New 2024 Cub Cadet Ultima ZTXS5 54

[Runner]

The Kohler engines have an outer filter (foam sleeve) which is washable. Do the Kawasakis?

Yes, but the foam primary (outer) filter is dry, not oiled like the ones on older Kawi engines. I feel the oiled foam primary filter catches more dust, but suspect the dry one lets more dust through to the secondary filter. Manual says specifically NOT to oil the foam filter.

On the older Kawi engines, like on my 1989 JD 185, you could wash and re-oil the foam and didn't need to change the paper element every time. With this one, I will be changing the paper element every season for sure.

 

[drumminj]

Manual says specifically NOT to oil the foam filter.

Interesting. The Kohler manual says TO oil the foam filter.

 

[Carl_NH]

You can get the Gator 596-333 18 1/2" here that will fit your machine here 596-333 - BLADE CUB CADET GATOR G5 18-1/ - OREGON Authentic Part

The only concern is your blades have a cup at the end (to throw the grass) but the gators are great blades - I have them on my ferris and they are great for chopping up leaves.

I also get blow out the front with leaves especially on bare ground. Also I mulch the leaves several times in the fall then pick them up with the trac vac.

 

[Runner]

You can get the Gator 596-333 18 1/2" here that will fit your machine here 596-333 - BLADE CUB CADET GATOR G5 18-1/ - OREGON Authentic Part

The only concern is your blades have a cup at the end (to throw the grass) but the gators are great blades - I have them on my ferris and they are great for chopping up leaves.

I also get blow out the front with leaves especially on bare ground. Also I mulch the leaves several times in the fall then pick them up with the trac vac.

Appreciate that reference, but not sure if the 18 1/2" length will work? I measure my stock blades at 18 5/8" x 3" wide with 3/4" center hole. When I plug the stock blade part number (742PO5533) into search, I get DeWalt blade for CC 54" deck, but spec says 19" blade, with actual length of 18.75". So cornfused...

 

[Carl_NH]

The 18 1/2 should fit fine - its only an 1/8" - also the measurement is corner to corner across the blade on the diagonal across the center hole. It doesn't hurt to buy a set to compare and then run them - it's a $60 investment.

18.5" x 3 = 55.5" so you have overlap either way. If your blades measure 18.75 end to end, then they likely are 19" on the diagonal across the center. Then get the 19" as Gator don't make an18.75 with a 3/4 center hole.

 

[Runner]

Interesting. The Kohler manual says TO oil the foam filter.

If I were conspiracy-minded, I might think they were trying to sell more expensive paper filters. Then again, the manual says to replace the paper filter at 100 hours or annually anyway....

 

[Runner]

The 18 1/2 should fit fine - its only an 1/8" - also the measurement is corner to corner across the blade on the diagonal across the center hole. It doesn't hurt to buy a set to compare and then run them - it's a $60 investment.

18.5" x 3 = 55.5" so you have overlap either way. If your blades measure 18.75 end to end, then they likely are 19" on the diagonal across the center. Then get the 19" as Gator don't make an18.75 with a 3/4 center hole.

Carl, that is good information, thanks. Looks like the blade measures 19" diagonally. I don't see a direct cross-reference for the stock part number but Gator G5 #596-351 seems to be a fit: 3" wide x 19" long and 3/4" center hole.
Here is the stock blade measurement:

 

[Carl_NH]

Yes - Runner get the 19" here's a set on Amazon for $66. Amazon.com

Just make sure they are 19", then when you install them do a "dry run" rotating the blades by hand to make sure the tips don't hit - BEFORE you turn it on. I put gators on the neighbor's ferris 48" that were supposed to fit - they were an 1/8" too long - what a racket when engaged

 

[Runner]

Yes - Runner get the 19" here's a set on Amazon for $66. Amazon.com

Just make sure they are 19", then when you install them do a "dry run" rotating the blades by hand to make sure the tips don't hit - BEFORE you turn it on. I put gators on the neighbor's ferris 48" that were supposed to fit - they were an 1/8" too long - what a racket when engaged

Thanks again for the great info!

I realized after I started looking into all this again that I did get a set of CC mulching blades with the mulching kit (which I haven't even opened yet). I still want to try replacing the stock mowing blades with the Gators, if for no other reason than because I would like to see if they might stay sharp a little longer.

Just for fun, I have been trying to cross-reference the CC blades with the numbers on the Oregon site. Quite a snake pit. Even the CC numbers don't cross-reference with themselves...

 

[drumminj]

Runner, please do share if you try out those Gator blades. If I beat you to it, I will do the same.

I keep meaning to make time to run to the mower shop that sells but Cub and Oregon to see if they have experience with it, or can just grab a set of blades to measure side by side. So far it hasn't bubbled to the top of the list...