I have this same mower. Used it for 3yrs now. Only problem has been the throttle cable. Muffler will melt the plastic cover off the cable but still works. But mine did break this year. Simple fix takes about 10 minutes. Love this mower. Lot better than any Craftsman I have owned. Love the Kohler engines.
I bought the XT1 42" stamped deck in Aug. 2015, from h.depot, big mistake, got it home discovered one of the deck guide wheels were bent, the generous manager at h.d. gave me$50 buck discount,Lol, I had ordered the bagger for it for another 3 bills, that was a cheap made p.o.s.(one bag ripped,one plastic ear on lid broke off, March of 2021 one of my spindles ripped out of the deck, moisture had gotten between the e coating and the metal causing it to rust, I couldn't tell it until the spindle ripped out then the coating peeled of and exposed all the weak metal, I really like the function of the tractor up until that point ,now I feel like I have been robbed , I forgot to mention mine had a recall on the oil drain hose but the only dealer I could find to fix it, wanted me to leave it parked in my driveway unattended all day while I was at work and they would come by and repair it,I said no thanks, sorry for getting so long winded, but I had to give my experience with this unit which only has 161.6 hrs.on the meter,very disappointed customer.
Ive got a xt1 46 inch 22hp kholer no problems love it I can cut my 5 acres in no time compared to my old 16 hp kholer Craftsman plenty of deck clearance as well. Xt1 I very durable as it gets twisted and slammed on my rough turf even handles my loaded lawn trailer fine just needs better traction only down fall.
I have the same Cub XT1 LT50 (runs great) and I've had the same problem with a broken tension spring. According to the manual and on line the retaining hook goes into the hole neck to the support bracket but the spring exerts too much tension (I can never wrap the belt around the PTO pulley). I added a one inch metal ring between the retaining hook and the spring witch allows me to easily wrap the belt around the PTO and still have very good tension on the belt to drive the mower. It's a design flaw for sure. I'm also sure we are not the only ones that have replaced this tension spring. The 42" and the 46" deck and the manual PTO models have a different spring setup.
@@robludwigsen7831 The belt still has plenty of life left but I had thought that maybe the belt was a tad short. At any rate when that time (changing the belt) I will look into it for sure. Thanks.
Very good information. Sorry that your spring broke, that would have really irritated me. I've been thinking about buying one of those and they have real good reviews. So I hope they're not all like that. Thanks for the added info about the spring. I like the big tires on the back of the Case by the way.
Lesson learned don't buy from big box, I did before ,first time I cut a blade fell off,30 secs into it had other problems shortly after and the store forgot to send in my warranty, after a year. End of story you can't get good help these days.
$2799 now for the XT1 LT 50 fab deck 24 HP at HD. I had issues with a HD delivery, they tried to deliver a ZT1 50 zero turn that was used but sold as new, complained and bought this tractor instead. Customer care took $499 off, so ended up costing $2300 + tax. Just hope it's not junk. When I receive it, I will be watching it closely before the 30 return window is up. Fingers crossed.
Yeah well so these are relatively cheap in the US at about $2500-3000. Come to Europe and you'll soon realize they're sold for over 5-6k Euros, which is double the price. No wonder people don't really buy many Cub Cadets here. At this price range you're better off with a Husqvarna which is superior in every aspect.
@@Zach-sg5uu American Husqvarna riding mowers are made in South Carolina and have Briggs & Stratton or Kawasaki engines. Cubs are made in Ohio by MTD and have Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Kawasaki and Powermore engines
I have a 2019 XT2 GX54D, and I broke my spring on one of the times I had the deck off. It happens. After inspecting my spring, I found that there were rubbing marks on it. In your case, it was the first time you turned on the PTO, so you didn't know what it should sound like when it's running properly. In my case, I knew there was a high pitched metallic sound, but I didn't turn it off immediately like I should have. I went for about 30 seconds before breaking it. I ultimately concluded that I had it tangled up with the belt because of the marks. After the deck is installed properly, the spring should be to the rear of the belt. I always check now. There's no definitive view that I could see on your video how the spring was installed. On your video, you can hear the spring make a loud sound at the 9 minute 25 second mark when you're pulling on the belt to get it around the PTO. This suggests that you may have had it tangled with the belt. As a side note, there is a 3/8" square hole that you can insert a 3/8" ratchet into to pull the belt onto the PTO without having to muscle it on. An 18" ratchet works well for me. I also set the deck height so that the hole for the cotter pins is closest to where they mount, so that very little lifting of the deck is actually required. You have good intuitive mechanical skills, plus you make good videos. Otherwise, you did a really good job on the video for not having read the operator's manual!
