Purchased this exact mower Dec. 2019...NO DECK VIBRATION, very smooth and quite. Excellent cut. Awesome mower, would purchase another without hesitation.
That’s Fantastic!! I would love to see your deck in action, send me a vid, might help me to locate my problem areas? Thanks for Watching and leaving the comment👍👍
i have a new zt1 50 coming next week. when the dealer calls to set delivery day/time i'm gonna ask them to run the mower deck from low to high rpm and check/confirm smooth running before they bring it out.
My Mother has a ZT1 42 and the issues was caused by the PTO. It finally went out and I replaced the Wagner PTO with a Xtreme Power Equipment PTO, which costs less and is built much better, with Fat-Boy bearings and a billet aluminum pulley. It seems to be quite a bit "Beefier" than the Wagoner original PTO, and after "Burnishing" the new PTO as instructed, the deck is operating much smoother and quieter with the XPE PTO. The Wagoner PTO didn't make but about 80 hours (guessing, I haven't installed an hour meter just yet) before the bearings and the coil, both, went out. It was loud from the day that it was purchased and there were times that I wondered if it was even disengaging at all and knew it was just a matter of time before it would go out. About a week later, Mom called up thinking that she had messed the mower up and wanted me to check it out. It wasn't anything that she did. Just a weak PTO. (She borrowed back her old Troy Built Mustang ZTR (750+ hours on original PTO) while waiting on parts and repairs.)
I’ve thought that myself a time or two it might have something to do with the pto but then steered away from that. Mine is still making noise but still running. Thanks for the info👍
Have ZT1 54 about 14 hours, has excessive vibration., been in shop six months.changed belt, spindles, now waiting for new deck to try and reduce vibration. 4:18
What I have learned from watching your video and a few others. The deck vibration is caused by the belt. It is way to loose after the PTO is engaged. The belt should be slightly shorter, the spring is also too long because, it doesn't pull on the pulley enough. Anyway about it, I am still buying this mower. I hear Cub Cadet support is great and no worries, I bet we can fix the issue. The rest of the mower is totally worth having to deal with that headache.
precisely why i jumped on the opportunity to grab one of these, the other 98% of the mower is so worth it and with a little bit of brainpower you can overcome crap like that, especially when you can always get a smaller belt. It also helps to not engage the PTO at full throttle, a lot of people seem to do this, i used to do it too even, it'll stretch out the belt like crazy which definitely contributes to the vibration.
Try tightening the nut on the rod holding the front of the deck, as much as threads allow. It should help reducing the deck vibration. It won't hurt, if it doesn't. I experienced this on a Husqvarna mower, may be it will help in this case as well. Happy mowing!
Just purchased the 54 ZT1 week ago.. already made my updates as I have on the case lawn tractor I also have.. Bugs me that the lights have no on off toggle switch..so thats pretty easy fix. Also I cut my chute back from full chute to 1/2 to 3/4 chute as didnt see the use to have that much overhang and can mow closer to objects on right side now.. may trim more we will see.. Love the mower so far but also like my 50" 1050 lawn tractor too.. 2010 model.. I mow alittle over 50000 sq feet of my lawn with zt1 save the 1050 for the outer regions that mower blades tend to take more of a beating then in lawn.. thanks for your update.. ordered the catcher system and debating on the mulching kit still..
Thats Great man!! I love the switch idea for the lights i havent thought much about that but now that you mention it , needs to be done! I love the mulch kit it is absolutely amazing how clean the cut and drop is, the grass is growing like crazy and thick. Hardly see any clippings at all. With size discharge it was a mess, highly recommended the mulch kit👍 Thanks for leaving the comments and for Watching!!
I just bought a 2024 ZT1 with the 46" fabricated deck about 30 minutes into mowed the deck started vibrating. I didn't hit anything at all I've looked underneath the blades still look new. I'm considering taking it back to the dealer to have them fix it, but IDK if they will say I did something and charge me. at this point it has like 2-2.5 hours of use
Mine still vibrates and makes noise and its an 18. Hasn’t imploded yet though so thats a +. Hopefully they get something done for you to improve it. Unfortunately it seems to be a bad design and an issue with the fabricated deck. My view now is the distance between pulleys is too long. I have a plan but just haven’t messed with it.
I believe the Chute Deflector part is to raise the chute so it doesn't interfere with getting close to edges on the right side. Raises it enough so you can get right up to the edge of fences, house, etc without the chute hitting
Just got a zt1 50 Friday from dealer and test drove all and no vlibration. got mine cut the yard with np it was a very clean cut. Dealer also showed me that all have slight vibration when you engage blades then it smooths out which it did,also advised me to only engage blades at 3/4 throttle speed and then move full speed or can do damage to bears and other parts and to nvr run on low speed. Works for me and I don't if it matters but I noticed that all the people that complain have the decks with the silver deck and mine are black . Maybe they replaced old decks out with these new ones my is so sturdy I can stand on it seriously i love this thing
Thats Great to hear man!! Hopefully mine will someday be smooth like yours then I would be fully happy👍. Congrats on the purchase and thanks for Watching the video!!
I watched your other video from June 2019 and I think you are 100% right that the spring needs to have much more tension on it. Its so loose that the sloppy belt is just loose and out of control. Can you just drill another hole where the spring "eye" goes through to make tension … or will that void the warranty ? Or get a shorter spring, maybe a spring from a different size Cub Cadet Zero Turn might fit no problem. It probably can be fixed just by having tension.
Smaller belt added some more tension and again is improved but not completely smooth yet, im thinking additional idler between pto and deck pulleys. We will see.......Thanks for Watching!!
I've never heard of not being able to get a mower wet. Lol Mine is identical to that one, and I've been using water on it for going on 4 years. I'm still getting the " you just bought that didn't you " line. . I don't just leave it wet, though, it's very easy to blow it off. Yeah, you gotta use an electric pressure washer to clean under the deck. You'll never get it all scraping .
