[AT] OT(?) Cub Cadet 1812 Hydro question

[Stephen Offiler]

John,  Larry:

I don't think much of Briggs engines these days, and I'm VERY dismayed
to hear about Kohler!  Plastic camshaft, you say?!  I can't imagine
how that could work.  Are the lobes metal?

The Cub Cadet zero-turn I am considering is one of their commercial
models with a very heavy fabricated deck (that is, welded together
from flat pieces of heavy steel, not stamped) and powered by a 19HP
Kawasaki V-twin.  I hear generally good things about the Kawasakis.
In fact that's what I have on that 17HP 42" walk-behind I mentioned
earlier.

Steve O.


On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 5:51 PM, Larry Goss<rlgoss at insightbb.com> wrote:
> Look carefully at the new Kohler engines, too, John.  Steer clear of the COURAGE engines from Kohler.  It's one thing to have plastic external parts on an engine, but IMHO putting plastic internal parts in one is carrying things too far.  I'm not talking about things like the governor gear, but rather the camshaft!
>
> To my knowledge, there isn't a single manufacturer currently using any sealer on mower tires.  So I bought a quart of it at Harbor Freight a number of years ago and routinely break the seal on any flat tire and apply sealer before returning it as "fixed".  If I didn't do that, I would be deluged with return business to air up the same tires over and over.
>
> Larry
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: John Wilkens <jwilkens at eoni.com>
> Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009 14:08
> Subject: Re: [AT] OT(?) Cub Cadet 1812 Hydro question
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>
>> Steve, after using our zero-turn Cub Cadet for several years my
>> wife
>> and I wouldn't consider anything but a zero-turn machine--even
>> if
>> they are a little more expensive!  We have to mow around a
>> lot of
>> trees and other obstructions and this mower is effortless to
>> steer
>> (two fingers) and about as fast as you'd ever want to go.
>> Still, I
>> wish we had purchased a Toro in stead of the MTD-made Cub
>> Cadet.  Look 'em over real close.  The concept is
>> great but the
>> engineers that designed the overall Cub Cadet machine must have
>> been
>> in a big hurry.  The Cub has a Briggs engine  :(
>> that has given
>> several fixable problems (fuel pump, magneto and carb adjustment
>> that
>> I just can't seem to get right).  The Toro I saw has a
>> Kohler
>> engine  :) .  The Cub tilt up seat won't stay up
>> because it hits the
>> engine.  Three of the tires have gone flat because of poor
>> rim
>> sealing (had to add sealer).  Not sure but I think the Toro
>> has
>> bigger rear tires.  You have to take the vacuum fuel pump
>> loose to
>> get the battery out.     .......but
>> zero-
>> turn.....great!             John W.      My mower is a Cub Cadet RZT 17.
>>
>>
>>