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

[Steve Sewell]

--On Friday, June 05, 2009 7:24 AM -0400 Stephen Offiler 
<soffiler at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.
>
>

Steve: Having the pleasure of visiting your home I don't think a Z-turn 
would make you happy. As others have said they don't like much other than 
flat ground. If I were you I would be looking at a front mower with a 5' 
deck. I have used both and would much rather have the front mower. We have 
a mid 90's JD F1145 at work with a 6' deck that we use around the runway / 
taxiway lights and nav-aids that has wheel brakes so it's 'almost' a 
z-turn. With your flower beds, rock fence, driveway and those rocks you 
planted in the yard I think you would be happy with a front mower. With 
either one there is a learning curve on mowing around several things that 
are close together. As it pivots on the drive wheels under your seat,the 
rear swings around, you have to get the hang of it.  I have a JD 445 lawn 
tractor at home with the V-twin Kawasaki. Good engine, lots of power. No 
problems with 600+ hrs.

- steve

Steve Sewell
Albany, Ohio USA
sewell at ohio.edu
sewell at atis.net