@@jec9083 yes but not for long, had to sharpen blades and I went back to standard blades and removed the mulch plug. It will occasionally leave a straggler but the real problem is the slap in the belt in between the pto pulley and deck tensioner pulley, just to much distance imo.
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS the cub blades are junk barely last me 15 hrs im experimenting with off brands now. The zt2 60 has amazing blades through cub so I dont know why they'd cheap out on the 50in oh well thanks for the input I may upgrade soon to see if it helps
@@jec9083 Yeah it sucks we shouldn’t have to be doing all this jacking around just to get a new mower to perform like a normal mower should. These cost enough to at least work! Do you notice your pto clutch bouncing a bit with blades engaged? The crank shaft is true and pulley looks smooth but when I get that vibration in the belt I see the clutch bouncing.
Just purchased a 2021 model and the vibration issue is gone. The first thing I noticed is a massive spring vs the older models. Don't know what else but others mentioned that as a possible cause and indeed Cub did correct it . The reviews on that Cub Cadet mulching kit are horrendous so i'm not even trying. **My only complaint is with Home Depot delivery... Dropped it at the base of our steep driveway and just drove off ! No owners manual, no bolts to attach the seat and it was damaged. Buy from a dealership is my advise
Thats great info I tried calling cub a few times more recent but didn’t get anyone, I want to get the info for the fix. Ive done the blades shorter belt, leveled the massively out of level deck that the manufacturer and dealer missed, along with myself assuming they would have at least got that right. Its much improved but not 100% Thanks for Checking out the video!
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS I don't know if other things have been modified but just go to a dealer and open the deck cover, the new spring stands out at least by comparison with other vids on the topic. Will try to upload a pic later as I'm posting from a pc not a phone
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS Hi guy, Any luck with that spring ? I failed to mention that my machine is a 42' with a different belt configuration. It's no Swiss watch and is a bit rough when blades are engaged but so far I love it with no regrets. ($2700 not $12k ) I saw complaints about poor cutting and will say the machine is too damn fast running wide open but I have never seen anyone try to cut at 9 MPH. Running half throttle the cut is perfect vs wot which spins the wheels easier in tight spots/ hills. I can send video if it would help
Bob M I have not on the spring yet but its been working pretty good only a couple cuts this season so far. Next up I have to scrape all the deck buildup and sharpen the blades. I agree on cut and I too still love the mower, I dont blame the mower I blame the r and d department and qc. I think overall its fantastic machine and the engine is top notch!😀👍
Mine will be here tomorrow 6/25/20 and i cant wait to try it out. I will you guys know if i experience any concerning vibration in the deck. You cant beat the $3300 price tag (after tax) for a machine like this.
I have a starting question! To start mine, I first set the throttle in the middle, choke it(it will turn over once but wont start), put the choke down, and start it right up. If I just start it without choke it will just crank and crank but wont start.
Yep, I pull the choke leave throttle all the way down, turn key and as it starts to turn over immediately push in the choke and it will start and run smooth everytime . My welding machines at work and our work sidexside also acts exactly like this. Thanks for Watching!
Check the blades , had one come into my shop for full maintenance , and he said it had some bad vibration ... checked them and they were off , balanced the blades , and it took most of the noise and shake out of it ... just an idea !! My opinion is the decks are stamped too thin ... They should come out with a bolt on brace kit to stiffen them up !! Thanks , good luck !! 😎
I watched the video expecting a "Mulch Kit Install" but all I saw was that it was already installed. It would have been helpful if the video actually showed the installation.
Hi Pat, This video is a series video that covered alot of info. The mulch kit is blades and a plastic plug. I go through the procedure which is basically a blade swap. I cover safety, the correct direction to put on the blades and I cover torque specs. I also show how I jack up the mower to access the blades without removing the deck. If you have any other info you need just let me know? Thanks for Watching!
Thanks Bro Shaun, we will keep trying till we get it figured out! Its too nice of a mower to abandon, if i didnt like it otherwise i would sell it or trade it in but its worth saving👍. I hope you snd Sandra are doing ok in the UK?
I was interested in buying one of these. I spoke to two dealers about this issue. One refused to acknowledge a problem and the other said, "It depends on the person. Some people expect this to be a $10,000 piece of equipment." Someone else wrote here that some people use the mower and others just talk about it. There is a third group of people though, those that will eventually make an ingenious modification. I witnessed this on my LT1042, which is my 3rd Cub Cadet over the past 45 years. An owner modified the original 2006 deck design by moving an idler pulley, moving the tension spring, re-routing the belt, and using a 2" shorter belt. People had a forum on it and copied this simple mod. Eventually Cub changed the design in 2011 to adopt this. I picked up a new deck 3 years ago on Craigslist because my old one was completely worn out and rusted. All the moving parts on it were spent, replaced, and spent. Anyway, the new design was much more powerful, as proven by my bagger capability. Due to my wet property involving sump pump discharge, etc., there were times when it was so wet that I couldn't mow for a week or two longer, resulting in my having to use the bagger. The old deck before the mod would always clog up. The new mod and new deck never clog, proving it did work. The vibration we are talking about here will eventually be fixed by a modification. Motorcycle clubs are great for this type of thing. I am amazed at the things I was able to do by following the directions of people who invented mods on my particular motorcycle. Maybe a forum exists for cub cadets? Here is a link to a video about moving a tension spring and pulley. This may be helpful to quiet down that belt- th-cam.com/video/UmwoQR0EXaw/w-d-xo.html
I just had mine delivered yesterday and it has little to no vibration. I mowed my yard with it set on 1.75 inches and it looks PERFECT!!!! It was pretty tall, 5 inches or so and I ran as fast as it would go. NO stripping...NO missed grass what-so-ever...Absolutely perfect!!! I'm telling you all that are thinking about buying one of these..Do NOT believe half of what most of these guys are complaining about!! The guys that delivered it told me that they've sold a shitload of these and so far they have had ZERO of them that have been returned. The guys crying about it missing grass are mowing at 4 inches or more. Drop the dang deck a bit so it can actually form a vacuum and pull the grass up to cut it...It's not rocket science guys!!! There's nothing wrong with these mowers you just have to be smart enough to know how to properly use it that's all!!!
