Mowing Cub Cadet, no more reverse mowing.

[DmansPadge]

I couldn't have said it any better. It's a shame the manufacturers have to put such devices on equipment to solely protect themselves from lawsuits. And like you said, I'm sure it started with someone who wasn't paying attention, had an accident, then decided to blame the company instead of being a man (or woman) and taking responsability. After I saw someone be awarded millions of dollars because they spilled hot coffee they had bought from McDonalds on thier lap... nothing suprises me. I don't blame any company for protecting themselves with cut off switches, warning stickers, or whatever else they feel neccessary. It's just a shame that is where we are today! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[ducati996]

Bob_Bainbridge,

Thanks for the update, and I'm glad your not hating your machine !! I would love to have a 3235 with the extra features that come in handy (diff lock & Tail lights)...
Thankfully the 3000 series have been out for a while now, and
it appears the vacuum PTO is here to stay. I always knew an electric clutch is a pricey replacement if it does go. My older 1969 IH cub 125 had the old mechanical belt and PTO, and I think 2 belts (ok maybe 3) were replaced on that PTO in its lifetime, but the PTO was never replaced...it just goes to show how long things can last, I guess....

Ducati

 

[Rainbow6]

There are SO MANY lawsuits like that. Take the one where a guy fell thru a skylight trying to BREAK IN a Belks store and won a settlement for his injuries! I'm sure everyone knows of one. Anyway, enough of that in this forum. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[macklong]

Hi everyone, new member here. I have a new cub 2186 it is an older model that was never sold. Like some of the rest of you mine also did not mow in reverse. I got the old book out looked at it and found the all famous leaver that pushed the switch, after analyzing it for a bit I found that if you remove the spring the leaver that pushes the switch will simply just fall out of the way and your done ( put the spring away for safe keeping or /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifjust chuck it). I'm a happy mower now that I can do it in reverse /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mith]

I think the idea is that anyone who is smart enough to work out how to and to disconnect the switch is able to handle reverse mowing. The dealer wont do it for you but if you can work out how to do it like amny here you are presumed sensible and smart enough to mow in reverse safely.

Just on a side note, it is not good practice, in terms of lawncare, to mow in reverse. Something to do with the way the grass is cut, read it in a book.

 

[Dennisfly]

How to for 2166

The lever that activates the switch on mine is too heavy to bend. It is thick and has an angle bent into it to add rigidity.

The switch can be accessed by removing the battery. The switch is on the left side of the chassis, accessible from the topside, under where the battery was. There is a plug-in wire bundle (two wires). Remove the plug and place a jumper wire across the bundle. This leaves the switch just sitting there and totally isolated.

Now, go mow in reverse!

 

[chuckab]

Don't know what model you have but on my GT1554 you have a position on the switch that I can turn back one notch to the left and then push the little orange triangle button and a light will come on. This gives you the go ahead to mow in reverse and will stay that way until something changes such as your stopping the mowing deck or killing the motor, etc. Then all you have to do is put the deck back in gear and go through the same procedure and you ready to mow forward or reverse. Yes, it's aggravating but at least Cub Cadet came up with a way around it, at least on my machine.

 

[cp1969]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Just on a side note, it is not good practice, in terms of lawncare, to mow in reverse. Something to do with the way the grass is cut, read it in a book. )</font>

That's because the front of the blade should be slightly lower than the rear, kind of like relief on a cutting tool, for those who understand drills and the like. You only want to cut the grass once, then the blade will no longer touch it as the mower advances. Going in reverse, you can see that the blade gets to cut the same blade of grass numerous times. It sounds more serious than it is, though.

Given all that, I still disconnected that stupid switch on my Cub. I didn't much care so much about the being able to mow backwards (although it is handy once in a while) as I did about wear and tear on the mower clutch.

 

[mxracer10]

I just purchased a leftover Cub Cadet 1018. The very first thing I did once getting it home was disable the no mow in reverse. It is very simple on this model. If you look in at the frame from the discharge side rear of the tractor, or follow the reverse rod back from the pedal. You will see a switch with a green ground wire bolted to the frame and a 2nd yellow wire attached to the switch. Simply remove the yellow wire from the switch. (it is a simple electrical connector)
I personally put shrink wrap over the connector in the very unlikely event that I would want or need to reconnect it. the entire process will take less than 5 mins.

Hope this helps someone.

 

[Fordlords]

That is the best loved feature of my 682- all the electrical safety devices are now bypassed- I can mow in reverse, and cut my hands and feet off to my heart's delight now /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I underestand the reasoning, but I think those kiddie safety devices eventually cause more annoying problems for owners than any other single thing.

Heck Rainbow 6, I polish my Cub with Farecla G3 LOL!

-Fordlords-