GC, I concur. Been looking around the web at other machines, most have a huge metal box under the hood. Seems like a good part to delete? Probably saved $4 bucks in sheet metal.
Thanks for the comments guys on the old girl. I'm going to flood the restoration forum with pics on it, it'll be under 64-100

Mike

It sucks that MTD is so about the $$$$$$ these days that they would even produce something like that. If the price had been a couple bucks higher in the first place and the issue was fixed they would have had a happy customer. Now you will most likely never buy a new Cub again. I know I won’t.
The classic looks awesome and will probably outlast the newbe. You may want to suggest to your dealer that whoever worked on your tractor should think about a different line of work “ Would you like Fries with that” comes to mind. :beerchug:

I went back and looked and around '08 CC actually increased the size of the heat shield to extend higher and lower, even that shield gets hot enough to singe the hair off your arms when you get close enough to it.

So this is something that has been completely deleted off the new models?

The price of new GTs regardless of brand vs. SCUTs.... well, it becomes a rather easy option after looking a little while.

Yep, its gone. The Only shield covering the muffler is on top. Nothing from the bottom. The melting starts at the bottom, and after a couple more mowings, moves up between the headlights and on top of the hood.
I would like to go up there and kick the guy right square in his butt that beat it all to heck. Unfortunately, that will probably kill my negotiating power instantly.
I really, sincerely, hope I can get them to return it. We are kind of at a loss as far as what to do if they dont. Sure, I can run up a couple more grand in attorney fees, with no guarantee it'll go in my favor, or try to come up with something to stop the melting/heat issue. Either way, I'm gearing up to complain about it for the next decade to anyone who will listen.
Theres no way in hell I would ever buy another new one. That boat sailed. If they do the right thing, act like professionals, and return it, I'll be looking for a 982 to refurb with maybe even a 60'' deck, pto, and 3 point.
I cant put in words how dis-appointing it is, we are witnessing whats left of US based companies go to sh-t. There isnt a part on the thing that wasnt made in china. Im pretty sure of it. All the deck parts that are marked, are stamped china, the cast iron rear-end has a big "china" on the axle. Not sure where the Kohler is put together, but my money goes on china again.
The saddest part, is once your are the manufacturing country for so long, you eventually become the authority! I'm afraid we've been there for years now, and maybe my eyes are just being really opened to it.
Any predictions, or thoughts on what they'll do??
I would rest a little easier had I bought it from Home Depot or Lowes. I have a pretty good relationship with the stores near my home, as I'm there every day. Im sure they would return it, no questions asked. Not sure about the dealer though.

Mike, I would be glad to send them an email on your behalf. Tell them I am myself considering a new tractor but I want to see how they handle the issue with yours before I do. The internet can be quite powerful sometimes. A person could start a blog asking for new owners to unite and start a class action law suit. I'm sure your not the only one who has issues with their new Cub Cadet. You may also be able to contact someone in authority at the factory, I've had luck doing that before when I didn't get anywhere with the automotive dealer. Too bad they can't just continue to build stuff like they used to. PM me if you would like me to write them a letter, I will be professional about it if I do.
CaptMax

if you really want to get a quick response, "like" cub cadet on facebook then post the pictures to their timeline! Nothing like the entire world seeing engineering failures posted for everyone to see. I guarantee you will get a personal email from someone.

Impressive! I would say any of the suggested would get a response. I would like to however, give them an opportunity to handle it right on their own before I get nasty. I like to believe theres good in ALL people, even though I'm proven wrong from time to time.
Being in a service industry myself, I thank god for the opportunities I've had to correct warranty issues before people go for they're clubs! For that, they get one more crack at it.
Real anxious to see how tomorrow pans out. I will take you gentlemen up on any and all suggestions once we see what the day brings. I had also considered the BBB, and dept of consumer affairs as well as a facebook episode. I dont know why, I just have a feeling this is all going to work out. My wifes WAY to positive. After 20 years, its rubbing off.
I dug out my receipt, I bought it the second week of June. Paid cash, like a dummy.
I'll be there 10 minutes before they open tomorrow, follow up as soon as I get back. Thanks fellas

any decent dealer will attempt to take any means necessarily to take care of their products no matter how good or bad the product is. My biggest issue with my GT2544 was the mount for the plastic hood broke, I contacted CC directly and they quickly took care of the problem. Had I known how crappy my local dealer was I would have never purchased from them, CC directed me to my 2nd nearest dealer, which is 30 miles away and they took care of it.

CC also contacted me directly about a year later to let me know that there was a factory mod/fix for the hood. I was impressed that CC kept that in mind a year later. Hopefully if you contact the manufacturer directly you will get the same level of service...

There went 2 hours and a half a tank of gas I'll never get back. I spoke with the manager, he said "give us a chance to fix it"I said" you kinda already had a chance to fix it, and look what your boys did"
I expressed to him that I was not happy with the machine, and do not feel like I should be the test platform for field modifications, especially something that should have been caught by R&D before it ever made production!! And I want to return the machine.
He explained there are no returns unfortunately, but he would call the CC/MTD rep and have him come out, and......"they'll come up with something"
To me, at this point, this is completely un-acceptable. This is the third hood they are going to install-(if capable), the electric deck lift quit working at 31 hours and needed a new relay. When the relay was replaced I noticed there was calcium buildup on the terminals, probably causing the failure. This tells me there was no die-electric grease applied when they put it together, the upper heat shield is dented, the screws were all stripped out from them trying to "retrofit" the other shield, I had to re-tap and re-thread all the blind nuts and bolts to get them to grab, they'll probably rattle loose in a few hours, and two of the bolts were completely useless, they got a larger bolt-different pitch (purchased by me from the hardware) to hold in place.
After I saw all the dented up stuff I posted pics of, I wouldnt let them work on it anymore. The service manager and myself put the replacement parts back on in my garage, Less a new upper heat shield, less any new bolts, and less the 3rd hood thats still on order.
I know for a fact: If they had drawings today/ready to go for a solution (they dont) it would take at least a week or two to get it fabricated/fitted. I've already been out of the machine for almost 2 weeks, now Im supposed to entertain waiting for them to R&D a solution- fit it- test it- produce a production piece (im sure they wouldnt part with a prototype)and then get my tractor back to me. That does not sound like a short process. This is an issue they have to be aware of with as much information about it posted everywhere online.
I Do Not like having to get nasty with people, guess they're not going to have it any other way. Gloves are coming off. I'll keep y'all posted as I get updates. Calling the counselor now, to see what my rights are:bs: