Cub Cadet. What am I going to do? :mad:

Infi-del

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Apr 6, 2009
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So, I bought a Cub Cadet about 6 weeks ago at Tractor Supply. It's the Zero Turn 50" deck guy. Looked nice. Heard so many bad things about John Deere lately and my best friends JD Lawn mower burst into flames and burned to the ground being only 2 years old. So I went with the Cub Cadet. Information on the internet was half and half. So it was hard to judge. Well I've cut the grass with it three times and every damn time it's had a belt issue. The very first day it ate it's own mower belt. Apparently it jumped the track and got pinned static and then the drive pulley just burned it in two. I figured it was just one of those things. A belt's not hard to replace and Tractor Supply gave me a new one. But the next two times... the damn transmission belt jumps track. And that thing is a bitch to put back on. ESPECIALLY if it comes off on uneven ground with high weeds. So far I have YET to be able to cut my grass (About 5 acres) to completion without this damn thing crapping the bed on me. Runs smooth when it runs, cuts good when it cuts. But those damn belts won't stay on. And when they don't stay on the mower either won cut... or won't drive. Any of you guys know a fix for this. maybe oversized pulleys. Maybe an undersized belt? I doubt they're gonna take it back. I'm seriously thinking about filing a complaint about Cub Cadet. It's not Tractor Supply's fault, they didn't make the thing. And so far they've been nice about it. They're coming to pick it up to look it over and see if they can figure out the problem. We financed it so I'm real tempted to just take it back and tell them sorry about their luck and just eat the first payment. One little thing like that isn't gonna mess my credit up at all.
 
Tractor Supply should have someone that does warranty repairs for them,not just take it back and look it over themselves.If you don't get anymore satisfaction from TS,call MTD directly,they build the CC mowers now as far as I know.MTD should be able to give you someones name that does their warranty work in your area.It sounds like there is an issue,possibly a pulley out of alignment or something like that.The only thing TS will be ale to do if they don't have someone that does warranty work is replace it and that should be their problem,a new mower that doesn't work isn't your problem.
 
Tractor Supply is the ailuthorized dealer. That means more than just selling the thing. It means that they represent[/] Cub Cadet to you. Cub Cadet pays them to do this. If service and parts are required, even if the whole unit is deemed a lemon and has to get replaced, Cub Cadet will pay for that, not Tractor Supply. Tractor Supply wants to help you access the resources of Cub Cadet to fix this problem. This way, they will earn your futur business and also your positive recommendation to family and friends. So, give TS a chance to do that and don't worry about it "not being their problem."
 
What I have learned about Cub Cadet and other brands carried by the chain stores is that they sometimes are uniquely produced models (with a brand name decal); and more importantly key components like the belts and mower deck are mounted by less than knowledgeable store personnel. I know two people who have the belt drives on their CC's put on incorrectly at the store, even though they "looked" right. If your belts are coming off like that, it sounds like you have something fundamentally wrong. I think I would play it safe and return it.
 
Usually after a belt comes off it gets stretched enough that it keeps doing it in my experience. Once it starts coming off a new one usually solves the problem. Just a thought.
 
Shopping for a new mower is a bitch. Not a whole lot of good reviews on any of them . Most are made now by MTD so pretty much the same mowers with different names. I was as confused as hell with the different drive systems,Hydrostatic , auto , shift on the go. I only had $1000.00 to spend and bought a Bolens from Lowes. I had to beg a buddy to pick it up for me as lowes wanted $80.00 to deliver it. Got it here and no way would it start. After a bunch of horseshit and 2 weeks I finally got them to take it back and I bought a Troy-Built Pony. They delivered it for free but then next day I see in the paper that you get a free cart with it. They neglected to tell me that sooo back I go with reciept and bitch till they gave me one. So far I like the pony, its shift on the go which works good and I dont have to hold down a pedal when running. I unhooked the blade shutoff switch for reverse ( a real pain in the ass if you just need to back up a little). The problem with most chain stores is some punkie kid assembles them and doesnt take time to do it proper. Sounds like your pulleys are not lined up and thats the cause of losing belts. From what Ive seen with all these mowers its hit or miss if you get a good one from the start. Anyway,good luck ,I hope you get it running .
 
In a lighter note there is now a new speed record for a riding mower - 86 mph !! These must be able to cut grass too !
 
Thanks guys. Tractor Supply has a "guy" that does their warranty stuff for them. He's gonna come pick it up Wednesday. So hopfully this guy is familiar with them and will make sure the pulleys are all aligned properly. The tension pulleys seems to be holding the belts firmly in place as they are an absolute bear to put back on. I had to have an extra set of hands to install the mower belt as the tension pulley was really tough to over power. So I assume that means it's all be held firmly in place. Like I said, when it works it works great. But these belts are just a PITA. Hopfully this service guy will know exactly what to do and my mower will start giving me trouble free service.
 
Bit late now perhaps, but we mow on a large property (380 acres) with a Toro and no probs so far other than the springs that apply tension to the belts from the levers getting tired or snapping (quick fix with ones from a hardware store)
Has a B&S 500cc (ish) motor. IIRC it mows @ 6.5 Mph and has a 42" deck.
 
Thanks guys. Tractor Supply has a "guy" that does their warranty stuff for them. He's gonna come pick it up Wednesday. So hopfully this guy is familiar with them and will make sure the pulleys are all aligned properly. The tension pulleys seems to be holding the belts firmly in place as they are an absolute bear to put back on. I had to have an extra set of hands to install the mower belt as the tension pulley was really tough to over power. So I assume that means it's all be held firmly in place. Like I said, when it works it works great. But these belts are just a PITA. Hopfully this service guy will know exactly what to do and my mower will start giving me trouble free service.

At least if you have a contact,even if he can't figure out what's going on,the condition will be noted and he can contact MTD and work with them about fixing or replacing it.I used to do warranty work for B&S and a few other companies that built mowers back in the 1980s and 90s.B&S had a factory service school that you were suppose to attend to keep up your certification.Most of the mower companies didn't but hopefully the guy they're sending will be able to help you out.:thumbup:
 
All of the lawn tractors sold outside --or inside--the big box stores are worthless. You have to spend at least $4000 to begin to get a quality machine.
 
I've found that Kevlar reinforced belts are worth the extra $. Used them on cars and on my old tractor that is belt drive everything. They don't stretch and seem to last much longer.

Dave
 
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