Cub Cadet Owner Check-In --- Read This First!

[rider54]

Checking In! Found this website while looking for information on my LT1018. It now has about 400 hours and is 11 years old. Mainly use it to cut a 3/4 acre lot with the bagger attachment. Been having problems with loss of power over the past couple of years. I always performed routine maintenance and replaced worn-out/broken parts as needed. It got to where the lawnmower would barely go up a small hill while mowing, the Briggs 18.5 hp was really struggling. After reading some suggestions, I decided to check the valve clearance and discovered the intake valve was only opening about 1/8". The exhaust valve traveling much further. Turns out the intake cam lobe was worn down as many others have seen before. Replaced the cam and now it runs better than ever. Thanks for having such a good forum!!!

 

[greynold99]

Checking In! Found this website while looking for information on my LT1018. It now has about 400 hours and is 11 years old. Mainly use it to cut a 3/4 acre lot with the bagger attachment. Been having problems with loss of power over the past couple of years. I always performed routine maintenance and replaced worn-out/broken parts as needed. It got to where the lawnmower would barely go up a small hill while mowing, the Briggs 18.5 hp was really struggling. After reading some suggestions, I decided to check the valve clearance and discovered the intake valve was only opening about 1/8". The exhaust valve traveling much further. Turns out the intake cam lobe was worn down as many others have seen before. Replaced the cam and now it runs better than ever. Thanks for having such a good forum!!!

rider54,
Ran across your new post and was wondering if I could impose upon you to describe what you did for disassembly, checking the valve clearance and replacing the cam. Not sure this is something I would want to attempt as a DIY'er but determining if this might be related to my problem with a 17 yr. HDS2135 Cub Cadet (500 hrs) 12.5hp; at least something I could check before contacting my dealer.

I identified with the loss of power pulling hills but you didn't make any mention if time mowing or engine heating appeared connected or causing.
I feel like mine is not running as powerfully as it once did but the problem is, the engine shuts off once it gets hot.

Can you start a new thread in the Cub Cadet forum as I had to enter the full web link when I couldn't find it in the New Forum Read-this-first area.
Thanks,
greynold99

 

[packardv8]

What goes around comes around. As a farm kid back in the '50s and '60s, I spent many a long day driving the real-deal IH Cub tractor. Now, fifty-some years later, I'm mowing an acre with a Cub Cadet HDS 2135 and have a 2165 for spare parts.

The Kohler engine has been pretty reliable, but the lawyer/safety switches have been a continuing pain. If I weren't a fair shadetree mechanic, the mower would have been junked long ago as non-operational or too-expensive to pay the dealer to maintain. I've rewired everything and removed or replaced all the original switches.

I've noticed an improvement in performance when I change the air filter annually and service the foam sleeve every month or so in dusty conditions.

Question - does anyone have a good link to a step-by-step on setting the throttle/governor adjustment on a HDS 2135? When I follow the one instruction I have, it seems either I can't get a good low idle speed and still have the governor pick up as it should. (Could it be the safety Nazis figure the machine doesn't need to idle slow, as the engine should stop if the operator dismounts or isn't actively going forward.)

These two Cub Cadet fora are valuable resources. One question which plagues me is the CC model numbers/nomenclature. I know there are several (nearly) identical models with a different number series. On suggestion came from a dealer parts guy. He claimed the same machine sold by a big box store instead of a dealership had a different model number. When someone posts with only a model number, he'd be more likely to get a broader response if he includes the engine make and horsepower and the approximate year of manufacture.

jack vines

 

[ScottD]

HELLO I just saw this and wanted to check in. I've got a 2166 cub cadet 42" 16hp

 

[Too-Cold]

User name is Too-Cold and thanks for having me. I'm about to pull the trigger on a used 36 inch Briggs 12.5 hp commercial walk behind. I can't seem to get much info on the unit as it's been discontinued when I don't know. I'm thinking the 33 inch newer units replaced it or did it have struggles getting market share? I'm coming from a 22 inch mower world but not excited anymore pushing a self propelled anymore, feeling and looking like the old man that I might be (I'm 45).

 

[Carscw]

User name is Too-Cold and thanks for having me. I'm about to pull the trigger on a used 36 inch Briggs 12.5 hp commercial walk behind. I can't seem to get much info on the unit as it's been discontinued when I don't know. I'm thinking the 33 inch newer units replaced it or did it have struggles getting market share? I'm coming from a 22 inch mower world but not excited anymore pushing a self propelled anymore, feeling and looking like the old man that I might be (I'm 45).

