jjrphs
New member
I just traded for a new XT3-GSE about a month ago after taking in my GT-2544 for a problem with the hydrostatic drive unit. This is my 3rd Cub and so far I am completely pleased and consider it my best Cub yet.
My 1st Cub was a 96 model 2185 with 48" deck......a good solid mower with the steel 3-piece front bodywork. Unfortunately, the front bodywork design predisposed it to collecting grass and debris under it near the exhaust. One day while mowing, the collection of dry/dead grass under the front bodywork was ignited to flame by the muffler and burned a pin-hole in the fuel filter causing a gas-fueled fire.....it was a miracle I was able to save the mower with damage limited to a burned plug wire / coil assembly and scorched bodywork. Later, with approx 250 hrs on the machine the bearing(s) in the PTO clutch failed / seized. The 2185 did not have the "mow in reverse" feature, so it might have been all the disengaging / reengaging of the PTO which was responsible for its demise. When faced with the bill for PTO clutch replacement versus what the dealership allowed on the trade up to a GT2544......I took the GT-2544.
I traded for the GT-2544 in 2007. One thing which was surprising to me at the time was the MSRP of the GT-2544 was actually less than the 10 yr old 2185 I had traded for it. The front bodywork was of a different design.....which I liked. The quality and execution of the new front bodywork was rather poor IMO. It was a good mower.....but I never really "felt" it was built to the same standard of quality as my previous 2185. One quality issue which came up in the first couple of years was replacement of the hood.....the quality of its attachment to the pivot frame was poor and it cracked / broke in short order and was replaced under warranty. I never felt the quality of cut with the GT-2544 was as good as the 2185.....it tended to leave "gaps" and I would end up doing a lot 2nd passes. Fuel consumption was quite a bit more with the higher HP rated engine. Again, it was a decent enough mower which gave me 380 hrs of relatively trouble-free service. I had a couple issues with it this year......1st it began to immediately shut down upon start-up. This was traced back to the ignition switch "run" position not energizing the carb (after-fire) solenoid. Easy fix to replace ignition switch. 2nd, the hydrostat began to become "mushy," vibrate...like it was cavitating and would not pull even a small incline. With the hydrostat issue, I took it in to the dealer for a diagnosis. Surprisingly, the technician said it as a simple matter of pedal adjustment and replacement of the pedal bushings. I didn't and still don't completely believe the hydrostat issue was that simple and that I would not have future problems......so, I decided to negotiate another trade with the dealer for the XT3-GSE with a 48" fabricated deck.
I've had the XT3-GSE with 48" fabed deck for about a month now. Features I wanted on my new mower that I haven't enjoyed before are the power steering (electric) and power deck lift (also electric). I REALLY like both! After having a 48" deck on my 1st Cub, I wanted to go back to the larger deck.......I would have considered a stamped deck, but it's not currently offered in the 48" size and I didn't want to go larger even though it would have been cheaper in stamped. Other things I like about this mower is I think Cub finally got it right with the front bodywork (quality and convenience), I like the extended oil drain hose, the deck has a fabulous cut in comparison with to the GT-2544 -and- this mower uses less fuel......although I haven't figured out if it's just more fuel efficient -or- I'm doing a lot less 2nd passes, it turns tighter and I can actually finish sooner. The build quality is superior to both my previous Cubs, even the seating position fits me better......in a word, this mower is far more REFINED than my previous Cubs.
I don't really have any negatives at this point....although I'm still getting used to having the brake on the left side. Also, with the electric steering and deck assist.....jumping a dead battery (from a vehicle) if forbidden and voids the warranty on those electrical parts.
My 1st Cub was a 96 model 2185 with 48" deck......a good solid mower with the steel 3-piece front bodywork. Unfortunately, the front bodywork design predisposed it to collecting grass and debris under it near the exhaust. One day while mowing, the collection of dry/dead grass under the front bodywork was ignited to flame by the muffler and burned a pin-hole in the fuel filter causing a gas-fueled fire.....it was a miracle I was able to save the mower with damage limited to a burned plug wire / coil assembly and scorched bodywork. Later, with approx 250 hrs on the machine the bearing(s) in the PTO clutch failed / seized. The 2185 did not have the "mow in reverse" feature, so it might have been all the disengaging / reengaging of the PTO which was responsible for its demise. When faced with the bill for PTO clutch replacement versus what the dealership allowed on the trade up to a GT2544......I took the GT-2544.
I traded for the GT-2544 in 2007. One thing which was surprising to me at the time was the MSRP of the GT-2544 was actually less than the 10 yr old 2185 I had traded for it. The front bodywork was of a different design.....which I liked. The quality and execution of the new front bodywork was rather poor IMO. It was a good mower.....but I never really "felt" it was built to the same standard of quality as my previous 2185. One quality issue which came up in the first couple of years was replacement of the hood.....the quality of its attachment to the pivot frame was poor and it cracked / broke in short order and was replaced under warranty. I never felt the quality of cut with the GT-2544 was as good as the 2185.....it tended to leave "gaps" and I would end up doing a lot 2nd passes. Fuel consumption was quite a bit more with the higher HP rated engine. Again, it was a decent enough mower which gave me 380 hrs of relatively trouble-free service. I had a couple issues with it this year......1st it began to immediately shut down upon start-up. This was traced back to the ignition switch "run" position not energizing the carb (after-fire) solenoid. Easy fix to replace ignition switch. 2nd, the hydrostat began to become "mushy," vibrate...like it was cavitating and would not pull even a small incline. With the hydrostat issue, I took it in to the dealer for a diagnosis. Surprisingly, the technician said it as a simple matter of pedal adjustment and replacement of the pedal bushings. I didn't and still don't completely believe the hydrostat issue was that simple and that I would not have future problems......so, I decided to negotiate another trade with the dealer for the XT3-GSE with a 48" fabricated deck.
I've had the XT3-GSE with 48" fabed deck for about a month now. Features I wanted on my new mower that I haven't enjoyed before are the power steering (electric) and power deck lift (also electric). I REALLY like both! After having a 48" deck on my 1st Cub, I wanted to go back to the larger deck.......I would have considered a stamped deck, but it's not currently offered in the 48" size and I didn't want to go larger even though it would have been cheaper in stamped. Other things I like about this mower is I think Cub finally got it right with the front bodywork (quality and convenience), I like the extended oil drain hose, the deck has a fabulous cut in comparison with to the GT-2544 -and- this mower uses less fuel......although I haven't figured out if it's just more fuel efficient -or- I'm doing a lot less 2nd passes, it turns tighter and I can actually finish sooner. The build quality is superior to both my previous Cubs, even the seating position fits me better......in a word, this mower is far more REFINED than my previous Cubs.
I don't really have any negatives at this point....although I'm still getting used to having the brake on the left side. Also, with the electric steering and deck assist.....jumping a dead battery (from a vehicle) if forbidden and voids the warranty on those electrical parts.