I also used the ratchet and still can't exert enough pressure to wrap the belt around the PTO pully. That spring is an inch too short or too tough. I have the same Cub XT1 LT50 (runs great) and I've had the same problem with a broken tension spring. According to the manual and on line the retaining hook goes into the hole neck to the support bracket but the spring exerts too much tension (I can never wrap the belt around the PTO pulley). I added a one inch metal ring between the retaining hook and the spring witch allows me to easily wrap the belt around the PTO and still have very good tension on the belt to drive the mower. It's a design flaw for sure. I'm also sure we are not the only ones that have replaced this tension spring. The 42" and the 46" deck and the manual PTO models have a different spring setup.
I've got a 2017 model, have put 220+ hours on mine, I use it frequently on my 7+ acres, last season I first detected the hood next to the left cylinder head was deformed from excess heat, right side is ok, I've had to replace the throttle cable assembly 3 times now, nearness to the right cylinder head melts the plastic sheathing and ultimately the cable freezes up, now the reverse is failing to engage, needless to say it's got some problems in the design. Can't talk to cub cadet due to this blasted virus, stayed on chat waiting for 15+ minutes and nobody responded, not a good sign.
I bought the 46 inch. I was a little disappointed that the max weight rolling pull is only 250 lbs. I too have an old Craftsman GT 6000 High/Low ranges with a 44 inch deck. I have a snowblower on the front. I could never get it to bag but it will pull my cyclone leave rake full and I do not have to worry about breaking the transmission.. Again, 22 HP and its just a big lawnmower
good mower.....cub cadet is the best deal out there for the money...or you could buy overhype and a green and yellow paint and get less for thousands more.
What is the size or part number of the blades on your cub cudet lt50 with the press deck I’ve ordered blades and they have been the ones for the weld deck which are a different size blade
Was wondering if the manual shows that spring placement? I had a similar problem with JD tractor where the spring did not break but the belt was installed as its tapered to fit the pulley grooves and it was installed backwards. Now im like you and want to check all the major moving parts for correct installation and of course oil level prior to the first use. JD did not take care of me under warranty as the big box store put the mower together so I had to buy the belt which I believe was $30ish back in the day.
Yes. At the time I just bought the new spring and went to hook it up as the TSC had placed it and realized the belt was way too tight. I looked in the manual and saw that the other hole was the correct spot and it has been fine since.
@@QuickSpeedShop I tried the hole between the two deck support brackets but that gave very little tension (if any) and the belt was way too loose and wouldn't turn the mower blades. I finally ended up adding a one inch metal ring to get good tension on the belt and I can wrap the belt around the PTO pulley.
@@SteelHorseman I ended up getting an XT2 42 for the upgraded trans and fabricated deck (which I think this XT1 50 has, but it was too wide for my storage/fence). $3299 cash before tax. They have 0% financing deals though that pop up.
You didn't show how the mower deck is engaged by the cable from the tractor when you installed the mower deck. early in the video you said the mower/tractor was assembled in America it's not the same as made in the USA! and America includes all of south and central America!
First of all, the mower pto is electric. All you do is put the belt on the deck, attach the carrige and mow. Secondly, I get it. No one is more pro USA than me and I try to buy that way whenever possible. In this case I'll take assembled in USA over nothing. Bottom line, I needed a mower, this is what I could afford, it works. I don't work for Cub Cadet, don't get paid by Cub Cadet, I just made a video about a tractor that is literally sold everywhere and tens of thousands of people own. You are more than free to write all your complaints to Cub Cadet or Tractor Supply Company. Hassling me doesn't change where it was made, where the parts come from or anything else related to this or any future Cub Cadet tractor.
