amzn.to/2yJM7kU Ultima Bagger Unit great for leaves. amzn.to/2McNz2k Ultima 54" mulch kit amzn.to/3dewcKo Cub Cadet Blade Replacement Hi Lift amzn.to/2M83yyG 54" deck belt Replacement MTD Cub Cadet
An FYI to make your life a lot easier: We saw that only the ZT2 came with armrests but it looked like they used the same seat. Go to your dealership and and buy some armrests because hidden on the sides of the seat are the threads for them. They come in handy
Good review, very honest. I own a ZT1-50. This mower is awesome. Brings lot a bang for the buck and I Love it!! It was intended for the homeowner. But as my main rider, it's run hard daily in my lawn care business. Perfect for pristine residential lawns and able to take on light commercial. Lays down perfect stripes w/o a kit. Gets in and out of nooks and crannies no problem whatsoever. 45+ degree hills and ditches..... NP Hang on!! A great climber. No belt vibration issues at all. Maintenance is a breeze. Quality at low cost. Good job Cub Cadet!!!
I bought to take care of some property my gam owns but I would like to put it to work... Thanks , now I'm not so scared to at least get a little business with it
We bought that model last may at TSC as my wife started doing our mowing once she retired. She had used a zero turn working for the state and wanted one. I haven't yet mowed with one but she loves it and as you say it does a nice job. One thing is last week she went to start it and it wouldn't turn over. I do my own repairs and a few minutes with a meter found that the connector for the blade switch was not all the way on.Getting to it and finding that was just 4 screws on the control area. Thanks for your review!
I have 3 mowers that are Cub Cadet, I don't have a complaint about any of them. One is a 2009 48" Z Force with the heavier deck, It has over 500 hrs on it and it's been a great mower. I also have a push mower that I've sadly done almost no maintenance with, unlike the Z which I take better care of, and it runs flawless.
I work on these mowers the most because there by far the most popular in my area There great for home owners and those who take care of their equipment
ZT1-50 here, Have had it going into my third season. I mow three to five acres a week give or take between our two properties. It’s been a good tractor for the most part. It was a compulsive buy I regret to say because the wife said get it so I did 😏 Later learned of the trans drives and that I purchased a residential mower. I should have the next size bigger for what I use this machine for however, truthfully, this 50 does pretty damn good. Leaves what is called stragglers but overall a nice cut. I do regular maintenance on it and keep sharp balanced blades on it. The tractor is blown off after each use paying close attention to the trannys that there’s no grass on top of them, I also use the deck washing system provided making sure the deck/spindles have time to cool off before introducing cold tap water. A dealer told me once that reeks havoc on hot spindles so I let them cool before washing. I can tell when it’s time to sharpen or replace blades when I start seeing the stragglers. I’ve replaced the blades once just last week for the record. My question would be, how difficult is it to replace a trans? I’m handyman of sorts and try to do most of my own work. Just curious your thoughts and thank you for the very detailed informative video brother ….
I got one yesterday. Looking forward to using it on just over an acre. Almost got a Craftsman/this one was less money after discounts and more financing,,,12 instead of 6 months 0%. I think I'll be glad I got this. Went from 48 Simplicity to this big 54. Good review btw.
Thank you so much for a great video.... I purchased this Exact mower today from Tractor Supply... When I got the machine home and off the trailer it started raining so I haven't used it yet... I live in Hamlin Tx
I won this mower in a local high school raffle drawing benefiting their agricultural department. Spent 100 bucks on two raffle tickets and was shocked to get the call that I had won. This is one well designed zero turn for residential use, and will probably be the last mower I’ll ever need at my age of 60. I have a very flat yard and it’s not big at all, the 54” deck is really overkill as it only takes me 10/15 minutes to mow front and back. But for 100 bucks I am not gonna complain. If I were to have bought one it would have been the 42” cut but I got what I got in the drawing.
Great review, I just purchased that same mower Saturday and I bought if from my hometown dealer just because of any warranty issues and I wanted to support local instead of big box store. I can’t wait to start using it.
I an picking up one of these from a dealer tomorrow after doing a world of research. Can't wait. Thank you for this excellent video of the same mower; very detailed and informative. I think I made a good buying decision for my 1/2 acre lawn and while this may be a bit overkill for what I'll b need I too old to be doing I also know that with careful maintenance it should last me a long time. Thanks aain for your efforts with the vid.
Hope it will do well for you. I bought my zt1 54" (kohler) right at three years ago and have put 80 hours on it. It makes kind of a funny noise some times when low speed turning. That is literally the only "negative" i can come up with after all the use. Its done it since new, I honestly never worried about it and its never caused a single problem. Mine has been super reliable, easy to maintain, plenty of power, and cuts great. Its been put through some abuse too including running over some small trees and a piece of concrete block lol!