Hey can you please help me. I purchased the exact mower you have and the problem I have is that it leaving a 12” strip of grass down the middle. Its brand new but could it be a bad spindle????
@@Tyreelaserweld could be I guess, that is very strange, You should be able to tell if it slipping or broke. I would inspect the belt and pulleys with top cover off and run the blades and watch it from up top. Just be careful. It has to be something simple.
Mine has almost 460 hours vibration seems to come and go sometimes it's pretty smooth sometimes not I have lived with it but it really is my only gripe about mine as well
Yes, worked good for about a season then started cutting crappy so I switched blades and took out the plug. The deck was caked with hard grass. I had to scrape and clean the whole underside. Thanks for Watching!
Hey, Have you tried buying a spare tension spring and cutting out a turn or two to see if it helps? I also have a new 54" and have not had any vibration issues. I do not know if vibration issues are limited to a particular deck size?
i been looking 2 years now to upgrade i really been wanting one of these but i been seeing this issue with the deck all over the internet from what i been seeing they say the issue is the deck floats much to easily if you step on the mower deck on this you can easily bottom it out from side to side but the others like john deere and ariens seem to be much firmer held in place
I have that same mower, was reading about the mulch kit and there are some no so favorable reviews, so I was interested to see what it looked like and it performed. Please keep us informed about the deck vibration. I currently about 10 hours on my mower, so far so good but I either need to do the mulch kit or the bagger option.
My Deck is probably the smoothest its been with around 40 hours on the mower, I still need a little more improvement. The mulch kit is great if you dont let the grass get too long. If you cut it twice a week no droppings whatsoever,if once a week when its growing alot like mine is you will have to slow down and run over areas twice but the grass has to go somewhere and you have to give the mulch blades time to chop unlike side discharge. Overall i like it👍! Thanks for Watching the video and leaving the comment!!
GR8 video, Yea I was wondering what that x-tra piece was for, hoping you would show us where it went. I am just about to buy one. Thanks for your time.
I just bought the cub cadet zt2 50 inch and today my belt when I engage my blades. belt in the back wobbles pretty bad and I get a vibration in my deck and it makes my deck vibrate cant seem to figure it out.
You know i thought it was only the 50 and in some cases people say their 50 is fine. I just saw a vid of a buddys 42 that seems to vibrate around as much as mine or more but it doesnt transfer through the seat so it doesn’t bother him. After more and more research i think most have this issue but buyers feel its normal and as long as it cuts its fine. The dealer has told me its normal and they all do that. In my view just because it may be the norm that doesn’t always make it correct. I believe in a 3000 market it can be possible to have a somewhat smooth operating deck and they should be. The mower is great otherwise, i would test your deck before purchase and make the call for yourself. Thanks for Watching!!
Ive changed blades and removed the belt ran the engine and engaged the pto to check for pulley wobble and it was smooth as can be. Thanks for Watching 👍
When you engage your pto, what type of throttle speed do you use ? I've seen alot of different opinions. I'm looking into this mower only in a 46 width. So much info on all the different mowers.
I engage at full throttle like cub recommends. I have tried at different speeds and full seems best. Aside of the deck in its class the cub is awesome! I say if your looking at it test deck before you sign and compare vibration to other brands, the vibration might not bother you at all. I guarantee many are using this mower with vibration and as long as it cuts they are fine with it. Thanks for Watching!
Are the bearings SAE or metric. Using the wrong size bearings on the spindles will cause excessive vibration. In the manufacturing process the bearings appear to be the same size but the person assembling the mower could easily use the wrong bearings as they appear the same. Maybe they are using the bearings for the stamped deck on the fabricated deck? Just ideas here, no experience on this mower. The wrong bearings or worn bearings are normally the culprit for excessive vibration. I believe the spindles have bearings built into them, if i am wrong please correct me?
I doubt one can put the wrong bearings on the pinion shafts- they’re either going to fit or you’ve got the wrong bearings. All bearings are marked with their size. Just bought the 42” model at Home Depot. There was a $300.00 discount plus 10% vets discount. I have no issues other then my neighbor just go one from gravely. I’ve had no vibration problem but it seems like those who have the issue sure like to talk a lot!
old question to answer ,the bearings are metric and imported from asia and the same for both decks, they have close to zero grease in them.almost bone dry from day one,
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS If you buy this from a big box store there's a good chance it's out of whack - dealers however will go to the trouble of at least checking. Mine from TSC was about 1/2" out L/R, and then once leveled I had to re-adjust front/back. Along the same lines be sure to check tire pressures before adjusting - my rears were over 30PSI and the fronts 3-4psi low.
@slip0n0fall Yeah mine was bought from a dealer and they not only prepped it but had it back for service and still found it was out of level which is incredible to me! Thanks for Watching!!
Thats Funny Man i was looking under frame the other day to check a location for that exact idea! Im thinking it has to help quiet things a bit. Your confirming the same thoughts!😀👍👍 Thanks for the feedback and for Watching!!
There is a lot of vertical movement on the deck belt. Like 4". Here's a link to a Scag video to show a lot less movement. The video is 2:27 long and the belt is shown at 1:54. www.scag.com/product/zero-turn-riding-mowers/liberty-z/
Man that’s all I see about this mower is deck vibration. Video after video. I want one of these mowers but $3600 after tax and I have to worry about this nonsense deck issue. And your stating your buddy has the cheaper stamped 42 inch deck and no issues? I have no idea what to buy, if I even want a cub cadet at all or go with a toro now
If your into the cub just check it before you buy it insist on running the deck at all heights and see, dont let them tell you its normal and it needs to be loaded with grass and it will quiet down. Thats what they told me and that was complete bs, once they sold it to me whole attitudes changed from cub and the dealer...