The 36 was I very good mower.
45 is not old. I am 49 and still walk behind a snapper pro 48 inch belt drive

 

[Saratj1]

Hello people, new member and and proud new owner of a used cub commercial g1548 commercial walk behind. I have been using it on just my small yard since I bought it (last year end of season) but enjoy it so much I've been thinking about getting a yard or two to cut for extra cash. The mower is overkill for my yard but I was tired of the cheaply made mtd's that I've been using and fixing most of my lawn mowing days, so I thought I'd look at some of the cheaper commercial mowers. I found this mower locally on Craigslist for $600 and thought it was such a great deal I hooked up the trailer and went to check it out in the middle of a downpour of rain so that meant I wasn't going to actually cut with it, but I figured if everything worked as it should then the cut would be at worst just a little adjustment away from perfect. It turned out to be an excellent deal. The thing starts on second pull every time and cuts beautifully anything I've been able to throw at it with ease. The walk behind / pistol grip belt drive thing took a couple mows to get used to but now I'm pretty good with it. I just fired it up today after sitting through a rather nasty (for TN anyways) winter and installed a velke on it . I don't really need a velke, but it looks like fun and why walk when you can ride? I also just ordered a complete tune up kit and when that comes in I'll be ready for spring. My wife thinks I'm nuts for being excited about a lawn mower , but I really like this machine and have been trying to talk my parents / in laws into buying used commercial walk behinds instead of their usual big box store riding mower without much success lol. I think they're afraid the mower will be too hard on them to operate (standing up / tight springs on the belt drives/ not really a true reverse) but I dont think its that bad once you get used to it and the cut is so much nicer and much faster. But anyway . Nice to meet fellow mower enthusiasts lol. I'll try a get a pic posted on here to show off my yellow and black beast.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Hello people, new member and and proud new owner of a used cub commercial g1548 commercial walk behind. I have been using it on just my small yard since I bought it (last year end of season) but enjoy it so much I've been thinking about getting a yard or two to cut for extra cash. The mower is overkill for my yard but I was tired of the cheaply made mtd's that I've been using and fixing most of my lawn mowing days, so I thought I'd look at some of the cheaper commercial mowers. I found this mower locally on Craigslist for $600 and thought it was such a great deal I hooked up the trailer and went to check it out in the middle of a downpour of rain so that meant I wasn't going to actually cut with it, but I figured if everything worked as it should then the cut would be at worst just a little adjustment away from perfect. It turned out to be an excellent deal. The thing starts on second pull every time and cuts beautifully anything I've been able to throw at it with ease. The walk behind / pistol grip belt drive thing took a couple mows to get used to but now I'm pretty good with it. I just fired it up today after sitting through a rather nasty (for TN anyways) winter and installed a velke on it . I don't really need a velke, but it looks like fun and why walk when you can ride? I also just ordered a complete tune up kit and when that comes in I'll be ready for spring. My wife thinks I'm nuts for being excited about a lawn mower , but I really like this machine and have been trying to talk my parents / in laws into buying used commercial walk behinds instead of their usual big box store riding mower without much success lol. I think they're afraid the mower will be too hard on them to operate (standing up / tight springs on the belt drives/ not really a true reverse) but I dont think its that bad once you get used to it and the cut is so much nicer and much faster. But anyway . Nice to meet fellow mower enthusiasts lol. I'll try a get a pic posted on here to show off my yellow and black beast.

<img src="http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/attachments/cub-cadet-forum/25319-cub-cadet-owner-check-read-first-image-jpg"/>

<img src="http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/attachments/cub-cadet-forum/25320-cub-cadet-owner-check-read-first-image-jpg"/>

I'm jealous!! Great mower!!

 

[Jphillips63]

New here and buying a new home.

 

[tomhilmes]

New to the site so saying Hello!

I adopted a 1320 hydro 4 years ago. It's got pretty light duty mowing about 1/2 acre weekly in season. Ever since I got it, reverse has been suspect. Always slower and going backwards up any kind of incline at all is a no go. The owner's manual says that the hydro is sealed and must be serviced by a dealer. I've searched the web and can't find anywhere where this issue is addressed. I'm looking for some easy checks to do before I just dive into it.

It still operates, just reverse is nearing unuseable. Any tips appreciated.

Tom Hilmes