5252-5254-5234D

Snowman9000 · Apr 12, 2005

I'm looking for feedback on these models. How clean is the mower cut? How hard to take the mower deck on/off? How hard to take the FEL on/off? Plus anything else, of course.
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Thanks!

Don M

DNB · Apr 12, 2005

I purchased a 5254 last year and have been very happy with it. Purchased with a loader, 60" MMM, and snow blower. The mower works very good, nice clean cut. To take the FEL off takes less than 5 min. The mower deck takes about 20-30 if you know what you are doing.

gamble77 · Apr 12, 2005

Nothing against the MMM, but I always suggest a rear mount finishing mower. They give better cuts and WAY easier to get off on on the machine, they also can be raised up out of the way of objects on the ground giving better ground clearance where MMM can't be raised as high. And like DNB said, once you have taken the loader off a few times you will be as good as anyone else who has ever taken one off. Good luck shopping!

viking65 · Apr 12, 2005

I have a 5234D, purchased last Sept with 60" MMM and bar tires for $9950. The mower cuts very well and is easy to remove or replace after you do it a few times. I use a Woods 5' blade a KK 6' blade for snow, Woods PHD25 post hole digger, Woods 5' landscape rake, KK 4' box blade, KK 24" dirt scoop and a carry all. I have a quote of $2637 to get the Cub Cadet FEL.

The diesel engine is powerful and smooth running. I also bought 8, 42lb suitcase weights for the front end. It really makes a difference with front end traction in 4wd.

I have had some problems with the transmission, lift cylinder and a friction washer on the throttle. These have been and are being resolved by my dealer and Cub Cadet. I have a good dealer to work with and I suggest you find one regardless of what brand you buy.

Snowman9000 · Apr 13, 2005

Thanks for the quick responses guys. Gamble, my mowing has too much trimming for a rear finishing mower. I own one now and can use it with my JD 755, but I almost never do. I have a dedicated lawn tractor, two actually, and I'm thinking of selling both lawn tractors for sure, and maybe the 755 also.

I use my FEL so seldom anymore, because most of my landscaping work is done. I'm thinking about the 5252 because of the tight turning radius for mowing, which will be its main job. I would get the FEL for those occasional jobs. But I'm concerned that having 2wd for any FEL work will be next to useless. For sure I'd have to learn some new techniques because I'm used to having 4wd with my FEL right now. I guess it would be okay for moving piles of stuff but would be a lot more work for any scraping or cutting. And probably I could live with that.

Other jobs this tractor will have to do include pushing snow with a rear blade. Almost never exceeding 6", and not very often. Some occasional dirt work with a 5' box blade (too big?). Grooming the gravel driveway once a year with the box blade. That might just need a heavier 4wd, which I could borrow. And a couple hours a month using my 4' rotary brush mower on light to medium height weeds.

Any more thoughts? Would this tractor be up to those jobs?

-Don M

viking65 · Apr 13, 2005

Snowman, the 5252 can handle a FEL quite well. Another forum member "billp" has a 5252 with a FEL and dug the hole for his swimming pool with it. Regarding the box blade, I would not use more than a 4' box blade. My soil is quite rocky, if you don't have to deal with a lot of rocks you may be able to use a 5' box blade if you don't fill it up. Regarding pushing snow with a rear blade. You'll be able to easily use a 6' rear blade for snow removal either pushing it or pulling it. I use a 6' blade with no problem on snow. I use a 5' blade for grading rock and dirt. You could use a 5' blade for everything. I had an opportunity to pick up a 6' blade real cheap, so I called it a snow blade and the CFO went along with it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

I don't have rotary mower. Woods makes a rotary mower for subcompacts. I checked it out, it looks well made and durable: http://www.woodsequipment.com/agricultural/rotary_cutters/single_spindle/42in_Estate_Series/RCC42_single_spindle.asp

gamble77 · Apr 13, 2005

The FEL works well with this unit and has great lift capacity for its class. BTW, where are you located snowman, your profile doesn't say?

Snowman9000 · Apr 13, 2005

I'm in Illinois.

Is the cruise control up on the dash a pain to use?

-Don

Cub5k · Apr 19, 2005

Snowman, I have a 5252 with a MMM and FEL. The loader is very strong and easy to put on/off. The MMM is a pain to put on and off. I use the loader to lift the front of the tractor to more easily take the mower on and off. The loader lifts like 600pds and can do some decent excavation considering the bucket doesn't have teeth etc. Put something heavy like a tiller on the 3pt for counterweight and traction or you'll be front heavy. No problem using the loader w/o 4wd. Traction was fine. The main benefit of 4wd I could see would be the ability for the front wheels to "climb" over larger dirt clumps etc with a full bucket. MMM provides a good cut but the only adjustment for height is to adjust the height of the caster wheels. In hindsight I would definitely go with a 3pt finish mower. Anyway, I think its a great little tractor.