Possibly Upsetting video electric plowing

[R Bedell]

From growing up on a farm and using real tractors and now using pre 1985 Cub Cadets, that "thing" looks like a expensive toy to me. I wouldn't waste one second of time on that thing. But, to each his own.

[CubbyRI]

Originally Posted by Oak

WOW! $4k for that sucker.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cub-Cade...T42e/311630104

I clicked the link and read the reviews. It seems to have "issues".

I was just surprised that the battery would last long enough for that big driveway and I found a youtube that the owner mows an acre of grass no problem. Using it as a plow is quiet, but the mower is noisy.

anyway just threw it out here because some people will be all electric in the future. as betteries get stronger and stronger, we may see retrofit engines for our old tractors someday as an option but I think that will be many years away,

[Cubcadet_107]

Originally Posted by CubbyRI

I clicked the link and read the reviews. It seems to have "issues".

LOL The identical computer-generated responses really had me going too!!

I had to go and read them myself, seems the biggest issue is cheap metal being used on mower deck parts.

As for going all-electric, I don't think most of us here will ever think of that. I don't know about you, but I certainly don't plan on swapping an electric motor into my 107 any time soon!

[CubbyRI]

Originally Posted by Cubcadet_107

LOL The identical computer-generated responses really had me going too!!

LOL u mean like that poor soul who wrote a detailed complaint including FIVE HOURS of phone time... and the response is "please call us"! LOL

[ironman]

Whether it be battery powered yard equipment (mowers, trimmers, etc) or battery powered tools such as drills, saws, grinders, impacts, they always offer you a great deal on an item or a combo package but when you need a replacement battery they really ream your a$$.
I have no doubt that this will be the case for these tractors, and I have no doubt that the Chinese will be stepping right up with cheap cloned batteries that will cost half as much and last half as long.

[Cubcadet_107]

Originally Posted by CubbyRI

LOL u mean like that poor soul who wrote a detailed complaint including FIVE HOURS of phone time... and the response is "please call us"! LOL

Yep! And then there was one guy who waited on hold for an hour before he finally got to speak to anyone, and then got disconnected 2 minutes in!

Screenshot 2021-01-05 at 11.40.17.jpg

Or those like 10 other people who have one stuck at a repair shop due to an electrical fault, but the service technicians don't have a clue how to fix them because they were never trained to!

Really the moral here is that Cub Cadet should have simply prepared a little better for this. Had their service technicians known how to repair them, and had they made the electrical systems easier to maintain (as well as not used such cheap metal on the deck spindle shafts) this would be a great mowing machine.

[steelsmith]

I may be wrong but would that E-cub be made by MTD?
It's been my understanding that most of the big box stores "tractors" are now made by MTD.

Yes I too will keep my old gasser cub.
Joe

[spndncash]

that depends on the brand you are speaking of - this is a relatively accurate rundown of who owns and who makes what - it's from 2014 and I think there are a few more victims that are out of production.
https://todaysmower.com/2014-lawn-ya...manufacturers/

the electric stuff at the big box stores is all chinese I would assume - swisher, ryobi, turf-one, Ego/ego power+ etc

[CubbyRI]

On the topic of china quality, they CAN produce pretty good (consumer grade) quality. They are often contracted by new owners of formerly superior quality brand names to make essentially, barely functional crap badged to have consumers think they are really getting what that name USED to stand for.

Often, the Chinese are the last to be blamed for this area. It is the American "business leaders" looking for short term profits, and the American consumers themselves who never bothered to learn about real quality and "built to last". In fact the consumers are most to blame because if they didnt buy crap, no one would make it. If these apparent snafu's with this item resulted in a dead product and maybe a dead name brand, no one not even selfish young business hotshot types would dare to put green bananas out.

Not much we can do about this sad decline, except preserve some the examples of when a brand name actually meant something!

[Cubcadet_107]

Originally Posted by CubbyRI

On the topic of china quality, they CAN produce pretty good (consumer grade) quality. They are often contracted by new owners of formerly superior quality brand names to make essentially, barely functional crap badged to have consumers think they are really getting what that name USED to stand for.

Often, the Chinese are the last to be blamed for this area. It is the American "business leaders" looking for short term profits, and the American consumers themselves who never bothered to learn about real quality and "built to last". In fact the consumers are most to blame because if they didnt buy crap, no one would make it. If these apparent snafu's with this item resulted in a dead product and maybe a dead name brand, no one not even selfish young business hotshot types would dare to put green bananas out.

Not much we can do about this sad decline, except preserve some the examples of when a brand name actually meant something!

CubbyRI, you really make a darn good point there. It's all about money and stuff. And it has to be cheap, so the quality goes way down, and when it breaks, it's cheaper to replace than repair.

And although not ideal, it still gives us all a reason to keep collecting and fixing up more old Cubs