New or used xt2

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Road_Clam

As I understand Tuff Torque ships the trans assemblies to Cub with cheap dino base oil. The preferred oil is a 5w-50 full synthetic. Swap out the fluid to a high quality synthetic and I doubt you will have any issues with the trans.

Something to keep in mind: MTD warrants everything under their own warranty, meaning you are not Tuff-Torq's customer; Stanley/MTD is their customer, meaning the trans oil that MTD puts in it that is the trans oil. You have meet those specifications for an aftermarket alternative. Not what Tuff-Torq recommends. If there is an issue with the trans during those 3 years, it is warranted by MTD/Stanley. They can use the end user using a transmission oil or alternative that doesn't meet the same specification as the trans oil they put in as a way of not warranting the transmission if there is an issue during the warranty period.

John Deere is another brand that warranties every component of their tractors under their warranty.

Meaning even though Cub and Deere buy components from other manufacturers. They treat said components as though they made the parts themselves when it comes to warranty.

Husqvarna and Simplicity are brands that would have you see component suppliers for warranty. Meaning the engines and transmissions, you would see those manufacturers for warranty, not Husqvarna or Simplicity. (not that Simplicity makes machines for the North American market anymore)

So that's where you have to be careful because Tuff-torq will refund Deere and Cub Cadet if there is a warranty issue. And then Deere and Cub, in return, will fix those components under their own machine warranty.

Now, once the warranty is up, you can use what Tuff-Torq recommends or an alternative fluid that meets the same specifications as what Tuff-Torq recommends.

So be very careful even touching the fluid during the warranty period. If Cub says it is sealed, because if there is an issue during the warranty period, Cub will replace the transmission. But if you have changed the fluid and it does not meet the same specifications as what Cub recommends, they can refuse to honor the warranty for said component.

Unlike Deere where You Just Have to Pay for Parts and Labor for said repair and Your warranty goes Back to Normal after the repair is complete . MTD is Known to Void the the warranty for there entire Machine.

[Dan from Ohio]

Originally Posted by Sergeant

Something to keep in mind: MTD warrants everything under their own warranty, meaning you are not Tuff-Torq's customer; Stanley/MTD is their customer, meaning the trans oil that MTD puts in it that is the trans oil. You have meet those specifications for an aftermarket alternative. Not what Tuff-Torq recommends. If there is an issue with the trans during those 3 years, it is warranted by MTD/Stanley. They can use the end user using a transmission oil or alternative that doesn't meet the same specification as the trans oil they put in as a way of not warranting the transmission if there is an issue during the warranty period.

John Deere is another brand that warranties every component of their tractors under their warranty.

Meaning even though Cub and Deere buy components from other manufacturers. They treat said components as though they made the parts themselves when it comes to warranty.

Husqvarna and Simplicity are brands that would have you see component suppliers for warranty. Meaning the engines and transmissions, you would see those manufacturers for warranty, not Husqvarna or Simplicity. (not that Simplicity makes machines for the North American market anymore)

So that's where you have to be careful because Tuff-torq will refund Deere and Cub Cadet if there is a warranty issue. And then Deere and Cub, in return, will fix those components under their own machine warranty.

Now, once the warranty is up, you can use what Tuff-Torq recommends or an alternative fluid that meets the same specifications as what Tuff-Torq recommends.

So be very careful even touching the fluid during the warranty period. If Cub says it is sealed, because if there is an issue during the warranty period, Cub will replace the transmission. But if you have changed the fluid and it does not meet the same specifications as what Cub recommends, they can refuse to honor the warranty for said component.

Unlike Deere where You Just Have to Pay for Parts and Labor for said repair and Your warranty goes Back to Normal after the repair is complete . MTD is Known to Void the the warranty for there entire Machine.

Ah, very important considerations! Thanks for this!

[Dan from Ohio]

I have found what appears to be a very good deal on a 2022 XT2 with 86 hours on it. It has the 22hp Kohler 7000. It does have the Smartchoke, but I have found that you can buy a delete kit and just have a regular choke? This would be a hard deal to pass up at $800 for this mower.

[evhevh]

Depending on the year and number of hours. $800 is a good price.

[Road_Clam]

Originally Posted by Dan from Ohio

I have found what appears to be a very good deal on a 2022 XT2 with 86 hours on it. It has the 22hp Kohler 7000. It does have the Smartchoke, but I have found that you can buy a delete kit and just have a regular choke? This would be a hard deal to pass up at $800 for this mower.

If you can get a deal then reguardless of the Smartchoke I would do it. Just make sure the mover overall was not abused. Here's a really good vid on removing the smart choke system. If you end up with this mower I can take pics of my cable operated choke linkage system and you should be good. Me personally would also remove the flywheel air driven choke linkage and just make the complete system cable operated mechanical.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9wGRKL-Ud8

[Dan from Ohio]

Originally Posted by Road_Clam

If you can get a deal then reguardless of the Smartchoke I would do it. Just make sure the mover overall was not abused. Here's a really good vid on removing the smart choke system. If you end up with this mower I can take pics of my cable operated choke linkage system and you should be good. Me personally would also remove the flywheel air driven choke linkage and just make the complete system cable operated mechanical.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9wGRKL-Ud8

I think I'd follow your path on that. I appreciate the info and advice!

[garydee]

I stopped into my local Cub Cadet dealer about a month ago and was surprised to learn that the XT-3 has been discontinued. He said it wasn't selling well...too expensive! The XT-3 was the last model to have power steering. I believe it was electric. The XT-1 and XT-2 do not have power steering available.

Looks to me like like Cub Cadet has fallen into the same category of machines that you usually see at the big box stores. Before long they won't be producing any of their own machines...just putting their name on something that was mass produced by the manufacturers that make all the other mowers.

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by garydee

I stopped into my local Cub Cadet dealer about a month ago and was surprised to learn that the XT-3 has been discontinued. He said it wasn't selling well...too expensive! The XT-3 was the last model to have power steering. I believe it was electric. The XT-1 and XT-2 do not have power steering available.

Looks to me like like Cub Cadet has fallen into the same category of machines that you usually see at the big box stores. Before long they won't be producing any of their own machines...just putting their name on something that was mass produced by the manufacturers that make all the other mowers.

The XT3 was discontinued in 2022. It was supposed to be discontinued in 2021. But they had so much leftover produced stock that they kept it for sale through 2022.

The XT3 sold reasonably well. The issue was Stanley was planning on moving more towards electric at one time, and there was no need for a shaft-driven model. Things have since changed at the national level, so they have backed off that electric push for now.

One of the issues with the 2011 2000 series and later XT3 series was the price they were asking in 2011 was about the same price they asked for a GT3100 in 2010. For which you got a slower response electronic power steering and slower electric lift instead of fast-response hydraulic power steering and hydraulic lift.

Cub has been MTD for the last 44 years. MTD/Stanley doesn't farm stuff out except for compact tractors in the past. The opposite is true; other manufacturers traditionally farm stuff out to MTD to mass produce. Stanley owns MTD, which they use to make the Craftsman Lawn & Garden tractors. The Craftsman version of the Cub Cadet XT2 GX54D, https://www.craftsman.com/en-us/prod...ing-lawn-mower might be an upgrade over the Cub XT2 GX54D. Because the Craftsman version gets a Kawasaki engine and a tighter turn radius.

I know someone with a 3000-hour 2017 Cub Cadet XT2 GX 54D, which is still running strong.


So they're not as cheap as you might think for certain models. Yes, traditionally, a Cub was shaft-driven. But a belt-driven actually transfers horsepower more efficiently than a shaft drive. Meaning more horsepower gets to the transmission with a belt than a shaft. But in 10 or so years, you have to replace that belt, because belts do wear and lose that advantage over time. The shaft should still not need replacement in the same amount of time.

I still have My 2018 XT3 GSX

[garydee]

Sergeant...Thanks for sharing that really enlightening information about Cub Cadet/MTD/Stanley. It is helpful to know more about the company history and how decisions made by management that affect what gets produced and becomes available (or not) to the consumer. Details about the workings of these machines is very interesting as well.

The person I spoke with at my CC store was a younger fellow who did not seem to know much about the history of things that you mentioned. It is a real education to have someone like yourself, with extensive knowledge, to enlighten less informed members of these things. I find it interesting to know the when, why and how as well as the in's and outs involved with these machines. It adds to the fun and interest when speaking to other CC garden tractor collectors.

Great to have you as a fellow OCC member! You make the forum really great!!

[CubbaCudet]

Keep us up to date. Im in the same boat looking for a new cub cadet as mine has officially kicked the bucket.