Strengths Tough unit. Have had for three years this fall and have used it for snow removal, pulling 6-inch diameter trees, spraying, mowing and pulling 600 lb trailer over 4.5 acre property, aerator, dethatch, seeding, dragging. Love 3-pt hitch.

Weaknesses My posting Oct 2005 with gas tank - no other problems since. Deck removal is more than I like, but deck has withstood a beating over our rough terrain.

Overall Have 300 hours on the unit and I follow mtce procedures. Put it up on jack stands twice a year and do thorough lub and cleaning.

Strengths Tractor has lots of power for the jobs i am putting it through. Plows snow like you would not believe. the thing also cuts grass like you would not beleive. Doesnt matter if it is wet or dry, handles whatever you put her into.

Weaknesses I know from experience from other owners that all the problems that these other reviews are talking about are all operator errors. If the owners would use some common sense they wouldn't have these problems. so many freakin idiots think that the tractor is always to blame, how about using your brain around the tractor and see how that goes.

Overall Tractor is an absolutely awesome piece of equipment. Recomend to anyone who is smarter than a doorknob. As for the rest of you try this, next time your mommy puts you on her lap to tell you that you are special have her read you the owners manual.

Strengths Good power only when it's working.

Weaknesses spends way more hours in the shop than in use. Only have 140 hours on it because nearly every single time I use it I have to take it back to the shop. Oh and taking off and on the mower deck is way more work than it should be.

Overall It's a piece of crap. My Murray mower that I bought for $300 used has ended up mowing the yard more then the cub. If you do buy one and it breaks down right away and more than one or two times. Make the dealer take it back, use a lawyer, cheaper than keeping it.

Strengths motor runs fine/cuts well/lots of power

Weaknesses i could sit here all day and talk about the problems here are just a few.transmission keeps slipping almost to the point being dangerous on hills.it sliped into neutral more than once.am filling complait with cpsc 800-638-2772 dealer sounds fed up too.the tractor has never proformed well for me.cub cadet needs to step up to the plate fix promlems or give me a tractor that works.muffler melting the plastic hood never align to specs/mower deck adjusters come apart and bend

Overall my tractor was in the shop more hours than are on it.

Strengths mows well when deck is holding together, fel is strong enough for most tasks around hobby farm. Engine is stong running and quiet.

Weaknesses deck needs to be set up with heavier pins to hold casters, adjustment linkage keeps loosening and falling off, second time to dealer for transmission, keeps slipping out of gear evan after recall work, flashers quit working after only 3-5 minutes of use, dealer slow at work and part slow to get.

Overall MTD junk product should have paid 1500 more for John Deere or Kubota

Strengths My version is gasoline Kawasaki engine. Runs great and has lots of power. The wife mows over 4 acres and puts it through its paces over fairly uneven terrain. Bought this unit after having a 3200 series with a 60 inch deck. Was just a little too light and I wanted the 3-point hitch for other attachments.

Weaknesses I just got it back from the dealer today after the recall for the shift lever washer. We had not experienced the problem, but what we did run into was a gas tank leak. Cub put the replacement on back order and it has taken three weeks to get it fixed. My dealer is great - offered a loaner, etc, so we could get our chores done. Ended up putting an epoxy patch on 3 leaks on the underside of the tank. This held for most of one mowing, but the tank is definitely too light gauge and the flexxing finally gave out in the leading edge of the ribs that run across the bottom of the tank. The new tank seems to be the same, but if anyone else is having this problem, my dealer said that the Cub dis

Overall We both love the unit.

Strengths It is a great tractor when it runs.

Weaknesses It is currently at the shop again.this is the 6th time since I bought it new in june 2004. The shop has also been to my house to work on it several times.Cub Cadet support does not seem to care about your problem when you call them.I had 3 hoods put on from cracking. 3 choke cables, hydralic lines replaced, throttle cables replaced,switches replaced,fuel pump, water pump,fenders,and alot of deck pins replaced.The hydralic couplers leak.and more small things that i wont even list.

Overall This is my 2nd one. I had a 1648 prior to purchasing this 5254. It was a great little mower But I will never buy a Cub Cadet product again. The service that I get now is absoultly horrible.Cub Cadet makes me feel like they got my money and they dont want to be bothered by me.