I responded to the old thread on this situation. Sorry. Thanks for the update. I have the same exact mower and issue. To recap my mower went between three different Cub Cadet approved repair facilities. First two were useless. The last one, the guy replaced the belt and tensioner puller. It has improved by maybe 25%. I have been contemplating on the belt but as you have noticed/shown, not much difference. Could you post a video like you did the first time with the plate removed to see how it is working now? How do you engage your deck? Do you engage at max height then lower or have it at your set mowing height then engage? I engage with max height and it does sound better. If I have it lowered to engage then the deck hops and is noisy. Also, how do you clean yours? Still looks brand new!
Hey Jason, thanks for checking in. I cut yesterday grass was long i cut at 3.25 when i first started it was making the rattle noise but after cutting for a bit it became quiet and vibration went away and i had a moment of contentment. I said to myself this is how its supposed to be, then it would come back slightly but not terrible almost like the belt wore in a bit. I noticed when i cut on my birm and the mower leaned to one side it was gone then flat would come back slightly. Im close and i will figure this out. The extension spring sits right on the deck i noticed wear on the deck underneath when i had it apart in this vid, i think the spring rattles a bit as well. I was under there today and im going to design a new idler bracket to help calm the belt from the pto back to the deck pulleys. Im thinking its harmonic vibration that’s transferring around the deck. The tension with the smaller belt is needed along with all good parts. My crankshaft pulley is smooth so two more factors left, long distance from pto to deck. 2 misalignment in belt and pulleys when deck moves. If we calm the belt down between the pto and deck i feel it will cut the vibration in half. Its a shame we have to go through this but the mower is so damn nice in all other aspects. On another note the mulch kit works amazingly better with fantastic cut quality and virtually 0 clippings visible, but i slowed down the speed quite a bit to give it a chance to cut more thoroughly. I will shoot a vid of deck now so you can see how it compares to yours. I take a blower after every cut and blow off all the excess grass from deck, under seat, engine cooling fins. Then i take automotive spray detailer or wash and wax spray with a micro fiber cloth and completely wipe every inch down, whole process takes maybe 15 min. I also spray hubs, spindles, cables and any pivoting parts with spray silicone lube. Whatever you do dont bucketwash or powerwash it. It states in the manual not to rinse down at all. Once you introduce water then rust and corrosion will start guaranteed! Thanks for Watching the video! Btw i engage at full throttle.
2RCP....I never use the deck washout on my mower, don't like getting the pulleys and bearings wet. After each cut I use my rechargeable blower and use it to clean my Z turn, also I wipe it down.
I realize your post is 8 months old, but what I do is sharpen any new blades because the powder coat rounds the edge off. Just one zip across the grinder makes all the difference. Otherwise it's like starting out with a dull blade, that will only get duller faster.
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS Quit using the factory blade and try something else? We switched from stock JD blades, which are Chinese junk, to Oregon gator blades. Stays sharper, cuts smoother and lasts twice as long.
Honestly I think you need to get over the tube steel, it’s a gimmick anyway, and the fabricated deck is an inferior design and more prone to rot, get a Deere.
Purchased this exact mower Dec. 2019...NO DECK VIBRATION, very smooth and quite. Excellent cut. Awesome mower, would purchase another without hesitation.
That’s Fantastic!! I would love to see your deck in action, send me a vid, might help me to locate my problem areas? Thanks for Watching and leaving the comment👍👍
Da Mar Po same here
@@michaelsimsplaya4199 Could the serial no. /SN tell you if it is a new improved version?
Purchased 54in deck had vibration but leveling deck fixed it.
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS How did you get it up on the ramps...then get the front up? See the end results curious how you did it for a newbie? Thx
i have a new zt1 50 coming next week. when the dealer calls to set delivery day/time i'm gonna ask them to run the mower deck from low to high rpm and check/confirm smooth running before they bring it out.
My Mother has a ZT1 42 and the issues was caused by the PTO. It finally went out and I replaced the Wagner PTO with a Xtreme Power Equipment PTO, which costs less and is built much better, with Fat-Boy bearings and a billet aluminum pulley. It seems to be quite a bit "Beefier" than the Wagoner original PTO, and after "Burnishing" the new PTO as instructed, the deck is operating much smoother and quieter with the XPE PTO.
The Wagoner PTO didn't make but about 80 hours (guessing, I haven't installed an hour meter just yet) before the bearings and the coil, both, went out. It was loud from the day that it was purchased and there were times that I wondered if it was even disengaging at all and knew it was just a matter of time before it would go out. About a week later, Mom called up thinking that she had messed the mower up and wanted me to check it out. It wasn't anything that she did. Just a weak PTO. (She borrowed back her old Troy Built Mustang ZTR (750+ hours on original PTO) while waiting on parts and repairs.)
I’ve thought that myself a time or two it might have something to do with the pto but then steered away from that. Mine is still making noise but still running. Thanks for the info👍
The chute adapter you mention at 13:40 is used for stamped 50" decks. It is not needed for your fabricated 50" deck.
Awesome! Thanks for the info 👍👍
Have ZT1 54 about 14 hours, has excessive vibration., been in shop six months.changed belt, spindles, now waiting for new deck to try and reduce vibration. 4:18
Sorry to hear that, totally unnecessary that a huge company that has been building mowers for years can’t figure this out…..should never be an issue
What I have learned from watching your video and a few others. The deck
vibration is caused by the belt. It is way to loose after the PTO is
engaged. The belt should be slightly shorter, the spring is also too
long because, it doesn't pull on the pulley enough.