Best review I’ve seen. I just bought one of the zt1s with the Kawasaki motor. I’m second guessing my buy after seeing the zt2 with the serviceable tranny. I have a hill that worry’s me in the long run. Thank you for the long in depth review. The hill footage too. This is by far the best review. I wanted to buy from my local dealer which is right up the road but they never have any stock
Glad I read your comment. I was just looking at a ZT1-50, but after reading this, I think I will go for the upgrade ZT2, just for the reason of the rebuildable drives.
Bought my RZT 22 with a Briggs Intex engine in 2004 and still use it in my back field, 760 hours and one tranny is just starting to slow down. I've had to weld the deck twice but it still has the original spindles. Just broke down and bought a ZT 1 50 in , I hope it lasts half as long. At 71 won't be mowing that much longer.
ZT Ult 50 , I've had mine for 2 years . No problems changing the blades today for the first time, and service from Tractor supply where I purchased it. 😎
I had an Encore Fuzion 34 with EZT 2200 hydros i put 4600 hours on those hydros until i sold it i would always blow of the fans at the end of the day what a great mower that was.
Im looking into a 50in ZT1 that has that same trans. I want to run the bagger system on it and i weigh 250lbs. Trans is only rated at 900 so with going up and down hills with my big but and bagger 3/4 full burn those 2200s up pretty quick? just wondering if i need to find something with the 2800/3100 trans in it going forward thanks
Good review, very helpful. Just bought a ZT1 42, fabricated frame with a Kawasaki engine. This is all I need for my half an acre. BTW it came with the trailer hitch. Looking at other home owner zero turn mowers this model Cub Cadet seemed to be well built which you confirmed with your review. Also liked the hill mowing demo which gave me some ideas on how to cut my lawn. Thanks
Have the ZT1 50" w/ Kawasaki from HDepot 4.5 years ago. I mow 4 of our 6 acres. Beat the heck out of it. Used it and chain saws to help clear acre-plus thicket of 4 foot marsh grass and European buckthorn infestation. Now mow over many dozens of stumps, which has caused a lot of tire patching. Haven't maintained it well either. Pulled many many loads of brush to the burn pile by just wrapping strap around the yellow tubular bar. Just gotta be careful to not let the pull force roll the mower over backwards. This thing should be dead, but still runs fine.
Finally, someone explained what the difference between these mowers and the commercial grade ones are. They look pretty much the same, but quite the price difference. I got fed up with light duty mowers quite a few years ago, bought an ExMark and have never, ever regretted doing so. I think the deck on it is 1/4" steel plate. But, then the choice of something like this wasn't there at the time. Many thanks Doublewide6 for an excellent, informative video.
@@johnleon2594 i ended up buying a zt3 nd it works great i used it last year nd been using it this year since the season started and its working really good
Hey Doublewide6. I really enjoy your videos. Can’t understand how 40 hrs. per week works out to 25 years to get to 1,000 hrs. Did you mean 40 hrs. per year? Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Just turned 200 hours on my 22hp kohler 7000 in a xt1 enduro. Non ethanol fuel oil change every 50 hours after the first 5 hr with 10w30 rotella t5 and a clean air filter. Runs great no issues 👍
Great recview Bob. They do seem to be a nice mower and should give the homeowner good service. They are built pretty tough for a residential mower. Have a great weekend!
I love mine but find the blades need careful balancing from new, also the plastic seat "springs" need to be tossed and replaced with 3 inch motorcycle seat springs.
I like your video, good information, I have a hill that is 35 to 40% grade, it goes up that hill no problem, now my hill is short only about 7 feet from the road to the top, but it does it and I do mow side Waze but I go slow when I do and if it’s not wet it does fine, Thanks for your video.
The Achilles heel of zero-turn mowers is just that, they don't zero-turn without tearing up the lawn. When a lawn service used to do my yard, at every turn spot would require reseeding every year and we had tons of bare spots all summer long. I always associated "turfing" with the high speed in which they operated the ZT mower. When I retired I bought my own ZT mower, and now travel at slow speed when cutting but still get similar results just not as bad. I have adapted to a similar 360 turns you did in your demo. Prior to the landscaper's services, I had a hydro tractor that did an excellent mowing job I had to use a similar 360 turn. it took a lot of steering wheel turning and took a little longer to get the yard done. It sounds to me the turf tearing is a problem that hydraulic engineering could easily solve, what your opinion?
it only means that every turn they were suppsed to slow down for the turns and being a yard service meant they had to get to the next job and didn't take the care that they should have. IO wouldn't let back on my lawn of that's how much they cared for it
kool vid bob .. hope it holds up like my zero turn cub cadet 50" it going on 11 years and only so far had to replace the starter .. knock on wood LOL .. have a good weekend bob .. †
My first ztr was the cub ztr50 it was a great residential tractor but the improvements of the new ones are incredible compared to that. They both cost about $3000 new.
Got mine with 10% off military at HD. Seems solid. Still have my grandfather’s 22 yr old cub running too. A big improvement over his. Needs an hour meter. Not sure why they would have hourly scheduled maintenance without one..
I'm getting ready to buy one of these, and the dealer told me this is the first year the hour meter hasn't been standard, but it costs around $50 and they'll install it for almost $50, so for another $100, I'll have an hour meter.
I just bought a brand new one of these. It came with a hitch already installed, maybe because it has the Kawasaki engine I don't know. I think it might be quieter than the Kohler engine, I don't have to wear hearing protection. Overall I like these mowers.
Got one of these mowers on the way, hope the hydro drives last a good long time, as long as I keep up on oil changes and hydro fluid exchanges... Just kinda worried about the life of the hydros
Hi, Doublewide6. I thinking to buy a ZT 2 50 cub cadet Ultima. I see the video from the legally blind customer. What you think about the serviceable transmission the ZT 1 come ?
I have a question for ya. I want to upgrade from a 2010 42in cub cadet zero turn that had a lot of trans issues and was wondering if this ZT1 ultima is a better unit even though it shares the SAME transmission? My yard is about like yours, lot of hills and grades.
Just to follow up on the question I asked. Since i never got a response, I went out and bought a used Dixie Chopper with a 54in deck. I'll never look back to box store mowers.
Hello, I just watched this video about the Cub Cadet 54". My question do you still recommend it, also would you still buy it in 2024 or a different ZT? 42" to 52" is the size I want to stay in. Thanks!
Great review! I researched for a zero turn that fit my budget. I mow about 3 acres every week. I did buy at TSC for the price, but I’ve always done my own work, so no problems there. I also looked at others with more features and actual suspension, but a triple the price, went with this one. One question for you: What do you think of the hose deal that supposedly ‘cleans’ the underside? I always take the belt covers off and clean the whole topside after every mow, and I hook up the hose, and run the mower with the blades engaged for a few minutes. Does it help? I’ll find out next week when I change out the original blades. Thanks for the review!
Nice mower, only drawback that I see is the Kohler engine. Maybe the new ones are better that the ten year or so engines that they had so many issues with. Thanks for that video.
I agree with you. I have seen leaky valve covers on these and done carb work which is way easer than working on the Briggs intek twin with the nicki carb. Also there are no needle and seat problems like the Briggs engines. I read about head gaskets going, but have not had any at my shop yet.
I think you're seeing transmission problems at 600 hours due to not changing the fluid in them. I changed mine out after the first 100 hours with better quality stuff than factory.
Not being a wise guy. But I think you got confused on your math , or you mis spoke. You said 40 hours a week would get you 25 years on the hydros You must have meant 40 hours a year---that's the only way it would come out to 25 years. Love your videos. you give great info. Keep up the good work. If i'm wrong let me know...............
good review.... IF... you do get hooked up with Tractor Supply... you might consider ordering a few commercial transmissions for that mower, as John Q. Homeowner will no doubt tear the trans up in 3-4 years
Hi, I just bought my Cub cadet Zt1 54in at local Tractor Supply Company (TSC) in Mckiney Texas last week 8/15/2020 for $ 3355.74 and I noticed it's acting very strange after 2nd use yesterday. It lost cutting power at high speed setting (the rabbit symbol). You can hear the engine sound wanted to die out and the cutted-grasses did not shoot out the right EXIT side strong as it suppose to. At first, I thought I ran out of gas ( b/c there is no gas gauge indicator equipped on this model). I stopped the mower, let it rest while I checked gas level which (which is still full with fresh gas), I then checked oil level and it was was full!!! I restarted the mower and resume mowing but after few minutes, it acted up again when I heard the engine was not humming like it is suppose to. I immediately stopped the mower and set mowing speed to TURTLE sign for SLOW, then the mower perform okay again at this power speed. Please note, I am very quality conscious with every equipment I've been ever owned and this Cub cadet ZT1 54in is one of my biggest quality concern after 2 simple runs (less than 45 minutes per run). Do you think, I can return this machine for the TORO ( much for expensive but more reliable)? 2) 2nd problem I had yesterday was the LEFT Tire got flat! My land has no metal debris and/or sharp objects to punch the the tire. For this problem, I really don't have a clue of the root cause. Please suggest me and I appreciate your help
Just a question sounds maybe like since it runs at low throttle are you pushing the throttle past high and turning the choke on when it warms up that’s what a choke can do if not turned off
Hi Cory Fuller TSC was very nice. They allowed me to return. I bought a Bad boy ZT Elite 60 in zero turn. This machine so far exceeded my expectation! I love it. Thanks
Last year I just started mowing and doing lawncare as a business. Dont have alot of money to buy the equipment I need to do it full out commercial professionally. I just got a great truck 06' Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab short bed, have a stihl fs-40 string Trimmer, and a craftsman, waiting on my stihl blower, and a Cub Cadet 600 walk behind mower. That is my very basic set up. Like I said I just started. Here shortly I will be in the place to buy a zero turn. But I can only afford the Cub Cadet ZT 1 (What size you recommend). My question is. Is it okay to have a small setup and residential mowers for abt 3 years until I can buy commercial?
Hello I was wondering if you could help me. I have the ZT1 42 inch and I'm having an issue with the right side drive bar. Sometimes when I want to turn left and push the right bar forward it's hard to push. I was wondering if you had an idea on what I could check to see what may be causing that. I've checked the transmission releases in the back and I always run at full throttle when mowing. Just cant figure it out. Any tips or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Edit: I forgot to mention it only has about 5 hours on it
Awesome video very truthful/honest, the pros and cons! I'm shopping for a new "residential" zero turn mower, my choice is between JD Z375R or this one. Only reason I'm getting off my Huqsvarna lawn tractor is after 414 hours the deck welds on the rear let loose/broke. That also had a Kohler engine, never any engine problems. Like your customer's mower my choice will either be from Lowes or Tractor Supply. If you feel the JOHN DEERE is a better choice, please let me know ASAP. Thanks
I just got the 42” zt1 with the 7000 Kohler. Only has about 2 hrs on it and when it mowed today I noticed with the choke on it was spitting and sputtering with lots of black smoke. But once I dropped it into the throttle position, it runs smooth and clean. Is this normal?
i love my cub dealer, i got a shitty jd d140 years ago and i cant wait to replace it with a cub cadet zforce steering wheel zero turn, im near altoona and my cub dealer is hines equipment and i got a side by side from them, just the 500, not the newer 550/750, i like it but wish i got the newer models. but yea, i want to get that zforce steering wheel mainly because i have a lot of hills and heard they are good on them
Good review Bob. Odd looking mower but it looks like a well built mower for residential use. Too bad the hydros don't have filters and reservoirs it might make them last longer. But for 3 grand it's not to bad, but I still prefer my Simplicity Cobalt with independent suspension, gives you a sweet ride.
amzn.to/2yJM7kU Ultima Bagger Unit great for leaves.
amzn.to/2McNz2k Ultima 54" mulch kit
amzn.to/3dewcKo Cub Cadet Blade Replacement Hi Lift
amzn.to/2M83yyG 54" deck belt Replacement MTD Cub Cadet
Good stuff buddy I did subscribe.
Keith Kuhn
KK motion pictures
Also on UA-cam
An FYI to make your life a lot easier:
We saw that only the ZT2 came with armrests but it looked like they used the same seat. Go to your dealership and and buy some armrests because hidden on the sides of the seat are the threads for them. They come in handy
How did it hold up?
The mower comes with a hitch plate in the goodie bag of manuals, keys, and other stuff.
Got this same mower three weeks ago. It's amazing and I love it, no complaints at all
Does it handle hills well?
No
@@SJRogers0786 let the tyres down abit
Good review, very honest. I own a ZT1-50. This mower is awesome. Brings lot a bang for the buck and I Love it!! It was intended for the homeowner. But as my main rider, it's run hard daily in my lawn care business. Perfect for pristine residential lawns and able to take on light commercial. Lays down perfect stripes w/o a kit. Gets in and out of nooks and crannies no problem whatsoever. 45+ degree hills and ditches..... NP Hang on!! A great climber. No belt vibration issues at all. Maintenance is a breeze. Quality at low cost. Good job Cub Cadet!!!
I'm doing the same thing with mine ZT1 42. Right at 70 hrs and its working out for me so far💪🏽
I bought to take care of some property my gam owns but I would like to put it to work... Thanks , now I'm not so scared to at least get a little business with it
How do you mow stripes without a kit
We bought that model last may at TSC as my wife started doing our mowing once she retired. She had used a zero turn working for the state and wanted one. I haven't yet mowed with one but she loves it and as you say it does a nice job. One thing is last week she went to start it and it wouldn't turn over. I do my own repairs and a few minutes with a meter found that the connector for the blade switch was not all the way on.Getting to it and finding that was just 4 screws on the control area. Thanks for your review!
Thanks for sharing, at least you could fix it yourself.
It doesn't even look like you use this thing, and I love it. I wash mine ever mow, and my wife thinks I'm crazy just buying time to stay outside
Just bought one. Noticed the manual actually says not to wash it because it might rust out deck bearings or spindles
@SlurpJ I only wash it out after an early mow with dew, then I use my back blower to dry it off
I bought it, no vibrations. Came with the trailer hitch as well. I love mine!
It’s been awhile since I heard anything good about cub cadet which makes this review very refreshing. Thanks Bob.
Glad it was helpful! The MTD line did have many machines with thin metal that lead to cracking. This machine is well built for the money.
I have 3 mowers that are Cub Cadet, I don't have a complaint about any of them. One is a 2009 48" Z Force with the heavier deck, It has over 500 hrs on it and it's been a great mower. I also have a push mower that I've sadly done almost no maintenance with, unlike the Z which I take better care of, and it runs flawless.
I work on these mowers the most because there by far the most popular in my area
There great for home owners and those who take care of their equipment
ZT1-50 here,
Have had it going into my third season. I mow three to five acres a week give or take between our two properties. It’s been a good tractor for the most part. It was a compulsive buy I regret to say because the wife said get it so I did 😏
Later learned of the trans drives and that I purchased a residential mower. I should have the next size bigger for what I use this machine for however, truthfully, this 50 does pretty damn good. Leaves what is called stragglers but overall a nice cut.
I do regular maintenance on it and keep sharp balanced blades on it. The tractor is blown off after each use paying close attention to the trannys that there’s no grass on top of them, I also use the deck washing system provided making sure the deck/spindles have time to cool off before introducing cold tap water. A dealer told me once that reeks havoc on hot spindles so I let them cool before washing. I can tell when it’s time to sharpen or replace blades when I start seeing the stragglers. I’ve replaced the blades once just last week for the record. My question would be, how difficult is it to replace a trans? I’m handyman of sorts and try to do most of my own work. Just curious your thoughts and thank you for the very detailed informative video brother ….
I got one yesterday. Looking forward to using it on just over an acre. Almost got a Craftsman/this one was less money after discounts and more financing,,,12 instead of 6 months 0%. I think I'll be glad I got this. Went from 48 Simplicity to this big 54. Good review btw.
I bought one on May 2022. Best mower I've ever owned. Does s hear job cutting the lawn. Plenty of power
Thank you so much for a great video.... I purchased this Exact mower today from Tractor Supply... When I got the machine home and off the trailer it started raining so I haven't used it yet... I live in Hamlin Tx
This is by far the best review video of this mower I've seen. Thank you!
I won this mower in a local high school raffle drawing benefiting their agricultural department. Spent 100 bucks on two raffle tickets and was shocked to get the call that I had won. This is one well designed zero turn for residential use, and will probably be the last mower I’ll ever need at my age of 60. I have a very flat yard and it’s not big at all, the 54” deck is really overkill as it only takes me 10/15 minutes to mow front and back. But for 100 bucks I am not gonna complain. If I were to have bought one it would have been the 42” cut but I got what I got in the drawing.
Thanks mine now has 30 hours and runs great. The deck does vibrate but cuts amazing
This mower is definitely a pretty good mower especially for the price, I've looked at getting one possibly for the smaller yards
I got the ZT2 50 and I love it.
My favorite mower ever ❤️
Yup it is a pretty nice mower.
Just got one last week 😎😎
Great review, I just purchased that same mower Saturday and I bought if from my hometown dealer just because of any warranty issues and I wanted to support local instead of big box store. I can’t wait to start using it.
I an picking up one of these from a dealer tomorrow after doing a world of research. Can't wait. Thank you for this excellent video of the same mower; very detailed and informative. I think I made a good buying decision for my 1/2 acre lawn and while this may be a bit overkill for what I'll b need I too old to be doing I also know that with careful maintenance it should last me a long time. Thanks aain for your efforts with the vid.
Hope it will do well for you. I bought my zt1 54" (kohler) right at three years ago and have put 80 hours on it. It makes kind of a funny noise some times when low speed turning. That is literally the only "negative" i can come up with after all the use. Its done it since new, I honestly never worried about it and its never caused a single problem. Mine has been super reliable, easy to maintain, plenty of power, and cuts great. Its been put through some abuse too including running over some small trees and a piece of concrete block lol!
Best review I’ve seen. I just bought one of the zt1s with the Kawasaki motor. I’m second guessing my buy after seeing the zt2 with the serviceable tranny. I have a hill that worry’s me in the long run. Thank you for the long in depth review. The hill footage too. This is by far the best review. I wanted to buy from my local dealer which is right up the road but they never have any stock
Glad I read your comment. I was just looking at a ZT1-50, but after reading this, I think I will go for the upgrade ZT2, just for the reason of the rebuildable drives.
Bought my RZT 22 with a Briggs Intex engine in 2004 and still use it in my back field, 760 hours and one tranny is just starting to slow down. I've had to weld the deck twice but it still has the original spindles. Just broke down and bought a ZT 1 50 in , I hope it lasts half as long. At 71 won't be mowing that much longer.
ZT Ult 50 , I've had mine for 2 years . No problems changing the blades today for the first time, and service from Tractor supply where I purchased it. 😎
Does Tractor Supply do the service? Or do they send it out to someone else to do the service?
I had an Encore Fuzion 34 with EZT 2200 hydros i put 4600 hours on those hydros until i sold it i would always blow of the fans at the end of the day what a great mower that was.
Im looking into a 50in ZT1 that has that same trans. I want to run the bagger system on it and i weigh 250lbs. Trans is only rated at 900 so with going up and down hills with my big but and bagger 3/4 full burn those 2200s up pretty quick? just wondering if i need to find something with the 2800/3100 trans in it going forward
thanks
Good review, very helpful. Just bought a ZT1 42, fabricated frame with a Kawasaki engine. This is all I need for my half an acre. BTW it came with the trailer hitch. Looking at other home owner zero turn mowers this model Cub Cadet seemed to be well built which you confirmed with your review. Also liked the hill mowing demo which gave me some ideas on how to cut my lawn. Thanks
I just bought one and love the mower.
Have the ZT1 50" w/ Kawasaki from HDepot 4.5 years ago. I mow 4 of our 6 acres. Beat the heck out of it. Used it and chain saws to help clear acre-plus thicket of 4 foot marsh grass and European buckthorn infestation. Now mow over many dozens of stumps, which has caused a lot of tire patching. Haven't maintained it well either. Pulled many many loads of brush to the burn pile by just wrapping strap around the yellow tubular bar. Just gotta be careful to not let the pull force roll the mower over backwards. This thing should be dead, but still runs fine.
I bought a 1984 792 diesel cub cadet it is one of the best mowers it here I love it
I put a hour and service meter on it. 40 buck's for kit at tractor supply, very easy to install
Which one did you get? I would like to do the same. Thanks!
You can get armrests for it. If you feel the side of the seat you can feel a circular hole on either side under the upholstery where they bolt on.
Finally, someone explained what the difference between these mowers and the commercial grade ones are. They look pretty much the same, but quite the price difference. I got fed up with light duty mowers quite a few years ago, bought an ExMark and have never, ever regretted doing so. I think the deck on it is 1/4" steel plate. But, then the choice of something like this wasn't there at the time.
Many thanks Doublewide6 for an excellent, informative video.
Best review ever i am buying a zt2 60 next week
How you like?
Just bought zt2 50 last weekend
@@johnleon2594 i ended up buying a zt3 nd it works great i used it last year nd been using it this year since the season started and its working really good
Hey Doublewide6. I really enjoy your videos. Can’t understand how 40 hrs. per week works out to 25 years to get to 1,000 hrs. Did you mean 40 hrs. per year? Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Also good to hear something good about the Kholer 7000 series engine, from someone who actually knows engines.
Just turned 200 hours on my 22hp kohler 7000 in a xt1 enduro. Non ethanol fuel oil change every 50 hours after the first 5 hr with 10w30 rotella t5 and a clean air filter. Runs great no issues 👍
@@johnhill7480 Awesome 🤛🏾 gives me something to look forward to👌🏾
Very informative review. Don’t like the idea of deck vibration or two-ply tires or abnormal fuel consumption. I will definitely look around.
Great recview Bob. They do seem to be a nice mower and should give the homeowner good service. They are built pretty tough for a residential mower. Have a great weekend!
Right on
I love mine but find the blades need careful balancing from new, also the plastic seat "springs" need to be tossed and replaced with 3 inch motorcycle seat springs.
I like your video, good information, I have a hill that is 35 to 40% grade, it goes up that hill no problem, now my hill is short only about 7 feet from the road to the top, but it does it and I do mow side Waze but I go slow when I do and if it’s not wet it does fine,
Thanks for your video.
Nice channel, glad I found it. This is the best Ultima review I've seen on YT. What are your thoughts on the Kawasaki motor vs the Kohler motor?
Kawi
I've got the ZT 1 42 really liking it so far.
Good to hear.
Is it good on hills?
@@SJRogers0786 No problems yet, 70 hours and its getting the job done. I dont have alot of hills here but the properties that I do she goes right in.
The Achilles heel of zero-turn mowers is just that, they don't zero-turn without tearing up the lawn. When a lawn service used to do my yard, at every turn spot would require reseeding every year and we had tons of bare spots all summer long. I always associated "turfing" with the high speed in which they operated the ZT mower. When I retired I bought my own ZT mower, and now travel at slow speed when cutting but still get similar results just not as bad. I have adapted to a similar 360 turns you did in your demo. Prior to the landscaper's services, I had a hydro tractor that did an excellent mowing job I had to use a similar 360 turn. it took a lot of steering wheel turning and took a little longer to get the yard done. It sounds to me the turf tearing is a problem that hydraulic engineering could easily solve, what your opinion?
it only means that every turn they were suppsed to slow down for the turns and being a yard service meant they had to get to the next job and didn't take the care that they should have. IO wouldn't let back on my lawn of that's how much they cared for it
I appreciate the time and you did a great job. Very informative.
Luv the rubber tapered handles used on that mower !!
Your intro is really cool and creative, well done!
kool vid bob .. hope it holds up like my zero turn cub cadet 50" it going on 11 years and only so far had to replace the starter .. knock on wood LOL .. have a good weekend bob .. †
My first ztr was the cub ztr50 it was a great residential tractor but the improvements of the new ones are incredible compared to that. They both cost about $3000 new.
@@doublewide6 @ kool mine is called time saver ...
Yep, those mowers seem to be really fast and pretty good. Thanks for the review and thanks for the video.
Got mine with 10% off military at HD. Seems solid. Still have my grandfather’s 22 yr old cub running too. A big improvement over his. Needs an hour meter. Not sure why they would have hourly scheduled maintenance without one..
I'm getting ready to buy one of these, and the dealer told me this is the first year the hour meter hasn't been standard, but it costs around $50 and they'll install it for almost $50, so for another $100, I'll have an hour meter.
@@bonnierichmond6561 My God, do not pay to have the hour meter installed. It's literally 4 screws...
Just purchased Cub Cadet ZT1 42 and I want to know your thoughts on getting a snow blade for Nebraska winters???
I just bought a brand new one of these. It came with a hitch already installed, maybe because it has the Kawasaki engine I don't know. I think it might be quieter than the Kohler engine, I don't have to wear hearing protection. Overall I like these mowers.
Simple to work on and very easy to fix, not much to break down
Best Buy I think with a kal engine
Thanks for going over that, great tips and awesome review.
Glad it was helpful!
Man I love that tip thank you very much for that ( not turning on the road)
Got one of these mowers on the way, hope the hydro drives last a good long time, as long as I keep up on oil changes and hydro fluid exchanges... Just kinda worried about the life of the hydros
Eggchin X
I really like it, just cuts so nice, high blade speed, very efficient mower, mulches the grass clippings very very nicely.
Hi, Doublewide6. I thinking to buy a ZT 2 50 cub cadet Ultima. I see the video from the legally blind customer. What you think about the serviceable transmission the ZT 1 come ?
What's the purpose of the tubing above the engine? Structural rigidity or looks?
I have a question for ya. I want to upgrade from a 2010 42in cub cadet zero turn that had a lot of trans issues and was wondering if this ZT1 ultima is a better unit even though it shares the SAME transmission? My yard is about like yours, lot of hills and grades.
Just to follow up on the question I asked. Since i never got a response, I went out and bought a used Dixie Chopper with a 54in deck. I'll never look back to box store mowers.
Thank you for this video, very informative.
I just bought one of these mowers last night. Im actually looking forward to cutting my grass lol.
Hello, I just watched this video about the Cub Cadet 54". My question do you still recommend it, also would you still buy it in 2024 or a different ZT? 42" to 52" is the size I want to stay in. Thanks!
The driveway tip is greatly appreciated! Looking at my first ZT so have come up UA-cam University. Thank you!
Great review! I researched for a zero turn that fit my budget. I mow about 3 acres every week. I did buy at TSC for the price, but I’ve always done my own work, so no problems there. I also looked at others with more features and actual suspension, but a triple the price, went with this one. One question for you: What do you think of the hose deal that supposedly ‘cleans’ the underside? I always take the belt covers off and clean the whole topside after every mow, and I hook up the hose, and run the mower with the blades engaged for a few minutes. Does it help? I’ll find out next week when I change out the original blades. Thanks for the review!
anyway to change fluid in those non servicable hydro drive units? may take some thought but, theres always a way! great video. love my ZT1 50'
The zt2 comes w serviceable hydros
Nice mower, only drawback that I see is the Kohler engine. Maybe the new ones are better that the ten year or so engines that they had so many issues with. Thanks for that video.
I've have the Kohler 7000 series on my Gravely mower. I prefer it to the Kawasaki. IMO there is no drawback in owning a Kohler.
I agree with you. I have seen leaky valve covers on these and done carb work which is way easer than working on the Briggs intek twin with the nicki carb. Also there are no needle and seat problems like the Briggs engines. I read about head gaskets going, but have not had any at my shop yet.
I hear the kawasaki engines are more expensive to repair compared to kohler
@@TeamTnA44 Very true, but the Kawasaki's are the best engines out there today along with the Honda's.
I think you're seeing transmission problems at 600 hours due to not changing the fluid in them. I changed mine out after the first 100 hours with better quality stuff than factory.
Is the transmission this machine serviceable? Fluids for instance.
Are the vibration issues simply related to blade imbalance?
Can bag be added in the back??? It is nicer when grass is picked up
Not being a wise guy. But I think you got confused on your math , or you mis spoke. You said 40 hours a week would get you 25 years on the hydros You must have meant 40 hours a year---that's the only way it would come out to 25 years. Love your videos. you give great info. Keep up the good work. If i'm wrong let me know...............
You are correct 40 hours a year would allow for 25 years of use (if you get 1000 hours out of the transaxles). Thanks I misspoke.
good review.... IF... you do get hooked up with Tractor Supply... you might consider ordering a few commercial transmissions for that mower, as John Q. Homeowner will no doubt tear the trans up in 3-4 years
I order as I need them. No point in me storing more crap on the shelves. They call that lean manufacturing ends up saving money and room.
Hey thanks, this was a very good and detailed review!
Hi, I just bought my Cub cadet Zt1 54in at local Tractor Supply Company (TSC) in Mckiney Texas last week 8/15/2020 for $ 3355.74 and I noticed it's acting very strange after 2nd use yesterday. It lost cutting power at high speed setting (the rabbit symbol). You can hear the engine sound wanted to die out and the cutted-grasses did not shoot out the right EXIT side strong as it suppose to. At first, I thought I ran out of gas ( b/c there is no gas gauge indicator equipped on this model). I stopped the mower, let it rest while I checked gas level which (which is still full with fresh gas), I then checked oil level and it was was full!!!
I restarted the mower and resume mowing but after few minutes, it acted up again when I heard the engine was not humming like it is suppose to. I immediately stopped the mower and set mowing speed to TURTLE sign for SLOW, then the mower perform okay again at this power speed.
