Mr. Jimmy

My neighbor bought a Cub Cadet at Lowes 3 yrs ago and has replaced the starter, steering gear, and I have welded several patches on the deck. The Cub is not the same mower it used to be. The JD that Lowes sells is also not nearly the same quality that you get at a JD dealer.

04ctd

is this a Home Depot / Lowes JD, or a "dealership" model?

the 100 series available at retail outlets is supposedly no better than anything else. the lady at Lowes tonite said:
"We sell less JD, and we have a few comeback for repairs/refunds"
"we sell few Husky's, and a few comeback"
"we sell ALOT of Troy Bilts - and we got LOTS back"

she was ALL ABOUT the extended warranty, because she gets the earful when stuff ain't covered, and I guess riding mowers have a rough life.

my local JD Dealer told me the LT series (only available at the dealer) are designed by JD to last 40% longer than the 100 series.

my financial problem is this:
i have less than $2k to pay cash,
don't want to pay cash.
don't want to finance.
don't want to pay that much for a mower PERIOD.
feet hurt too much to push.


only 1/2 acre, but nice & flat, was wide open, but put up a fence this weekend. so don't need a 46 or 48 now, 42 be good.
will have to push ALOT with the fence up - ditch & fence close to edges.

guy from Church gave me a mower last week.
RUNS GREAT!!! i charged battery, fired right up, redid some wires, PTO works, blades turn. 20hp/42inch hydro static tranny.

it needs:
Transaxle ??$
2 new front rims - Lowes only sells tire/rim unit 2 @ 29 = $60
new trundles on all deck pulleys ??$
blades = ?$50
deck looks wore slap out, rollers bent

there's no need to put ~$300 in this junk.

BigBlue

This was from the local JD dealership. No clue on the model but when I go home tomorrow I'll find out and post back.

tenbrooks

1/2 acre = 30" used snapper

Moose10

I've got a 42" (2 blade) Murray 18HP (Briggs OHV) model year 2001 that has been going strong ever since i bought it. All I've done so far is routine MX...change the oil, air filter & plug, and one new battery this season, ...oh, and sharpen the blades with an angle grinder. Great buy 5 years ago at only $850 brand new. That was mowing an acre in AK once a week for six months out of the year for four years and and 1/2 acre a week here in SD for a year.
Only down side is the headlights suck, but who needs 'em?

Dieseldude4x4

Ebay.com

Mr. Jimmy

If you are only mowing a 1/2 acre you would be fine with an MTD. I had one for 15 yrs with very little maintenance. I used it to mow 3/4 acre once a week, 4-5 months out of year. I paid $850 for it new at Scotty's hardware. You can probably still get that same mower at Lowes for less than a $1000.

Commatoze

According to the Cub dealer where I purchased my 2176, two 21" blades have a higher tip speed than three 15's and clear the grass from the deck to the bagger much more effeciently. No complaints with my 42 inch deck.

BigBlue

Just checked ours. We've got a John Deere LT180 2 blade with a 42" cut bought direct from John Deere. It's a piece.

Ray Roton

I have a John deer 3 blade ZTR (forgot the model number)

AS for size, I measured the gates on my property, and got the biggest one that would fit through the gates. It is a commercial mower which does not have the blade speed restrictions that the residential ones have. I only have two acres to mow, so this mower is overkill. I am confident that I will NEVER have to buy another one though.

Red3quarter

Currently I have a JD 108 (42" w/2 blades) from home depot, I have had it for a yr now and so far its been a pretty decent little mower. My parents had a Ariens GT18 for the longest time before they got a JD. The ariens was powerful and would pretty much cut anything apart that got under it. I believe it was 3 blades on a 48 inch deck. The only problem with it was that about 5 yrs ago all the electrical crap started to go out and caused problems everytime you wanted to use it. So they got rid of it and bought a little JD. Now at dads business he has a big mower, it's a Toro 223-D. I think the deck it either 72 or 84 inches and it has a 3 cylinder Mitsubishi diesel in it. Its hydrostatic drive and it will get the job done.

bmoeller

As far as the new, smaller Cubs, they are made by MTD. Hate that junk. Sears Craftsman riders are a PITA to work on, or switch attachments ( like a mower deck to front snow blade, have to chage EVERY frickkin' bracket..)

