Just made the plunge....

[Grasswhacker]

......into the very depths of overkill. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Traded my 1018 in on a 3100 with 54" deck. Waaaaayyyy too much mower for my 2 acres, but after going to the dealer set on a 2554, I made the mistake of driving the 3100 he had on the floor around the parking lot a couple of times....loved it. Doesn't actually arrive until next week, and I absolutely can't wait!

Anyway, I've been lurking here for a week or two, and wanted to thank the many posters here for the valuable information I gleaned during the decision process.

 

[Grasswhacker]

......into the very depths of overkill. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Traded my 1018 in on a 3100 with 54" deck. Waaaaayyyy too much mower for my 2 acres, but after going to the dealer set on a 2554, I made the mistake of driving the 3100 he had on the floor around the parking lot a couple of times....loved it. Doesn't actually arrive until next week, and I absolutely can't wait!

Anyway, I've been lurking here for a week or two, and wanted to thank the many posters here for the valuable information I gleaned during the decision process.

 

[ohmboy]

Don't sweat it! Look at all the time you'll have to do other stuff! This is like your going from a Yugo to a Lexus as far as lawn cutting goes. You will not regret it one little bit!

 

[ohmboy]

Don't sweat it! Look at all the time you'll have to do other stuff! This is like your going from a Yugo to a Lexus as far as lawn cutting goes. You will not regret it one little bit!

 

[Grasswhacker]

Hey, thanks! Took me a little while to justify the extra cost! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I'm sure the 2554 would've suited my needs just fine, and seemed like a great machine. But I just couldn't get over the feel of the power steering and the overall comfort of the 3100......the shaft-driven, hydro-lift deck and heavier-duty spindles/frame, etc. were just bonuses!

MTD-made or not, I just couldn't find anything that stacked up with CCs in terms of value.

 

[Grasswhacker]

Hey, thanks! Took me a little while to justify the extra cost! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I'm sure the 2554 would've suited my needs just fine, and seemed like a great machine. But I just couldn't get over the feel of the power steering and the overall comfort of the 3100......the shaft-driven, hydro-lift deck and heavier-duty spindles/frame, etc. were just bonuses!

MTD-made or not, I just couldn't find anything that stacked up with CCs in terms of value.

 

[Fordlords]

A lot of shoppers never look beyond the CC 2500 machines when shopping. But the 3000's are indeed a great buy in a garden tractor for the $. To be totally real, to get something of equal credentials in the Deere GT lineup, look to pull out $11,000 compared to the $5700 for a CC 3200, and the 3200 still has better features. I was cruising the Deere site today, and I do believe you have to get out that same $11,000 just to get a Deere GT that has shaft drive to the transaxle and the good repairable transaxles included on both the CC 2500's and 3000's.


If the lady of the house does some or all of the mowing, the power steering will be appreciated. Heck, I test the GT's with p/s and I love it!


IMHO if MTD/CC could correct some of the little quality issues with their machines overall, CC's would be the total hot item in LGT's. It's even small things, like I see brand new CC's at dealers where the decals are peeling off the hoods just sitting there- that is rediculous- you don't pay $6000 for that, and also IMHO LGT wheels should be properly treated, primed, and painted- not stamped and sent to the powder coater where that chip prone garbage lasts all of 2 seasons before the wheels rust.


-Fordlords-

 

[Fordlords]

A lot of shoppers never look beyond the CC 2500 machines when shopping. But the 3000's are indeed a great buy in a garden tractor for the $. To be totally real, to get something of equal credentials in the Deere GT lineup, look to pull out $11,000 compared to the $5700 for a CC 3200, and the 3200 still has better features. I was cruising the Deere site today, and I do believe you have to get out that same $11,000 just to get a Deere GT that has shaft drive to the transaxle and the good repairable transaxles included on both the CC 2500's and 3000's.


If the lady of the house does some or all of the mowing, the power steering will be appreciated. Heck, I test the GT's with p/s and I love it!


IMHO if MTD/CC could correct some of the little quality issues with their machines overall, CC's would be the total hot item in LGT's. It's even small things, like I see brand new CC's at dealers where the decals are peeling off the hoods just sitting there- that is rediculous- you don't pay $6000 for that, and also IMHO LGT wheels should be properly treated, primed, and painted- not stamped and sent to the powder coater where that chip prone garbage lasts all of 2 seasons before the wheels rust.


-Fordlords-

 

[KJO]

Congrats on the new tractor, I am certain you will like it. My wife and I purchased a new 05 3100 this spring. It has about 9 hours on it now. So far we really like it. The steering is entirely effortless and the extremely tight turning radius makes mowing a lot easier and faster /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. It is large enough so that even on our rough ground it rides decent. The only problem we have had so far is the mower deck builds up grass badly. More due to our grass here than the mower I think. The grease zerks on the swivels on the front wheels on the mower deck are recessed so that a standard grease gun will not fit them. Another 3100 owner on this forum removed the press fit zerks, drilled and tapped for a larger zerk which protrudes further and solved the problem. I have not done that mod on mine yet. I am not going to buy another grease gun! As FORDLORDS stated...the decals come off. The Cub Cadet decal on the RH side of the hood continually pops up in two places. I gave up pushing it back on there and will be contacting the dealership and ordering a new one. Also..on the plastic battery cover/shield...there is a clip on each side which holds the shield in place. The clips on mine were broken off when we got the tractor. I believe someone at the dealership did not know how to get the shield off and broken the clips while attempting to get at the battery. They gave us a new one free of charge.....$18.00 otherwise. The Kohler has all kinds of power and has easily handled the tall, thick grass I have run it through. I wish the hydro could be adjusted to increase the speed both forward and reverse. Other Cub hydros I have run are faster in both directions. Reverse is just too slow, for safety reasons I suppose, or it could be that mine is out of adjustment. Not sure at this point.
We mow about three acres a week with the 3100 which we used to mow with our JD 112 and it has definitely been an improvement.
Have fun! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[KJO]

Congrats on the new tractor, I am certain you will like it. My wife and I purchased a new 05 3100 this spring. It has about 9 hours on it now. So far we really like it. The steering is entirely effortless and the extremely tight turning radius makes mowing a lot easier and faster /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. It is large enough so that even on our rough ground it rides decent. The only problem we have had so far is the mower deck builds up grass badly. More due to our grass here than the mower I think. The grease zerks on the swivels on the front wheels on the mower deck are recessed so that a standard grease gun will not fit them. Another 3100 owner on this forum removed the press fit zerks, drilled and tapped for a larger zerk which protrudes further and solved the problem. I have not done that mod on mine yet. I am not going to buy another grease gun! As FORDLORDS stated...the decals come off. The Cub Cadet decal on the RH side of the hood continually pops up in two places. I gave up pushing it back on there and will be contacting the dealership and ordering a new one. Also..on the plastic battery cover/shield...there is a clip on each side which holds the shield in place. The clips on mine were broken off when we got the tractor. I believe someone at the dealership did not know how to get the shield off and broken the clips while attempting to get at the battery. They gave us a new one free of charge.....$18.00 otherwise. The Kohler has all kinds of power and has easily handled the tall, thick grass I have run it through. I wish the hydro could be adjusted to increase the speed both forward and reverse. Other Cub hydros I have run are faster in both directions. Reverse is just too slow, for safety reasons I suppose, or it could be that mine is out of adjustment. Not sure at this point.
We mow about three acres a week with the 3100 which we used to mow with our JD 112 and it has definitely been an improvement.
Have fun! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif