Cub Cadet i1042 Lawn Tractor

by Jeremy Buechter
(Kilgore, TX)

I am very happy with the tractor and zero turn system.

I am very unhappy with the deck assembly. The "timed blades" idea is poor engineering. The blades turn in opposite directions and pass each other because of a "toothed" belt and pulley system. This works OK until the belt wears a little - and I mean changing my belt yearly is not enough. ($55 per belt).
The blades are unusually heavy with swept up "wings in the trailing edge. If one blade scrapes dirt or hits heavy grass the belt can slip and the blades get out of time. Then they start whacking together with all the force of the engine. They chop the ends off each other as you scramble to disengage the PTO.
This not only results in a set of new blades ($60) but also tends to knock the bearings out of your spindle assemblies ($110 for drive side and $98 for slave side).

I have had this mower for 18 months and have bought 4 sets of blades, 4 "toothed" belts and a one spindle assembly for each side. Not to mention the time and frustration included in constant expensive breakdowns and the ordering and waiting for parts.

This deck could be made with conventional offset blades and I would love it. It has been over-engineered beyond common sense and a complicated system has replaced a tried and true design.

Again the tractor and zero-turn steering is great. The deck assembly is terrible.