The REAL Cubs, VERY easy to swap things over. At least the old HEAVY 1250 Cub I used to run. Tough as nails. Beat to snot, but kept on tickin. 'til it was in a shed that burnt down.

04ctd

welp, got a sears 27660, was on sale, 2 blade IAW your guys input.
tks, seems to work pretty well

the hydrostatic tranny has a "no wheelie" device that kicks it out of gear if you try to take off with the tranny selector in too fast a position.

problem is any time you hit a obstacle that takes torque, it kicks it into nuetral,
and you dead stop, losing all your momentum.

to get a running go thru my ditch requires me to hold the tranny shifter at a moderate speed.

is this normal?


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Craftsman 22 hp 42 in. Deck Yard Tractor


Powered by a Briggs and Stratton 22hp Intek Twin engine with Full pressure filtration, large oil and fuel filters for longer life. Automatic transmission for easy handling. 42" 12 Ga. Deck with (4) adjustable gauge wheels.

Tight 16" turning radius for trimming close and getting the job done quicker
Cast iron front axle
42" deck w/ 4 Adjustable Gauge Wheels
EZ Drive Auto transmission
Spring loaded Fender mounted deck lift system, makes it easy to lift the deck
11 Gauge full length steel frame for durability
2.5 gallon fuel tank
20" Turfsaver rear tires help keep the tractor from damaging the lawn
High back seat
Service minder let's you know when oil changes are needed
Convenient Cup Holder
Product Overview:

Lawn Tractor Type

Automatic

Item Weight

516.0 lbs.

General Warranty

2 year limited

Drive System:

Transmission Type

Automatic

Speeds, Forward

Infinite

Speeds, Reverse

Infinite

Shifter Location

Fender

Motor-Engine:

Engine Brand

Briggs & Stratton®

Displacement

725 cc

Horsepower

22 hp

Air Filter Type

Dual

Cooling Fan

Yes

Cylinder Liner

Cast iron

Cylinders No.

2

Electronic Ignition

Yes

Exhaust Valve Rotator

No

Lubrication System

Full pressure

Oil Filter Type

Automotive-type

Valve Design

Overhead

Valve Lifters

Standard

Fuel System:

Fuel Capacity

2.5 gal.

Cut:

Cutting Blades Number

2

Cutting Deck Type

Ventilated

Cutting Positions

6

Cutting Range

1 to 4 in.

Gauge Wheels

Yes

Number of Deck Gauge Wheels

4

Deck Thickness (Gauge)

12

Mulch Ready

No

Deck Cut Width

42 in.

Wheels & Tires:

Wheel Grease Zerks

Yes

Front

15 x 6 x 6 in.

Rear

20 x 8 x 8 in.

Handling & Operating:

Electric Clutch For Attach.

No

Brakes Type

Disk

Cruise Control

Yes

Battery Ammeter

No

Hour Meter Feedback

Yes

Speed & Direction Control

Motion lever

Steering Wheel Type

Standard

Steering Type

Sector and pinion

Turning Radius

16 in.

Convenience:

CupHolder

Yes

Seat, Adjustable

Slide Mechanism

Chassis:

Axle Material

Cast iron

Frame Material

11 ga. formed steel

Frame Type

Channel

Step Thru Frame

Yes

Color:

Overall Color

Gold

Installation Requirements:

Setup

Some assembly required

Accessories Accepted:

Electric Lift Kit

No

Ground-Engaging Attach.

No

Hauling Equipment

Yes

Lawn Care Attach

Yes

Snow Blade or Thrower

Yes

Bagger

24891/24892

Dozer Blade

No

Mulch Kit

#33742

Included with Item:





Protection Agreements

A protection Agreement safeguards your purchase beyond the manufacturer's warranty and protects you from unexpected repairs.

3YR In-Home Repair Protection Agreement:

299.99

What's included?

Buckshotmckee

That doesn't sound right to me. You should be able to put into gear and go. I've pulled a VW bug with mine with no problems.

JD730

We have 2 mower setups we use,
John Deere 318, 48" 3 blade deck, the only problem is my brother hitting rocks/garden hoses and bending blades or breaking the blade bolts off.

and a recently aquired 60" BMB, 3 blade, rear discharge, cat 1 3 point hitch mower attached to our hydrostatic bolens/iseki tractor. This one like to scalp alittle bit in some places, but other than that it a good mower.