Strengths It is obvious that this model has a small but important design flaw. For those of you wondering about details of this pulley/belt issue, i have posted a video on Youtube.com which shows exactly what the problem is. To watch it just go to you tube and search for any of the following search words: "cub cadet lt 1045 belt pulley riding mower"

Weaknesses If you have found a fix please email me bigtexasmike@hotmail.com Any help is much appreciated. You can also try to copy this link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrAMXQIqAWo

Overall See comments below

Strengths I'm more accustomed to being on full sized tractors with box blades and front end loaders. This lawn tractor felt studier and stronger than any of the other mowers in my price range (under $2,000). Here are some of the things I like: Strong engine, Very smooth blade cut, deck wash, fuel guage, large tires, hdryo, mowing in reverse.

Weaknesses Okay so I only have a few hours on this machine, but have already heard and read about this major BELT ISSUE everyone keeps posting. After reading Dick and Doug's post, i took another look at my belt/pulleys. Sure enough I can see that left pulling appears to be too high and the bracket that holds it in place needs to be adjusted or replaced, or problems will likely occur. I can see the belt is running on the lower half of the pulley and looks like it may jump off. THe setup manual needs to be read and the following must be checked if purchasing new: tire pressue is as stated in the manual over inflated for shipping. Mine were 17psi. I set them to the proper 10psf front/14 psi rear or whichever it is that the tires and owners manual indicates. Secondly, like Doug's comment, the deck/spindle assemblies were empty of grease, I filled all three. In addition I made sure to grease the front wheel/axles. Not sure if there are more, but if so I'll find em.

Overall If I can get the bracket for the pulley fixed easily, then I really do think this machine is going to last a long time and will be very well worth the money. I take very good care of my equpiment and my mower has its own nice big parking space in my garage. Good build, nice features! HOWEVER --- TO ANYONE CONSIDERING the LT1045, I wouldn't recommend purchasing this machine without having the spindle fix figured out. It obviously has too great of influence on the operation and maintenance of the equipment. I purcahsed from HD for $1,649 and have a total of 30 days to return if unsatisfaied. After that I'm SOL. I just purchased it 5 days ago, so we'll see if I can get the part fixed, cause I really REALLY want to keep this machine.

Strengths Very reliable. Always starts right up Never thrown a belt.

Weaknesses Mulching leaves trail of clippings from left side of deck and three blade deck mows unevenly when turning sharply. If I did it all over I would have gone with the 42" 2 blade deck. The hood does not have padding where it rests on the console and vibration was wearing it away. I fized it with some foam and duct tape.

Overall I have not had the poor experience that others on this board have reported.

Strengths

Weaknesses No phone support. Noisy-uncomfortable seat-bounce around. Deck hard to remove. Faulty valve cover-all oil leaked out.

Overall I have a John Deere GT 265 that cost me 4x as much as Cub Cadet. Had problems with support for that too. Deck kept coming off. Now use it for hauling stuff.

Strengths Easily the best tractor for teaching a person how to become a mower repairman and a mower deck specialist!

Weaknesses I'm amazed that MTD hasn't had the fortitude to issue a recall of these tractors because of both the mower deck belt and the drive belt. I've spent more time unbolting the engine (the only way to replace the drive belt) and replacing the thrown deck belt than I have mowing the lawn. In three years I've actually lost count of the number of spindles I've replaced as well.

Overall Resist any thoughts of dropping your hard-earned money on this tractor unless you wish to spend all your free time on repairs every weekend....

Strengths I still love this tractor.

Weaknesses Dick had it right about the mower deck idler pulley bracket! I just looked again, more carefully this time, at my deck. Even though after 10 hours I havn't thrown a belt I am amazed that I haven't. The left idler pulley is exactly 3/8" too high, which is way out of alignment, as Dick says. The reason is they are using the *same* bracket for the left and right idler pulleys. This saves cost, not having to design and build two different brackets. But the left bracket sits on top of the right bracket, raising it up 3/16". Also the left idler pulley sits on a 3/16" spacer. 3/16+3/16 = 3/8 Duh. Also, I can see the wear pattern on the left (too high) pulley. The wear pattern is way low just as one would expect. The *only* solution is Dick's. I have already removed my bracket and am taking it to a local fabricator to have it cut and re-welded. Will probably cost $25. But I am doing this now even though I haven't had the belt come off even once. Thanks Dick! Cub Cadet should ship out modified brackets to every owner and dealer of this deck.

Overall Also, for the heck of it, while I had the deck off and mostly disassembled, I tried pumping some grease into the 3 deck spindles. I would swear that they were dry. The front deck gauge wheels had definitely not been greased.

Strengths Belts! I had the deck belt problem (Dropped, frequent belt breakage), called the dealer replaced belts, cussed a lot. Then I found that the bolt holding the arm of the sleeper pulley was loose, allowing the pulley to float out of line. Crappy design. Easy fix for me, finally, after much disappointment in the product and BS Now the transmissionj belt is broken and the manual says it should be done at the dealer. Anybody done this themself?

Weaknesses Belt train designs, fear of failure of PTO, as my brother's failed after a few years+

Overall

Strengths Engine seems to run well

Weaknesses Deck Drive Belt comes off all the time. Sometimes in the middle of a 1 hour mow. Sometimes when just starting to mow and other times shortly after lowering engaged deck to mow. This is a very frustrating issue. Always seems to happen to my wife when I am at work. Other tractors I have owned had engine drive pulley guide pins that kept the belt on the drive pulley. The plastic mulching cover plate is cheap and doesn't sit tight in the discharge opening. Have had to drill holes in several places thru deck and insert plastic tywraps. The left front light constantly turns on and off [loose contact?)

Overall I have always had experience with Bolens and have never had a tractor where the belt keeps coming off the deck. Will never buy another Cub Cadet. cubcadet.com website has no link to input direct customer satisfaction/issues to the manufacturer.

Strengths I l Love my Cub Cadet. I HAVE NEVER THROWN THE BELT THAT THE OTHER POSTERS MENTIONED. I have THICK heavy country grass and this baby flies right thru it. I sold my property so now I am selling my Cubbie, I paid $1649.00 at HD with 20 percent off for a few incentives. I used it for two season and sold it for $1500.00 today. Best investment I made in a long time.

Weaknesses After two years of use, I have yet to find a weakness. The only disappointment I had was the two stage blower unit was $1500.00 other than that NO COMPLAINTS>

Overall I will buy another Cubbie in a HEARTBEAT. I will get the Zero Turn Radius next.

Strengths Easy start; hydrostatic drive nice after useing standard shift for 30 years. Nice level cut. I use the #3 setting with the deck wheels just touching the ground.

Weaknesses After reading reviews about belts falling off and breaking. I looked at the deck pulleys. The pulleys should all be in line with each other, but the front idler pulley was 3/8" to high. This caused the belt to pull off the bottom of the pulley. This also explains the belt breaking due to the sharp edge on the pulley. I removed the pulley mounting bracket, then cut a 3/8" section out of it, so the bracket height would be lower. Welded the two pieces back together and they lined up perfectly with the adjoining pulleys. I have an acre and a half of grass which I've mowed a dozen times with no problems. The deck runs quieter now since it doesn't have the vibration of the belts be bent at odd angles. I'm going to check the drive belt pulleys next.

Overall Seems fair