Grading Blade help and headlight problem..`

[pearlmanz]

I have a shaft drive GT2542 Cub Cadet tractor and the headlight on the right side facing the tractor will not stay on. It seams like there is a short in either the socket or wire. Has anyone else had this problem and can give me a fix. I take the socket out and tighten the bulb and twist it back in to the female socket and the vibration from the tractor running knocks it out again. The biggest question I have?? I have had my tractor for three mowing season now and just under 50 hours of use. My lawn has never looked so bad as far as grass loss and thatch build up which I never had with my older 42 inch deck Snapper using Ninja blades which were split on the end. They chopped up the grass much finer than the current stock blades on the GT2542. Does anyone know if the Ninja blades can be used on the Cubs or do you have another solution. I do not like to bag or blow grass on my yard. I have always just used the mulching blades and had success until I started using the stock mulching blades on this less than three year old GT2542 with a 42" deck. Any and all POSITIVE HELP, would be appreciated.

 

[SHUNKSTER]

I had the same problem with my GT2554 that I have had for 3 years, The socket looked good but the lamp would just go on and off and drive me crazy. I ended up replacing the lamp and the socket and everything works fine, I also installed a switch to them on and off. I have the 54" deck with high ligft blades and a bagger and have not had any mowing issued, are you sure the deck was leveled and set up crrectly by the dealer?

 

[CCinCT]

You might want to try placing a thin washer at the bottom of the socket. You want it just thick enough to make it tougher to get the bulb in, but not so tough that you run the risk of breaking the bulb as you try to insert it. Kind of a gut feel thing. I did this at the beginning of the year and haven't had a problem since.

As for your blades, I doubt your old ones are a match for your new deck. The stock Cub blades are designed to mulch, discharge or bag per the owner's whims... meaning it'll do none of them really well. Best bet is to get a new set of Gator's or Ninja's.

 

[diesel_nut]

My 2554 cuts extremely well. My neighbors ALL have 'thatch'(cutting too low and letting grass build up on top of uncut grass making the grass have to grow fast to get over the cut grass, creating an ongoing problem). My grass is perfect.
I'd try cutting higher and very gradually lowering the deck. Maybe cutting twice as often until you get it under control.
If you are talking about grass collecting under uncut blades and choking the ground then I don't have a great answer for you.

My lights have never had a problem. In actuality I am probably just gonna take the bulbs out and quit running down my battery charging.

Also, do have your chute down or pulled up? I cut with mine pulled up so the clippings get thrown a long way and don't bunch up.

 

[JSharp]

You can make your own Gator blades. Just grind away most of the wing on the rear of the Cub blade. You'll end up with a blade that has poor lift and doesn't discharge well.

Exactly like the Gator blades...

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

My 2554 cuts extremely well. My neighbors ALL have 'thatch'(cutting too low and letting grass build up on top of uncut grass making the grass have to grow fast to get over the cut grass, creating an ongoing problem). My grass is perfect.
I'd try cutting higher and very gradually lowering the deck. Maybe cutting twice as often until you get it under control.
If you are talking about grass collecting under uncut blades and choking the ground then I don't have a great answer for you.

My lights have never had a problem. In actuality I am probably just gonna take the bulbs out and quit running down my battery charging.

Also, do have your chute down or pulled up? I cut with mine pulled up so the clippings get thrown a long way and don't bunch up.

Isn't that kind of dangerous if anyone is in the vicinity? I lost 3 wings off my 54 inch high lift blades and assume they probably ended up in the grass catcher. I hate to think what they might do to someone if the catcher chute wasn't attached and the deck chute was raised. I replaced a broken spring on mine for that reason earlier this summer.

Bob B.

 

[diesel_nut]

You think that flimsy plastic chute is gonna stop something heavy shooting out of it? Not likely.

I don't cut with anyone in the vicinity. That is more dangerous than anything. If a car comes by I stop. If a person walks down the street I stop until they are gone. I look out for others unlike a lot people that cut with the chute pointed toward a street or sidewalk or toward anyone or anything thinking a flimsy piece of plastic is protecting them..

 

[LBrown59]

1*My 2554 cuts extremely well.
2*I'd try cutting higher
My lights have never had a problem. In actuality
3*I am probably just gonna take the bulbs out and quit running down my battery.
Also, do have your chute down or pulled up?
4* I cut with mine pulled up so the clippings get thrown a long way and don't bunch up.

1*Mine do too.
2*Everybody cuts to low raise the mower.
3*No way would I do that but i would install a lite switch.
4*I have the chute up on the BX23 and down on the BX1500.

.
5*My lawn has never looked so bad as far as grass loss and thatch build up

5*How high are you letting the grass get ?
How short are you cutting it ?
Are you mowing it wet ?
My CC GT 2554 is an excellent mower.

6*Isn't that kind of dangerous if anyone is in the vicinity?
7*I lost 3 wings off my 54 inch high lift blades and assume they probably ended up in the grass catcher. Bob B.

6*and7* The chute is more to prevent getting a foot under the mower than it is to avoid something like this.

8*You think that flimsy plastic chute is gonna stop something heavy shooting out of it? Not likely.
9*I don't cut with anyone in the vicinity.
10* If a car comes by I stop.
11*If a person walks down the street I stop until they are gone.
12*a lot people cut with the chute pointed toward street

8*Not likely.
9*Me neither.
10*So does I .
11*.Same here.
12.*I love to see the grass that gets thrown out along and onto the road so I mow with the discharge side of the mower facing the road with the chute guard /flap lifted fully up.

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

You think that flimsy plastic chute is gonna stop something heavy shooting out of it? Not likely.

I don't cut with anyone in the vicinity. That is more dangerous than anything. If a car comes by I stop. If a person walks down the street I stop until they are gone. I look out for others unlike a lot people that cut with the chute pointed toward a street or sidewalk or toward anyone or anything thinking a flimsy piece of plastic is protecting them..

That's a little difficult in a suburban neighborhood. I'm afraid the grass would never get cut. The three wings were missing and there were no holes in the grass catcher chute so either it did the job and the wings went into the bags or else they were deflected downward into the grass and never found. IMO you have a little more safety with the deflector down than raised but to each his own.

Bob B.