New 2024 Cub Cadet Ultima ZTXS5 54

[2manyrocks]

Not very smart of any dealer to treat a paying customer like that. He should be nice to you in the hope you'll refer your friends to his dealership to buy a CC from him. Stuff like that makes people just want to buy from a box store.

 

[Runner]

Not very smart of any dealer to treat a paying customer like that. He should be nice to you in the hope you'll refer your friends to his dealership to buy a CC from him. Stuff like that makes people just want to buy from a box store.

This guy used to also be a John Deere dealer but was complaining to me about losing his franchise to another JD dealer here in town that actually treats their customers well. I thought about wearing my JD hat with that "other dealer's" name on it the next time I went in there, but since I was trying to get something, thought that might not be productive...

 

[Runner]

Installed the front weight kit today. This consists of four brackets and four weights. The big weight is cast iron and weighs 32 lbs. The other three are flat steel plates that weight 4 lbs each, totaling 44 lbs.

Will try mowing with the extra weight and see how it affects steering, balance, etc. I expect it to help all of those and maybe even improve the ride, but that may just be a pipe dream.

Spent the rest of the afternoon assembling the bagger. More to come on that in future updates....

 

[tacticalturnip]

If that seat switch gives you any more trouble you could always just try obesity, lol.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Installed the front weight kit today. This consists of four brackets and four weights. The big weight is cast iron and weighs 32 lbs. The other three are flat steel plates that weight 4 lbs each, totaling 44 lbs.
View attachment 872108View attachment 872109
Will try mowing with the extra weight and see how it affects steering, balance, etc. I expect it to help all of those and maybe even improve the ride, but that may just be a pipe dream.

Spent the rest of the afternoon assembling the bagger. More to come on that in future updates....

I'm under the impression that ZTR's drive like a buck board unless they've got suspension, or a suspension seat. That was a warning I've heard repeatedly.

If you end up adding a suspension plate to the existing seat, or replacing the seat, I'd love to know how much of a difference it makes for you.

Seat Suspension Kit - 590-583-150 | Cub Cadet US

Read reviews and learn more about the Cub Cadet Seat Suspension Kit. Choose Dealer Delivery or Pick-up. Financing Available.

www.cubcadet.com

Your dealer could have suggested this.

 

[drumminj]

Installed the front weight kit today. This consists of four brackets and four weights. The big weight is cast iron and weighs 32 lbs. The other three are flat steel plates that weight 4 lbs each, totaling 44 lbs.
View attachment 872108View attachment 872109
Will try mowing with the extra weight and see how it affects steering, balance, etc. I expect it to help all of those and maybe even improve the ride, but that may just be a pipe dream.

Spent the rest of the afternoon assembling the bagger. More to come on that in future updates....

Didn't know this was an option. Very curious to hear your thoughts after mowing with it.

 

[Runner]

If that seat switch gives you any more trouble you could always just try obesity, lol.

I just lost about 10 lbs, maybe I should start drinking again

Seriously, I'm playing with the idea of (gulp) wearing my seatbelt to see if that might help hold me to the seat. However, after experimenting with it, I don't think it will crank down hard enough to do the job...

 

[Runner]

Didn't know this was an option. Very curious to hear your thoughts after mowing with it.

As far as I know, it's not a stand-alone option (but it should be). It only comes as part of the three-bagger kit. That kit is also used for some of the regular ZTR models, so it comes with brackets that only fit those, which are not used on the ZTXS. You have to order a special bracket kit for the ZTXS and this is bolted to the front frame with self-tapping 3/8" galv. bolts.

So, this solves the mystery as to why you need "Adapter Kit 490-950-C062 ", even though the bagger comes with the front weight brackets. The brackets included for the regular ZTR's are one-piece, but the "special brackets" are two pieces per side, made specifically to fit the ZTXS models.

EDIT: The front weights ARE available separately as parts from CC. Not a "kit", but you can buy the "adapter kit" listed above for $49.99 and the cast iron weight as a separate part number 719-04271A for $229.71. The extra weight plates are also sold as separate parts number 789-02137 for $44.90 each.

 

[Runner]

BIG DECISION - Cub Cadet manual says change "break in oil" at 5 hours. Kawasaki engine manual says change every year or 100 hours, whichever comes first. Kawasaki says nothing about "break in oil change". Right now, machine has 4.8 hours. Do I change oil right now, mow one more time, then change oil at 6+/- hours, or wait until 1 year/100 hours?

I think I will split the difference, mow one more time and change oil/filter at 6 hours +/- just to be safe.

By the way, what is it with Kawasaki and their parts numbers? This is a BRAND NEW engine with oil filter part number 49065-0731. I can't find this filter for sale ANYWHERE. Not at a Kawasaki dealer, not online, not in stores. I can find 49065-0721 and -7007 everywhere, but not this number. I get that part numbers are superseded all the time, but how can a part on a brand new engine be superseded so completely so soon.

I've been through the same thing with all of Kawasaki's numbers for filters and such on my Mule and mowers. Crazy...

OK, rant over.

Tested the bagger today, results in next posting.

 

[tacticalturnip]

A break-in oil change is pretty standard for anything from a small engine to the diesel machines we all seem to have, it's to get rid of the crap potentially in the engine from the factory. It's odd Kawasaki doesn't mention it, it's a custom older than anyone here, lol.

You're not going to hurt anything running a few more hours before the change, but I wouldn't wait 100 hours.