Anyway about it, I am still buying this mower. I hear Cub Cadet support is great and no worries, I bet we can fix the issue. The rest of the mower is totally worth having to deal with that headache.
precisely why i jumped on the opportunity to grab one of these, the other 98% of the mower is so worth it and with a little bit of brainpower you can overcome crap like that, especially when you can always get a smaller belt.
It also helps to not engage the PTO at full throttle, a lot of people seem to do this, i used to do it too even, it'll stretch out the belt like crazy which definitely contributes to the vibration.
Replace the spring and tighten the adjustment
Sucks some people are having deck vibrations I just bought one no vibration love this mower built solid.
Try tightening the nut on the rod holding the front of the deck, as much as threads allow. It should help reducing the deck vibration. It won't hurt, if it doesn't. I experienced this on a Husqvarna mower, may be it will help in this case as well. Happy mowing!
10:45 in lol. " I'm kinda strong, kinda huge for an old guy." In tears bro!
😂😂
The idler pulley on the right side in the front was loose on mine causing it to vibrate.
Just purchased the 54 ZT1 week ago.. already made my updates as I have on the case lawn tractor I also have.. Bugs me that the lights have no on off toggle switch..so thats pretty easy fix. Also I cut my chute back from full chute to 1/2 to 3/4 chute as didnt see the use to have that much overhang and can mow closer to objects on right side now.. may trim more we will see.. Love the mower so far but also like my 50" 1050 lawn tractor too.. 2010 model.. I mow alittle over 50000 sq feet of my lawn with zt1 save the 1050 for the outer regions that mower blades tend to take more of a beating then in lawn.. thanks for your update.. ordered the catcher system and debating on the mulching kit still..
I see I put case....LOL mean Cub... lol
Thats Great man!! I love the switch idea for the lights i havent thought much about that but now that you mention it , needs to be done! I love the mulch kit it is absolutely amazing how clean the cut and drop is, the grass is growing like crazy and thick. Hardly see any clippings at all. With size discharge it was a mess, highly recommended the mulch kit👍 Thanks for leaving the comments and for Watching!!
I just bought a 2024 ZT1 with the 46" fabricated deck about 30 minutes into mowed the deck started vibrating. I didn't hit anything at all I've looked underneath the blades still look new. I'm considering taking it back to the dealer to have them fix it, but IDK if they will say I did something and charge me. at this point it has like 2-2.5 hours of use
Mine still vibrates and makes noise and its an 18. Hasn’t imploded yet though so thats a +. Hopefully they get something done for you to improve it. Unfortunately it seems to be a bad design and an issue with the fabricated deck. My view now is the distance between pulleys is too long. I have a plan but just haven’t messed with it.
I believe the Chute Deflector part is to raise the chute so it doesn't interfere with getting close to edges on the right side. Raises it enough so you can get right up to the edge of fences, house, etc without the chute hitting
Cool Thanks Mike for the input, makes sense👍
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS Its an adapter for the stamped decks, the fabricated ones don't use it.
Just got a zt1 50 Friday from dealer and test drove all and no vlibration. got mine cut the yard with np it was a very clean cut. Dealer also showed me that all have slight vibration when you engage blades then it smooths out which it did,also advised me to only engage blades at 3/4 throttle speed and then move full speed or can do damage to bears and other parts and to nvr run on low speed. Works for me and I don't if it matters but I noticed that all the people that complain have the decks with the silver deck and mine are black . Maybe they replaced old decks out with these new ones my is so sturdy I can stand on it seriously i love this thing
Thats Great to hear man!! Hopefully mine will someday be smooth like yours then I would be fully happy👍. Congrats on the purchase and thanks for Watching the video!!
I watched your other video from June 2019 and I think you are 100% right that the spring needs to have much more tension on it. Its so loose that the sloppy belt is just loose and out of control. Can you just drill another hole where the spring "eye" goes through to make tension … or will that void the warranty ? Or get a shorter spring, maybe a spring from a different size Cub Cadet Zero Turn might fit no problem. It probably can be fixed just by having tension.
Smaller belt added some more tension and again is improved but not completely smooth yet, im thinking additional idler between pto and deck pulleys. We will see.......Thanks for Watching!!
An impact tool makes getting those blade nuts off a snap 👍
You're over-thinking this stuff, just mow your yard and enjoy!!!
I've never heard of not being able to get a mower wet. Lol Mine is identical to that one, and I've been using water on it for going on 4 years. I'm still getting the " you just bought that didn't you " line. . I don't just leave it wet, though, it's very easy to blow it off.
Yeah, you gotta use an electric pressure washer to clean under the deck. You'll never get it all scraping .
Have the same mower with almost 200 hrs on it decks never been quite still runs like a champ!
Yeah the engine and rest of the mower is still great just massive deck noise, thanks for Watching and for the info!
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS did you notice a better cut with the newer parts?
@@jec9083 yes but not for long, had to sharpen blades and I went back to standard blades and removed the mulch plug. It will occasionally leave a straggler but the real problem is the slap in the belt in between the pto pulley and deck tensioner pulley, just to much distance imo.
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS the cub blades are junk barely last me 15 hrs im experimenting with off brands now. The zt2 60 has amazing blades through cub so I dont know why they'd cheap out on the 50in oh well thanks for the input I may upgrade soon to see if it helps
@@jec9083 Yeah it sucks we shouldn’t have to be doing all this jacking around just to get a new mower to perform like a normal mower should. These cost enough to at least work! Do you notice your pto clutch bouncing a bit with blades engaged? The crank shaft is true and pulley looks smooth but when I get that vibration in the belt I see the clutch bouncing.
Did you have to do anything special to get the plug on Mines acting like it don't want to fit
Just purchased a 2021 model and the vibration issue is gone. The first thing I noticed is a massive spring vs the older models. Don't know what else but others mentioned that as a possible cause and indeed Cub did correct it . The reviews on that Cub Cadet mulching kit are horrendous so i'm not even trying.
