Strengths I have had this mower for about 3-5 months. It has 29.3 hours on it. I had been using it to cut a 2.5 acre yard. Worked fine. Loaded it up to cut another yard, alot smaller, 1/2 to 3/4 acre, the belt broke. This was about 10 minutes into use. It started leaving the grass standing where the center blade was. It grass had been the smallest that i cut for the whole summer. Dont under stand why the belt broke., Cub cadet said the belt should last alot longer that 29 hours. Oh well, its been in the shop for 10 days getting everything check out. Hope to get it soon. we have received alot of rain the last 3 weeks and i dont want to have to use a push mower.

Weaknesses the washer systems to clean out the deck. Most of the time i cant get the water to connect right

Overall to early to tell, but i dont like where its goign

Strengths looks like a cub - bait & switch coming at you, look out. No strength could overcome the poor design of this POC

Weaknesses mower deck is a belt throwing pc of junk. almost caught on fire when a idler bearing locked up and combined with the grass catching tendency of the design to hold this "fire starter" in nooks that can't be washed out (under the guards). Then there's the transmission belt, no way to install a new one without removing the motor. if you doubt this-look underneath it and do the job in your head before it fails. You're screwed. I won't even talk about the $200+ electric PTO that is failing as I speak, or the motor with a now known history of poor air cleaner design that takes out the motor (notice that oil cloud you're constantly mowing thru?). This is the worst designed mower I could imagine. Must have some idiot in the design department that never cut grass or worked on one. oh yeah...it's only 2 years old!!!

Overall Going back to 33" Snapper. no electric PTO's. Proven design, no 3 blade deck designed by someone who probably never cut grass, etc. You hear me talking Cub people? I'm screaming to everybody about this mower. Is there a "cash for clunker mowers" out there? they'd all be yellow & white.

Strengths I purchased an LT1050 from Home Depot. This has to be one of the worst mowers I have ever owned. With barely 20 hours on the Kohler engine, it smokes large billowing clouds of white smoke each time I go down hills. I have taken it to an authorized Cub Cadet Dealer only to be told nothing is wrong with it. I should have stuck with my old Sears Craftsman mower.

Weaknesses This mower sucks, plain and simple and Cub Cadet should be held responsible for a mass re-call on this mower for engine problems. I don't know a single person who owns this similar model who has not had problems with it.

Overall Horrible

Strengths These are the worst mower i have ever owned...I bought this mower on a friends advice. For strength breaks down alot ....First started with blowen head gasket in which i was told was common 3 days past warrenty ...Then a gas tank that came apart at the seems sorry not under warrenty no recall eaither.

Weaknesses nobody would help me when i called always not their problem.you bought it your headache.had this for four summers not many hrs. on it because its always brokedown as it is now.This product sucks

Overall absolutley THE worst tractor i have ever owned.I wish there was a lemon law on these mowers there would be a stock yard full....Im afraid to sell it to another person for fear they would come back on me...You should be ashamed of your selfs for charging so much in which i still havent paid the loan off yet...To think I took the reputation of what used to be a good product and believe in ....your mowers are crap....

Strengths It is pretty to look at.

Weaknesses We bought the tractor April 4, 2009. It has 3.5 hours total usage. On the third time out, my husband ran over a crepe myrtle stump which was approximately 1.5" high. This was way to much for the LTX 1040. My husband picked up a pulley and other parts from the yard. Since we had had the mower for approx 45 days, it was not covered under warranty. Parts are only warranted for 30 days. We could now spend several hundred, and he could do the labor to repair it. However, we are afraid that the chain type belt on this year's 42" cut model will only cause this to happen again - he could run over a gravel or something. We have been offered $500 trade-in from one dealer and $600.00 from another dealer.

Overall We are now back to using the old Craftsman we have had for approximately 16 years or more. It mowed over this tiny stump numerous times. There is no comparison between the old Craftsman and the Cub Cadet 42" LTX 1040. Please do not buy one. Also, I notice that parts are available for sale on the Cub Cadet web site, but one cannot send email from there.

Strengths Good value for the money. Remember this is a $2000 tractor, not a $5000 one...

Weaknesses Deck spindles must be greased often or they will be prone to failure. Also, you can remove the spindle bolts (belt off) & turn them so the grease fittings are in a better position for lubing. I also leave my outer belt covers off. (If a younger person is using the machine, don't do this.) Makes greasing spindles a lot easier. IMPORTANT NOTE: The mower deck belt jumping off is caused by the spring loaded idler pulley bracket flexing on its pivot, as soon as the bushing wears. The bracket twists & the belt jumps off. It took me a while to figure it out. It's a poor design, but there is a cheap & easy fix. This requires removing the deck. Get a cheap 1/2" thick white nylon kitchen cutting board & cut a piece out of it big enough to put under the idler bracket. Make sure it is big enough to let the idler swing when mounting or dismounting the belt. Mount this block as close to the pulley end of the arm as possible. Counter sink the mounting holes a little & screw it to the deck with 2 or 3 regular short sheet metal screws. This keeps the idler nice & flat as it slides on the nylon block & your belt problems will be over.

Overall Mine is 5 years old & has 136 hours on it. Other than the idler problem and a couple of spindle bearing replacements probably caused by lack of proper lubing early on, I have just done normal maintence. BTW: These bearings can be bought at your local auto parts store for $4 or so - beats the $25 MTD price. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another CUB LT series. And I may....

Strengths Good power. Good looks. Ease of use. Easy start. Good transmission. Reliable with 4 years of service and no problems what so ever. Mulches Liguid Amber leaves well under additional load. Throws grass back into 3 rear bags with no difficulty.

Weaknesses Occasionally leaves stripes in lawn. Oil changing system is messy and could be better with installed metal pipe and twisting handle valve rather than push on neoprine hose and push pull valve.

Overall I'm surprised at the problems previous reviewers have indicated. I enjoy mowing my 1.5 acre lawn with this tractor. After 4 years of use I finally had to replace the battery.

Strengths Nice cut, looks nice, so far motor runs strong, even up slopes

Weaknesses When you change the oil, just plan on having oil everwhere on the deck pulleys motor base, deck, etc. Terrible design. I thought that after I made a mess the first two times I'd have better luck. Grease fittings on deck spindles are hard to get to.

Overall So far, so good. Haven't had a belt fly off, and had no problems keeping the cut even.

Strengths Grease Zerk's on spindles... easy deck detachment... Have 260 Hours on 2004 Model... Best Buy for $1999

Weaknesses Replacement of drive belt is not an easy task(once in 220 hours). Too low a cut... never have had the deck below high. If you shut it down from full throttle it will backfire. But if you run it a few moments at a lower throttle b4 shutting down its fine. Original blades and "mulcher" attachment not recommended.

Overall I've had very good luck with this lawn tractor. Its a 2004 Model, bought from a Local Farm Store. 26HP V-Twin Kohler (no oil use), performs very well for 2.4 acres of lawn, but you do have to "maintain" it (grease spindles twice a year). Replaced OE blades w/Gator blades... world of difference with deck cleaning. She's ready for another 70 hours this year.

Strengths none

Weaknesses it looks like a cub cuts like crap

Overall do not buy 26hp kohler smokes knocks with 91 hrs of use needs a new motor alwats serviced. cub cadet dealer said thats why i stopped selling them. do not buy!