Please note, I am very quality conscious with every equipment I've been ever owned and this Cub cadet ZT1 54in is one of my biggest quality concern after 2 simple runs (less than 45 minutes per run).
Do you think, I can return this machine for the TORO ( much for expensive but more reliable)?
2) 2nd problem I had yesterday was the LEFT Tire got flat! My land has no metal debris and/or sharp objects to punch the the tire. For this problem, I really don't have a clue of the root cause.
Please suggest me and I appreciate your help
The mower has a 3 year warranty. I would contact Cub Cadet.
Just a question sounds maybe like since it runs at low throttle are you pushing the throttle past high and turning the choke on when it warms up that’s what a choke can do if not turned off
Hi Cory Fuller
TSC was very nice. They allowed me to return. I bought a Bad boy ZT Elite 60 in zero turn.
This machine so far exceeded my expectation! I love it.
Thanks
How do you start the cub cadet
What slot should I put my deck wheels in?
I bought club cadet like your last week one question the seat adjustment only go's so far forward. My wife has short legs any remedy to fix it?
Bought one last year happy
Can the transmissions be upgraded to commercial? Or replaced with commercial ones?
How can you adjust the handles closer together so i can hold it with one hand ?
Great review man!
Would this be a good mower for a lawn care business for private property?
Last year I just started mowing and doing lawncare as a business. Dont have alot of money to buy the equipment I need to do it full out commercial professionally. I just got a great truck 06' Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab short bed, have a stihl fs-40 string Trimmer, and a craftsman, waiting on my stihl blower, and a Cub Cadet 600 walk behind mower. That is my very basic set up. Like I said I just started. Here shortly I will be in the place to buy a zero turn. But I can only afford the Cub Cadet ZT 1 (What size you recommend). My question is. Is it okay to have a small setup and residential mowers for abt 3 years until I can buy commercial?
Yes
Hello I was wondering if you could help me. I have the ZT1 42 inch and I'm having an issue with the right side drive bar. Sometimes when I want to turn left and push the right bar forward it's hard to push. I was wondering if you had an idea on what I could check to see what may be causing that. I've checked the transmission releases in the back and I always run at full throttle when mowing. Just cant figure it out. Any tips or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Edit: I forgot to mention it only has about 5 hours on it
The ones with vibrations I’m wondering if they’re out of balance blades or a belt with A hard spot at the joint
I almost bet that is the case after so many hours... blades wear, and it doesn't take much to get them out of balance.
How does the Cub Cadet ULTIMA ZT1 compare to the Ariens IKON X Mower?
Appreciate the very decent review
Awesome video very truthful/honest, the pros and cons!
I'm shopping for a new "residential" zero turn mower, my choice is between JD Z375R or this one.
Only reason I'm getting off my Huqsvarna lawn tractor is after 414 hours the deck welds on the rear let loose/broke. That also had a Kohler engine, never any engine problems. Like your customer's mower my choice will either be from Lowes or Tractor Supply.
If you feel the JOHN DEERE is a better choice, please let me know ASAP. Thanks
I bought one and I love it
I just got the 42” zt1 with the 7000 Kohler. Only has about 2 hrs on it and when it mowed today I noticed with the choke on it was spitting and sputtering with lots of black smoke. But once I dropped it into the throttle position, it runs smooth and clean. Is this normal?
That is normal. You are making the mixture richer by choking and blocking air. The choke is only for starting if needed.
What’s the length adjustment for front deck rod
I've heard alot of guys complain about the deck vibrations are bad
Very nice review!
Thank you! Cheers!
i love my cub dealer, i got a shitty jd d140 years ago and i cant wait to replace it with a cub cadet zforce steering wheel zero turn, im near altoona and my cub dealer is hines equipment and i got a side by side from them, just the 500, not the newer 550/750, i like it but wish i got the newer models. but yea, i want to get that zforce steering wheel mainly because i have a lot of hills and heard they are good on them
You got a like and subscribe bc you from Allentown. I live in coopersburg and just bought one today. Cub dealer off 309 in quakertown!
Ordered a hour meter for it as well.
So yu don't need a grease gun...for this mower? because I have one coming this week and I just purchased a grease gun on amazon.
That's a fantastic mower
Do you possibly have a video on how to grease/repack trailer bearings? Thanks
Yep. That what I am looking for. I have found grease points on the front tires. Look over it and read the bearings are grease free sealed.
Good review Bob. Odd looking mower but it looks like a well built mower for residential use. Too bad the hydros don't have filters and reservoirs it might make them last longer. But for 3 grand it's not to bad, but I still prefer my Simplicity Cobalt with independent suspension, gives you a sweet ride.
Great point!
From what I heard they have internal filters and an expansion reservoir
1000 hours at 40 hours per week is 25 *weeks* not years!
I would imagine they last longer than that!
how does it do when the grass is a couple feet high?
does it leave some 'rooster tails'?
I'm sure it will. It would also need to be double cut. It is not designed for any grass over 5"
New drinking game... every time he says "residential"
Great video