**My only complaint is with Home Depot delivery... Dropped it at the base of our steep driveway and just drove off ! No owners manual, no bolts to attach the seat and it was damaged. Buy from a dealership is my advise
Thats great info I tried calling cub a few times more recent but didn’t get anyone, I want to get the info for the fix. Ive done the blades shorter belt, leveled the massively out of level deck that the manufacturer and dealer missed, along with myself assuming they would have at least got that right. Its much improved but not 100% Thanks for Checking out the video!
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS I don't know if other things have been modified but just go to a dealer and open the deck cover, the new spring stands out at least by comparison with other vids on the topic. Will try to upload a pic later as I'm posting from a pc not a phone
Bob M That would be Great Bob, I will just hunt that spring down snd try it👍👍
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS Hi guy, Any luck with that spring ? I failed to mention that my machine is a 42' with a different belt configuration. It's no Swiss watch and is a bit rough when blades are engaged but so far I love it with no regrets. ($2700 not $12k ) I saw complaints about poor cutting and will say the machine is too damn fast running wide open but I have never seen anyone try to cut at 9 MPH. Running half throttle the cut is perfect vs wot which spins the wheels easier in tight spots/ hills. I can send video if it would help
Bob M I have not on the spring yet but its been working pretty good only a couple cuts this season so far. Next up I have to scrape all the deck buildup and sharpen the blades. I agree on cut and I too still love the mower, I dont blame the mower I blame the r and d department and qc. I think overall its fantastic machine and the engine is top notch!😀👍
Mine will be here tomorrow 6/25/20 and i cant wait to try it out. I will you guys know if i experience any concerning vibration in the deck. You cant beat the $3300 price tag (after tax) for a machine like this.
Awesome Congrats!!! Please let us know👍
Do you have deck vibration issues?
Are there deck vibration issues
Any vibration issues?? Please update! I’m about to buy one.
I have a starting question! To start mine, I first set the throttle in the middle, choke it(it will turn over once but wont start), put the choke down, and start it right up. If I just start it without choke it will just crank and crank but wont start.
Yep, I pull the choke leave throttle all the way down, turn key and as it starts to turn over immediately push in the choke and it will start and run smooth everytime . My welding machines at work and our work sidexside also acts exactly like this. Thanks for Watching!
Never had a problem but I keep blades balanced and sharp 😊
But my deck is painted yellow
Check the blades , had one come into my shop for full maintenance , and he said it had some bad vibration ... checked them and they were off , balanced the blades , and it took most of the noise and shake out of it ... just an idea !!
My opinion is the decks are stamped too thin ... They should come out with a bolt on brace kit to stiffen them up !! Thanks , good luck !! 😎
Thanks man!!Appreciate the info and for you watching!!
It has a fabricated deck, this model does not have a stamped deck.
I watched the video expecting a "Mulch Kit Install" but all I saw was that it was already installed. It would have been helpful if the video actually showed the installation.
Hi Pat, This video is a series video that covered alot of info. The mulch kit is blades and a plastic plug. I go through the procedure which is basically a blade swap. I cover safety, the correct direction to put on the blades and I cover torque specs. I also show how I jack up the mower to access the blades without removing the deck. If you have any other info you need just let me know? Thanks for Watching!
I hope you solve the issues bro Rich i like the way you jack up zt1 50 for maintenance great idea.
Thanks Bro Shaun, we will keep trying till we get it figured out! Its too nice of a mower to abandon, if i didnt like it otherwise i would sell it or trade it in but its worth saving👍. I hope you snd Sandra are doing ok in the UK?
My new 54 I just got today has a flawless deck in vibration and i also have a brand new 42 that is smooth and both mowers are zero turns
Thats Great to hear can I have the smooth 42”? 😂😂
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS got rid of it and got a toro titan max, that’s a mower!
My 54" that I bought in 21 runs very smooth.
Great to hear! At least some people are getting good ones👍. Thanks for Watching!
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS I just had the deck practically rebuilt last week 😅 so yeah atm it's running perfectly.
I was interested in buying one of these. I spoke to two dealers about this issue. One refused to acknowledge a problem and the other said, "It depends on the person. Some people expect this to be a $10,000 piece of equipment." Someone else wrote here that some people use the mower and others just talk about it. There is a third group of people though, those that will eventually make an ingenious modification. I witnessed this on my LT1042, which is my 3rd Cub Cadet over the past 45 years. An owner modified the original 2006 deck design by moving an idler pulley, moving the tension spring, re-routing the belt, and using a 2" shorter belt. People had a forum on it and copied this simple mod. Eventually Cub changed the design in 2011 to adopt this. I picked up a new deck 3 years ago on Craigslist because my old one was completely worn out and rusted. All the moving parts on it were spent, replaced, and spent. Anyway, the new design was much more powerful, as proven by my bagger capability. Due to my wet property involving sump pump discharge, etc., there were times when it was so wet that I couldn't mow for a week or two longer, resulting in my having to use the bagger. The old deck before the mod would always clog up. The new mod and new deck never clog, proving it did work. The vibration we are talking about here will eventually be fixed by a modification. Motorcycle clubs are great for this type of thing. I am amazed at the things I was able to do by following the directions of people who invented mods on my particular motorcycle. Maybe a forum exists for cub cadets? Here is a link to a video about moving a tension spring and pulley. This may be helpful to quiet down that belt- th-cam.com/video/UmwoQR0EXaw/w-d-xo.html
I just had mine delivered yesterday and it has little to no vibration. I mowed my yard with it set on 1.75 inches and it looks PERFECT!!!! It was pretty tall, 5 inches or so and I ran as fast as it would go. NO stripping...NO missed grass what-so-ever...Absolutely perfect!!! I'm telling you all that are thinking about buying one of these..Do NOT believe half of what most of these guys are complaining about!! The guys that delivered it told me that they've sold a shitload of these and so far they have had ZERO of them that have been returned. The guys crying about it missing grass are mowing at 4 inches or more. Drop the dang deck a bit so it can actually form a vacuum and pull the grass up to cut it...It's not rocket science guys!!! There's nothing wrong with these mowers you just have to be smart enough to know how to properly use it that's all!!!