@@QuickSpeedShop It’s a good medium duty little faster workhorse! Even though it’s lighter duty. It probably would surprise you on what it can pull some of the time. Plus it’s a very good mower! It’s better than what most people complaining have!😂
Don't worry man. That is just your first cub cadet break down. There will be plenty more in the near future. Better get yourself a real good camera. I'm surprised you did not learn from your 1st cadet. I did. Every time I mow, something breaks. It is designed to break. Look closely at the parts. They are junk.
Been mowing for 2 years now with no problems since the broken spring (which was the fault of whoever put it together at TSC). No complaints, saves me an hour a week, worth the money to me.
All the bearings went out in the deck and the clutch at 36 hours. Took it to the dealership for warranty and they told me they didn’t know if it would be covered or not but he commented how good of shape the mower was in. I told him it was new it only had 36 hours on it and he told me that it would take six weeks to get it fixed. It ended up being 7 1/2 weeks because they couldn’t get the bearings. Hadn’t even had its first oil change. I determined that washing it off after mowing was getting water in the SEALED bearings so now I blow it off with air. 50 hours now, just change the oil, we will see!
@@kuei12 My Cub just died at 17rs old. Never had an issue with it. Probably would have lasted a lot longer if I had taken better care of it. I think all manufactures have lemons occasionally.
I think that is also a good tractor. I think the 46" has two blades instead of three and the engine is smaller than the one in the 50" cut tractor. I think the rest of it is pretty much identical to this tractor.
@@QuickSpeedShop yea I plan to get the 46inch one with in the next week or 2 and yes it has a 22hp khooler and it has 2 blades and no electric PTO the 50inch one dose has the belt pop off again?
I have the same Cub XT1 LT50 (runs great) and I've had the same problem with a broken tension spring. According to the manual and on line the retaining hook goes into the hole neck to the support bracket but the spring exerts too much tension (I can never wrap the belt around the PTO pulley). I added a one inch metal ring between the retaining hook and the spring witch allows me to easily wrap the belt around the PTO and still have very good tension on the belt to drive the mower. It's a design flaw for sure.
I have the same Cub XT1 LT50 (runs great) and I've had the same problem with a broken tension spring. According to the manual and on line the retaining hook goes into the hole neck to the support bracket but the spring exerts too much tension (I can never wrap the belt around the PTO pulley). I added a one inch metal ring between the retaining hook and the spring witch allows me to easily wrap the belt around the PTO and still have very good tension on the belt to drive the mower. It's a design flaw for sure. I'm also sure we are not the only ones that have replaced this tension spring. The 42" and the 46" deck and the manual PTO models have a different spring setup.
@@QuickSpeedShop They do, and I think I'm buying it this Sat. I think they call it a 11 gauge steel Fab deck. It's $2100 but I need the better deck because I have a lot of roots.
@@eieio6641 To be clear mine has a K58 because it's not a XT1 LT, mine is a XT1 GT 50, I bought the GT50 for that reason. I was going to buy a John Deere but the D170 and180 with the 22"rear tires still only has the K46. I'm not saying the K58 is earth shattering but when I'm paying $3000 for a lawn tractor it better have something better than the K46. My other neighbor has a JD LA175 a pretty big tractor and it has a K46 in it and has lasted over 10 years but mows a small flat yard.
@@tomb816 Plastic hoods have nothing to do with performance. In my opinion the cub is better. But an an IH cub Cadet will blow the t240 away. When I use craftsman mowers I get real nervous because Craftsman mowers are what I work on the most Id rather buy a set of wrenches than a lawn mower unless its a gt5000 or lt4000. The old craftsman's were tanks compared to the new ones.
Well its better than the three poorly running, slow, vintage tractors I had. For the money it should last me for a long time. Zero turns are too big for my yard and out of my price range.
Zachariah Woller, Skimask won't tell you *why* its bad, he just *KNOWS* it's bad. Source: Trust me bro. Because talking shit about stuff makes you sound really smart and cool. I'm sure he only mows his half -acre with a $350k Agricultural John Deere because everything else is "cheap garbage". I own the mower in the video. It's good. Maintain it well & it will last. No, you can't abandon it in a field for a decade & fire it back up like a larger tractor. These are perfectly capable for a homeowner. Source: Trust me bro.