Cub Cadet 7275 4.80 star(s) (5)

Beef Farm
Model Year: 1998

I have used and even abused this tractor for the last 18 years. I have moved tons of gravel, manure, dirt, firewood and dug foundations with the Davis 100 backhoe attachment. It has started in temps of 22 degrees below zero to move mountains of Lake Erie snow. I am still using it every day and can't believe it still works every day. It has very few problems. It gets general maintenance and it just keeps going. I made the right choice on this one.

Pros: All good
Cons: None

Cub Cadet 7275 Built by Mitsubishi
Model Year: 1997

Overall an excellent, strong performer of a tractor. Always starts right up, from 105 degrees F to -20 degrees F. Cub Cadet attachments are all Woods products. I purchased it new with 407 Front End loader and 404 72" mid-mount mower. It can pick up amazing amounts of material, and amazing weights in the loader bucket. The mid-mount mower is heavy and difficult to move around when off the tractor, but moves an awesome amount of grass---mowing 6 feet in a single pass gets cutting done fast (max speed 6mph in mid-range). I added a backhoe after few years and found the tractor handled the 6 1/2 foot backhoe well. Maintenance on the tractor is expensive. Fuel filters, oil filters, hydraulic filters, and hydro transmission filters are painfully expensive from Cub Cadet. Fuel filters and oil filters can be found at NAPA for a lot less, but the hydraulic and transmission filters are proprietary fit and only available from Cub Cadet. (60-80 dollars each), and need to be changed every 250 hours. Air cleaners are proprietary too, and cost about $100. The only mechanical problems I've had to deal with are failure of the electrical switches and accessory connections. With 4WD, the traction is pretty respectable on turf, dirt, mud, sand, but the Trac-loader tires I bought it with tend to pack with snow, and slip around on snow and ice. It's hard to fit tire chains on the rear wheels because of little clearance between the inside of the tire and wall of the fender. I have put tire chains on the front tires only and it has helped traction when pushing snow around. Keeping the backhoe on the tractor over the winter helps traction a lot with its added weight on the back of the tractor.

Pros: Power, mechanical reliability, comfortable operator position.
Cons: So-so electronics, horribly expensive maintenance and replacement parts.

Cub Cadet 7275 Built by Mitsubishi
Model Year: 1997

This is one tough, capable tractor. It still surprises me today, after 15 years of ownership, just how much power this tractor has. It has been 100% reliable since the day I bought it. Its traction and climbing ability in 4-wheel drive is astounding. I have had it buried up to the axles in swampy mud and have been able to climb out unaided. The hydro static transmission performs, and the power steering (indirect hydraulic---a little strange at first) is a godsend when working with the loader. All of the attachments to this tractor are standard-issue Woods equipment (I have a 72 inch belly mower, 60 inch loader, and a 7 1/2 foot backhoe). It makes it easier to get parts either from Cub Cadet or from a Woods dealer. I was also able to buy a NOS Case-International front mount snow thrower (single stage). I works well enough, but it's not a dual stage blower, but it does bolt right up to the tractor. The quick-attach loader setup does work pretty well. I can get the loader off the tractor in about 5 minutes, and back on in about 10 minutes. The belly-mount mower is simple enough to get off and on, but takes more time and effort, mostly due to it's size (about 6'4" wide, 3' long front to back, and 525 pounds. If the loader is on the tractor (you can have both the loader and belly mower on at the same time), you can lift the front wheels of the tractor about 6 inches off the ground, making it easier to roll the mower out from underneath. I selected trak-loader tires on this tractor as a compromise between aggressive Ag-tread that would murder my lawn, and soft turf tires that really bounce around with the loader on. The wheels the trak-loader tires come on are heavy-duty, and solid--no width adjustment like the Ag wheels. The rear tire to fender clearance is tight with these wheels, keeping you from putting tire chains on. The trak-loader tires pack with ice and snow fairly quickly, and make pushing snow a little hard. I've put tire chains on the front wheels--which helps a lot on ice--but I would really like to use rear chains too. I would like for the transport gearing to be a little bit taller--in high range, the fastest this tractor will travel is 11-12mph. It makes any road travel, on secondary rural roads, very slow--other tractors I've operated will travel at 15-20mph, which is more reasonable. Replacement parts for this machine are brutally expensive. Maintenance parts (filters) are far overpriced. The hydrostatic transmission has two filters, that cost over $60 each. I have not found an aftermarket/3rd party source for them. They need to be changed every 250 hours (I don't look forward to it). Oil filters and fuel filters cost $15-20 but are available at NAPA for far less. The mower deck belt is $107. I have had them last for over 5-6 years, and have also gone through 2 belts in one season. Parts that I have broken during use/abuse/mistakes include front grill (plastic) $125. I lost the turnbuckle adjuster from the right-hand side 3 point lift arm (came loose and fell off somewhere on my property)--$82. The rear wheel bracket on the mower deck broke (wheel clevis)--$73. Plastic vent plug from top of mower gearbox--$14. I've had 2 Kubotas before and hated going to the dealer for parts, but I don't recall every part being as overpriced as Cub. There are a number of dealers that sell Kubota parts online at a reasonable discount, but there are really no good sources for Cub Cadet parts for this tractor at much (if any) discount.

Pros: Reliability, power, operator comfort, compatibility with common Woods attachments.
Cons: Brutally expensive parts. Tight rear tire to fender clearance. High range gearing still slow.

Big Cub Cadet
Model Year: 1995

I like my Cub but it has 2 short comings that became evident when I first bought the tractor. The transmission has a lot of slippage when pulling tilling equipment where it can actually come to a halt when the oil gets warm. The power steering also has an annoying issue where it drifts. I've changed the oil and filter and neither of these issues have gotten worse over the years so I suspect it's normal. The latest issue is all of the electrical switches are failing. It's always been stored inside since I owned it, but of course not when it was at the dealership.

Pros: Engine power.
Cons: Hydrastatic transmission slips under load.

LUCY
Model Year: 1997

I guess after the second invitation I should review Lucy. In 3 words: A wonderful tractor! Since we bought her nearly 10 years ago she's never failed to be a helper to a guy that believes in doing things himself. The transmission problem when we first got her wasn't her fault - it was her designers' and that fault has been corrected. Since then, she's faithfully bushhogged over 1,000 acres with a 5' Woods mower (over a period of 5 years). When Mahindra took over they made a red Lucy, which I looked hard at and decided I'd just have a red tractor with a warranty and a payment book. That was when fenders were still metal. I find no faults with this tractor that aren't owner or operator caused. She's not for sale, but when I'm gone I'll bet my survivors can get enough money out of her to plant me! OTHER ITEMS YOU CONSIDERED BUYING: I looked at a new Ingersol Rand (now I know it was a garden tractor) the day I found Lucy and the prices were in the same ball park. The IR was a nice little tractor, but not for me. PHOTOS: Available upon request?

Pros: Many
Cons: FEW