@@ericteipen Eric how fast can you mow, with the pto engaged?
Hi there I need to know how set up the mulching cover on the zero turn ZCT1-50
It clips over the opening and then you tighten up the wing nut.
Hey can you please help me. I purchased the exact mower you have and the problem I have is that it leaving a 12” strip of grass down the middle. Its brand new but could it be a bad spindle????
12” is about the length of the center blade I would make sure there is s blade on there first.
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS
Yes the blade is in there. I even replaced the blades. Could it be the spindle is defective????
@@Tyreelaserweld could be I guess, that is very strange, You should be able to tell if it slipping or broke. I would inspect the belt and pulleys with top cover off and run the blades and watch it from up top. Just be careful. It has to be something simple.
Mine has almost 460 hours vibration seems to come and go sometimes it's pretty smooth sometimes not I have lived with it but it really is my only gripe about mine as well
Have you had any problems with grass accumulating on the mower deck while using the mulching kit? I have seen this in many of the comments online.
Yes, worked good for about a season then started cutting
crappy so I switched blades and took out the plug. The deck was caked with hard grass. I had to scrape and clean the whole underside. Thanks for Watching!
Hey,
Have you tried buying a spare tension spring and cutting out a turn or two to see if it helps?
I also have a new 54" and have not had any vibration issues.
I do not know if vibration issues are limited to a particular deck size?
Im going to check on a possible recall spring Ive been hearing about👍👍 Thanks for checking out the video!!
I've got a 54". No vibes. Love it.
i been looking 2 years now to upgrade i really been wanting one of these but i been seeing this issue with the deck all over the internet from what i been seeing they say the issue is the deck floats much to easily if you step on the mower deck on this you can easily bottom it out from side to side but the others like john deere and ariens seem to be much firmer held in place
Love the video man could you do a video on how to level the deck because my deck is all out of whack
Thanks Man!! Out of level? I will look at mine and post something up👍
Thanks man
@@quincyvenable2279 This is in the owner's manual. Easy.
I have that same mower, was reading about the mulch kit and there are some no so favorable reviews, so I was interested to see what it looked like and it performed. Please keep us informed about the deck vibration. I currently about 10 hours on my mower, so far so good but I either need to do the mulch kit or the bagger option.
My Deck is probably the smoothest its been with around 40 hours on the mower, I still need a little more improvement. The mulch kit is great if you dont let the grass get too long. If you cut it twice a week no droppings whatsoever,if once a week when its growing alot like mine is you will have to slow down and run over areas twice but the grass has to go somewhere and you have to give the mulch blades time to chop unlike side discharge. Overall i like it👍! Thanks for Watching the video and leaving the comment!!
GR8 video, Yea I was wondering what that x-tra piece was for, hoping you would show us where it went. I am just about to buy one. Thanks for your time.
Thanks for the cool comment and for Watching!!
If you're not washing it with water, how are you keeping it so clean?
I blow it off with my leaf blower and then use spray detailer after every cut👍. Thanks for Watching!!
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS It looks great! Good advice, thanks!
@@mikefruge8589 👍👍
Man that cut looks nice
Agreed! Nice cut for sure! Thanks for Watching!!
which mulch kit did you buy? My apology if question has already been asked
Its the Cub cadet brand mulch kit for zt1 50. Thanks for Watching!!
I just bought the cub cadet zt2 50 inch and today my belt when I engage my blades. belt in the back wobbles pretty bad and I get a vibration in my deck and it makes my deck vibrate cant seem to figure it out.
ThatOne Guy I have a ZT2 54” I have a vibration in my belt tensioner spring
Just bought a ZT1 54 and it vibrates bad. My old RZT 54 never vibrated this bad.
Its crazy that its still hit or miss with these.....seems to be the way of the world now, high prices and QC out the window...
is this only a 50 inch issue? im considering this and the 54 inch, deck issues on only the 50 would solidify a decision...
You know i thought it was only the 50 and in some cases people say their 50 is fine. I just saw a vid of a buddys 42 that seems to vibrate around as much as mine or more but it doesnt transfer through the seat so it doesn’t bother him. After more and more research i think most have this issue but buyers feel its normal and as long as it cuts its fine. The dealer has told me its normal and they all do that. In my view just because it may be the norm that doesn’t always make it correct. I believe in a 3000 market it can be possible to have a somewhat smooth operating deck and they should be. The mower is great otherwise, i would test your deck before purchase and make the call for yourself. Thanks for Watching!!
has anyone tried removing the blades and checking for vibrations ? just a thought .
Ive changed blades and removed the belt ran the engine and engaged the pto to check for pulley wobble and it was smooth as can be. Thanks for Watching 👍
When you engage your pto, what type of throttle speed do you use ? I've seen alot of different opinions. I'm looking into this mower only in a 46 width. So much info on all the different mowers.
I engage at full throttle like cub recommends. I have tried at different speeds and full seems best. Aside of the deck in its class the cub is awesome! I say if your looking at it test deck before you sign and compare vibration to other brands, the vibration might not bother you at all. I guarantee many are using this mower with vibration and as long as it cuts they are fine with it. Thanks for Watching!
Are you still using and liking the ZT1 Mower ?
How many hours on it mow ?
Are the bearings SAE or metric. Using the wrong size bearings on the spindles will cause excessive vibration. In the manufacturing process the bearings appear to be the same size but the person assembling the mower could easily use the wrong bearings as they appear the same. Maybe they are using the bearings for the stamped deck on the fabricated deck? Just ideas here, no experience on this mower. The wrong bearings or worn bearings are normally the culprit for excessive vibration. I believe the spindles have bearings built into them, if i am wrong please correct me?
