07 GT 2542 fenders split from seat

[Methos]

Originally Posted by cubs-n-bxrs

Nice repair job 47ford2n. Looks very respectable.

Originally Posted by ACecil

Great job on the repair!

Well said!

[shunkster]

I have a "07" GT 2554 with 180 hrs on it and just checked to see if there were any cracks by the seat as you are having and nothing yet and got 100lbs on you. I did have the hood replaced at 5 hrs though, other than that no issues. Anyone else have problems with 2500's?

[47ford2n]

When I first brought mine 2542 home it would not back up unless on level ground. None of the Western NC dealers could figure it out. The Cub service Center told me to take it to Ferguson Equipment in Taylors, SC Frank Figured it out right away and fix it. The engine was not turning enough RPM's. I think pushing snow might have caused my fenders to crack because you are moving around and leaning to work the plow. Anyway now it pushes snow, and mows no problems.

[TSWolf]

Usually with the reverse problem it is only the linkage for the pedal that needs adjusted, this also happened with the 3000 series.

[Vince_o]

TS

Scott stopped in at the shop yesterday to pick up some parts and we had a 2500 on my lift. We were talking about where the fenders had cracked, and the reverse and hood problems. The one thing that people over look is to pull that little shield off around the drive shaft and get the grass out of there. We had one so packed that we had to pull the fenders off to clean it! There was a oil leak at the drain tube that didnt help maters much.

I think another thing is the type of grass you cut. We here dont seem to have that much of a prpblem with the fuys that have fescue grass, but the zoyzia, and bermuda grass, the clippings are like dust and pack in every where on the mower. Add a little water or oil, and you have a thick packed mess!

[DaveD]

I have a 2544 that is 6 years old.
From day 1 reverse barely works, once in a blue moon it will fly in reverse but the other 99% it barley creeps. Has to be the worst designed linkage ever put on a mower.

Steering - after about a year the steering quit while mowing, steering wheel would just spin around. Found the plastic bushing that the steering shaft fit into was worn out and the shaft was dropping down so far the gear was below the rack. Also the claimed "cast iron steering housing" turned out to be a piece of plate steel with a pipe welded to it and a plastic bushing. The replacement part I ordered was in fact a nice cast iron housing with a bronze bushing. Should have been the part that came on the mower, especially since that was one of the features in the product book.

Fender - rear fender has been cracked for 2 years now, I have reinforced and welded twice and finally this year had to replace the fender.
Then as I am replacing the fender I notice another reason my fender cracked. On the right side of the mower the frame has 2 supports for the running board, one on at the top near the controls and another at the rear where you stand to get onto the mower. The left side does not have the rear support under the running board. The frame has the slot for the bracket but no bracket. Who's dumb ass idea was this?

Checked the parts manual so I could order the bracket and guess what, no bracket exists.

My suggestion to Cub is to hire an engineer yo replace the accountant that designed this mower.

This is probably the last cub I will ever own.

[Oak]

"This is probably the last cub I will ever own."

Don't give up yet! A friend of mine owns a 2500 series tractor and I think it's a POS and the 1000's are even worse. My 3000 is okay but I don't think they are as heavy duty as the older ones. Go find you a good 82 series tractor and you won't be disapointed. I think they are some of the best ever built by Cub Cadet.

We all caused this problem. A good garden tractor should cost well over $5k but people will not pay that much for a machine these days.

[gcbailey]

I've got an '09 2544 w/260ish hours. Nothing noted yet, I like to fluctuate between 205-215.... depends on if the homemade cookies are any good. I mow some VERY rough yards (aka reclaimed garden plots that were never rolled flat). I like the fix though.