rings on the breather pipe. Replaced, changed fluid and primed the system. Seemed to work ok when I got it back. Put it in winter storage and the other day got it out. Check the fluids and everything up to snuff. Used for one day without any apparently trouble. Yesterday, the same thing...no go forward or reverse. This time however, when I went to press the pedal to go forward, I heard a terrible noise like gears meshing. Took it back to the dealer and discussed their initial efforts and left it there. I wondered about their claim of a double o-ring being the cause originally and now wonder what the heck to expect. Only 80 hours and I am fed up. If MTD is letting Cub go to ****, it is a shame.

 

[franmech]

ibgolfr,
Sounds like your getting air in the system allright. That 2500 series has been a good tractor. I've seen some charge pumps self destruct on the 3000 series but not the 2500's, they have a much simpler charge pump. Could be o-rings, could be a hairline crack in the suction line to charge pump?? Can sometimes be hard to find, give your dealer a chance. That's what warranty is for right?

 

[ibgolfr]

franmech

The air maybe, but I am unsure about the new noise. It actually sounded like the gears were out of mesh, like shifting a car with the clutch not fully engaged. We will see what they find.

 

[ibgolfr]

I just talked to the dealer. He says he is feed up and is replacing the entire hydro unit. They can't find a problem with it--except it will not go either direction--and he says Cub themsleves don't have a satisfactory answer as to why it won't . The only problem, the grass here is growing like the proverbial weed and I don't know how long it will be layed up. I might have to rent some goats in the mean time.