I doubt one can put the wrong bearings on the pinion shafts- they’re either going to fit or you’ve got the wrong bearings. All bearings are marked with their size. Just bought the 42” model at Home Depot. There was a $300.00 discount plus 10% vets discount. I have no issues other then my neighbor just go one from gravely. I’ve had no vibration problem but it seems like those who have the issue sure like to talk a lot!
old question to answer ,the bearings are metric and imported from asia and the same for both decks, they have close to zero grease in them.almost bone dry from day one,
Could you do a video on how to level the deck
The Deck should normally hang level is yours out of level from the factory?
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS If you buy this from a big box store there's a good chance it's out of whack - dealers however will go to the trouble of at least checking. Mine from TSC was about 1/2" out L/R, and then once leveled I had to re-adjust front/back. Along the same lines be sure to check tire pressures before adjusting - my rears were over 30PSI and the fronts 3-4psi low.
@slip0n0fall Yeah mine was bought from a dealer and they not only prepped it but had it back for service and still found it was out of level which is incredible to me! Thanks for Watching!!
Good clips, whats the Napa belt part number?
Thanks Buddy!! Napa belt # 6616BR. It helped a little but mine still is not perfect.
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS Nice, thanks for getting back to me!!
Blake 😀👍👍
Add a idler pulley between the pulleys at the longest span where belt slaps around
Thats Funny Man i was looking under frame the other day to check a location for that exact idea! Im thinking it has to help quiet things a bit. Your confirming the same thoughts!😀👍👍 Thanks for the feedback and for Watching!!
Take off the belt guards and watch the belt on the front of the deck .Theres all kinds off pulleys on the back and only one on the front
There is a lot of vertical movement on the deck belt. Like 4". Here's a link to a Scag video to show a lot less movement. The video is 2:27 long and the belt is shown at 1:54. www.scag.com/product/zero-turn-riding-mowers/liberty-z/
Man that’s all I see about this mower is deck vibration. Video after video. I want one of these mowers but $3600 after tax and I have to worry about this nonsense deck issue. And your stating your buddy has the cheaper stamped 42 inch deck and no issues? I have no idea what to buy, if I even want a cub cadet at all or go with a toro now
If your into the cub just check it before you buy it insist on running the deck at all heights and see, dont let them tell you its normal and it needs to be loaded with grass and it will quiet down. Thats what they told me and that was complete bs, once they sold it to me whole attitudes changed from cub and the dealer...
I responded to the old thread on this situation. Sorry. Thanks for the update. I have the same exact mower and issue. To recap my mower went between three different Cub Cadet approved repair facilities. First two were useless. The last one, the guy replaced the belt and tensioner puller. It has improved by maybe 25%. I have been contemplating on the belt but as you have noticed/shown, not much difference. Could you post a video like you did the first time with the plate removed to see how it is working now? How do you engage your deck? Do you engage at max height then lower or have it at your set mowing height then engage? I engage with max height and it does sound better. If I have it lowered to engage then the deck hops and is noisy.
Also, how do you clean yours? Still looks brand new!
Hey Jason, thanks for checking in. I cut yesterday grass was long i cut at 3.25 when i first started it was making the rattle noise but after cutting for a bit it became quiet and vibration went away and i had a moment of contentment. I said to myself this is how its supposed to be, then it would come back slightly but not terrible almost like the belt wore in a bit. I noticed when i cut on my birm and the mower leaned to one side it was gone then flat would come back slightly. Im close and i will figure this out. The extension spring sits right on the deck i noticed wear on the deck underneath when i had it apart in this vid, i think the spring rattles a bit as well. I was under there today and im going to design a new idler bracket to help calm the belt from the pto back to the deck pulleys. Im thinking its harmonic vibration that’s transferring around the deck. The tension with the smaller belt is needed along with all good parts. My crankshaft pulley is smooth so two more factors left, long distance from pto to deck. 2 misalignment in belt and pulleys when deck moves. If we calm the belt down between the pto and deck i feel it will cut the vibration in half. Its a shame we have to go through this but the mower is so damn nice in all other aspects. On another note the mulch kit works amazingly better with fantastic cut quality and virtually 0 clippings visible, but i slowed down the speed quite a bit to give it a chance to cut more thoroughly. I will shoot a vid of deck now so you can see how it compares to yours. I take a blower after every cut and blow off all the excess grass from deck, under seat, engine cooling fins. Then i take automotive spray detailer or wash and wax spray with a micro fiber cloth and completely wipe every inch down, whole process takes maybe 15 min. I also spray hubs, spindles, cables and any pivoting parts with spray silicone lube. Whatever you do dont bucketwash or powerwash it. It states in the manual not to rinse down at all. Once you introduce water then rust and corrosion will start guaranteed! Thanks for Watching the video! Btw i engage at full throttle.
2RCP....I never use the deck washout on my mower, don't like getting the pulleys and bearings wet. After each cut I use my rechargeable blower and use it to clean my Z turn, also I wipe it down.
How often do you sharpen your blades? I love my ZT1 50 but it already looks like it’s pulling grass, not cutting. Only 12.5 hours
I realize your post is 8 months old, but what I do is sharpen any new blades because the powder coat rounds the edge off. Just one zip across the grinder makes all the difference. Otherwise it's like starting out with a dull blade, that will only get duller faster.
Maybe balance the blades
This is the third factory set I’ve had on but never balanced, that might help for sure👍 Thanks!!
@@2RCPRODUCTIONS Quit using the factory blade and try something else? We switched from stock JD blades, which are Chinese junk, to Oregon gator blades. Stays sharper, cuts smoother and lasts twice as long.
Duhhh bearzs!
Honestly I think you need to get over the tube steel, it’s a gimmick anyway, and the fabricated deck is an inferior design and more prone to rot, get a Deere.
The tube steel is badass! Much better than the bent 14 ga on others...Thanks for Watching!
I call ours a rock crawler mower