2550, my thoughts after 6 hours use.

junfan1 · Nov 20, 2005

While researching tractors, I decided (regretably) not to purchase a 4 wheel drive tractor yet. I decided instead to purchase a shaft driven Cub Cadet 2550 since I had blown a few belts on my JD L120 pulling heavy loads. After getting the 2550 home I decided to start it up. The choke immediately pulled out of the dash and now sits partially in /out. Not a good start! I then bought some rubber hose to put over the headlight wires since they are known to melt and noticed one of the headlight housings is broken and will not mount securely in it's place. After 3 hours of just driving around and idling I fired up the PTO and started to go over my yard mulching leaves, etc. At 5.3 hours the PTO belt blew out. I purchased another one ($30) and after just over 6 hours now I noticed the belt is fraying at the edge again already. My conclusion:
I took a chance on buying a Cub since they do NOT have a reputation for quality. Since they are the only game in town when it comes to shaft drive garden tractors my only other choice would have been a much more expensive "real" tractor. I made the wrong choice!!! The build quality on these things is extremely poor and nobody should have to go through this hassle after forking out $3500 for a tractor. My John Deere has performed flawlessly from day 1 and If it weren't for me needing to pull loads WAY heavier than it was built for I would still be using it. I have no brand loyalty to anyone but I dont believe I could ever recommend Cub Cadet to anyone after this experience. I will likely be trading up to a Kubota BX series which I should have bought in the first place. I will no doubt lose big on the trade-in which makes this a very costly mistake. If JD ever makes a shaft driven garden tractor Cub will be out of business. Are you listening MTD????
If this seems like a rant, It is! I work 70 -80 hour weeks and when I have time to do the yard work I need my eqipment to function, no BS!!!! I am NOT a satisfied customer and a quick read around this forum will reveal that I am not the only one having these type of problems.

ducati996 · Nov 20, 2005

Your issue is with the dealer for failing to properly setup your machine. I suggest you start griping with them, and if no action then to the regional cub representative.

Big difference between a sub-cut and a garden tractor nevermind the price difference. Best of luck with both !!

Oh when you look in the BX threads dont forget to notice the BX has lousey brakes. It will not hold the tractor in place on an incline - I find that more severe than losing a PTO belt (which overall is an easy fix -once the effort in looking for the problem is completed)

The point is you wont find a machine without problems - usually setup problems, but in the BX that came from the factory that way -

Good luck

Duc

JTKub · Nov 20, 2005

( ...nobody should have to go through this hassle after forking out $3500 for a tractor.... )

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif You didn't do your research well at all. You can spend $3500 on a SEARS GT!! I agree that CC's may not be the *highest quality* machine money can buy, but $3500 doesn't buy you much new GT these days /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.
G/luck
Joel

Amontilado · Nov 20, 2005

Sounds like the dealer didn't go over the machine as well as they should have. Have had my GT2550 since the beginnning of September. I have close to 30hrs on it already, use it, don't abuse it, though have found the oocational large rock or brick when I didn't check the yard thoroughly before mowing. Been great, though did slip the deck belt off a pulley. Release the deck belt tightener, put it back on, re-apply the tention and haven't had a problem since. Checked the wiring routing and did wire the pto wiring to pull it away as much as possible from any hot surface(the light wiring was already well routed,th ough I keep an eye on it in case). Have no complaints.

Steve

Mickey_Fx · Nov 20, 2005

From the sound of it, it sounds like you got a Friday built unit. I think there are a couple threads on this forum talking about poor performance with the PTO belt on this series tractor.

With that said, I'm with Duc. We both have the same model Cub bought at the same time. We live on oppisite ends of the country and have experienced about the same level of reliability, a stuck selenoid valve for the pto. Your dealer should be addressing these problems to your satisfaction.

As for JD burrying Cub if they only made a shaft drive model. Only if potential buyers fall for the myth surrounding JD products.

My Cub replaced a JD 318, an almost legendary model. I have not regrets and so far the Cub has been a lot more reliable the the JD ever was. I have both a JD and Cub dealer within a block of each other, both are farm dealerships. Me, more than 2 decades as a M.E. and more than 3 decades as a GT owner. It didn't take me too long in the evaluation process to decide on the Cub over the JD. Money was not a factor. For eq models the Cub tipped the scale at more than 200# more than the JD and the added weight showed up in areas I considered important.

IMO, Cub can stand toe to toe with JD when comparing equalivent models. JD may have a little nicer design and fit and finish may be a little higher but these things don't mean a thing when out working yr in and yr out.

YMMV

aaabelha · Nov 20, 2005

Sorry to hear about your problems with the Cub.

I respectfully disagree with your rant. My 2544GT is fantastic. I did have to reroute the headlight wires and I was appalled at the pathetic design for draining the oil, but other than that it runs rings around my former tractor and is a superior machine to the Green and Yellow model I was also considering at the time, an LX 280.

Sounds like your dealer is the problem here. Most are. Mine did not check the tire pressure, overtightened the steering nut so badly that the washer was crushed and had so much grease all over the darn thing is was a joke. I had to go over everything myself as expected. This can happen with any brand.

Call your dealer and tell them the problem. They should take care of it.

Sounds like the belt was not put on correctly at the factory but the dealer should have checked all of that at prep time. The choke knob sounds like any easy fix and the bulb housing is a simple part.

You bought a good tractor. Get these things resolved and I bet you will be happy once everything is straightened out.

junfan1 · Nov 20, 2005

( ( ...nobody should have to go through this hassle after forking out $3500 for a tractor.... )

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif You didn't do your research well at all. You can spend $3500 on a SEARS GT!! I agree that CC's may not be the *highest quality* machine money can buy, but $3500 doesn't buy you much new GT these days /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.
G/luck
Joel )

junfan1 · Nov 20, 2005

What research, in your expert opinion, do you feel I missed??? The Sears would likely have been a better purchase but is not shaft driven. I am not loyal to any brand, apparently you are.

bugstruck · Nov 20, 2005

I can't speak to the Cub but I can speak to belt driven garden tractors. My JD 325 has had a mower belt and a drive belt replaced. Mower at 150 hrs. and dive belt around 230 hrs. Both are on the wall as backups and I'm guessing would would have pulled another 100 hours of service. I have 185 hours on this current mower belt. I clobered that machine from 1998 until last December when I got my CUT. The sump sealed failed twice on the Kawasaki engine, until the upgraded version was installed. But the tractor has been bulletproof. Belts, batteries, oil, hydraulic oil, and filters is all. Still runs just as when I bought it.

My primary point is belts aren't always bad. The second point is cost is relative. The $5K I spent in 98 on that 325 about burried me at the time. Second best machine investment I ever made though. My 1982 Sea Ray cuddy holds that title. It's a BOAT of ALL things /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Unfortunately good stuff costs what initially seems way too much. Always has. My Bota is eating me up right now. Don't think I'll be sorry on that one either.

JTKub · Nov 20, 2005

( What research, in your expert opinion, do you feel I missed??? The Sears would likely have been a better purchase but is not shaft driven. I am not loyal to any brand, apparently you are. )

No expert here, nor brand loyalty. My CC 2544 purchase was all about the money. That's all I wanted to spend at this point in my life. Nothing else comes close to the CC 2K series for around $3K. It's apples to oranges in every way comparing a CC 2550 to a kubota BX series /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. I hate to see you have problems with your new machine, but like other board members have said, have your dealer make it right for you. You have not owned/used it long enough to form an opinion at this point.

Joel

G/luck
Joel