Did you level the deck? Most mowers have the front of the deck a quarter inch lower than the back. also check side to side.
Had to goto Youtube and watch a Ray Stevens video before I could write my answer-Don't look Ethel!

 

Yes the deck is at 1/4" f to b and level side to side. We do it periodically, the dealer did it when it was in as well. Still the same.

Grass height, this is never an issue as it's mowed weekly.

Cut lines, never the same... Sometimes 90 degree difference, sometimes 45. It's never mowed the same direction.

 

Maybe if you can post a picture of the streak it might help move the discussion along.

 

My neighbor has a brand new cub cadet zero turn that is 54” and it does that same thing. I am not sure it is a problem that you can fix other than slowing down.

 

My neighbor has a brand new cub cadet zero turn that is 54" and it does that same thing. I am not sure it is a problem that you can fix other than slowing down.

Terrible. You basically have to remow over what was just mowed. So your just moving over 12" to hit the uncut lines. Better off with a 40-in 2 blade.

 

Similar to this pic.

 

View attachment 439575

Similar to this pic.

Make sure the belt going back to the PTO hasn't been twisted (1/2 turn) and installed in a "8" pattern instead of both sides running parallel. This will make your blades spin backward, which results in the back side of the blades doing the cutting. I solved this in a minute or so after having a friend nearly lose his mind over the terrible cut (all of a sudden).

 

Hi all,

Bought a Cub Cadet RZT-S 54" 2 years back. Since day 1 we've had issues with it "streaking" (leaving uncut lines of grass between the blades). The first month we had it we contacted Cub Cadet, as we bought it directly from them and had it shipped to us. Of course they say to take it to a dealer, we'll the closest dealer is an hour away. But we trailered it there, they had it for 2 weeks and deemed theirs nothing wrong with it of course.

Since then, we've tried a few things.
1. slowing down. Yes, this works, but only if your at a snails pace. A push mower is faster.
2.Verified the blades are correct and in the correct position, they do overlap a hair so I do not know why this is happening.
3. Bought a new Mulching kit for it from Cub. That included 3 new mulch blades and the cover for the shoot that doesn't fit perfectly so grass blows up through the crack between the cover and the deck. Excellent. But nope, didnt help, still streaking.
4. Clean the hell out of the deck to make sure there is zero build up and proper air flow.

I'm thinking the main issue is that it's a Cub. Really pisses me off, $5g for this and it's a **** show.

Any help? other then selling it and getting Exmark/Toro or something that is.

Thanks all!

help streaking?

now I got a pic in my mind of some dude In chukka boots and a sun hat , butt nekkid running through the neighbor hood on a little rider....
Thanks I needed that image on a Friday!

and from the sounds of it he's asking for help so there will be two of them!

 

Hi all,

Bought a Cub Cadet RZT-S 54" 2 years back. Since day 1 we've had issues with it "streaking" (leaving uncut lines of grass between the blades). The first month we had it we contacted Cub Cadet, as we bought it directly from them and had it shipped to us. Of course they say to take it to a dealer, we'll the closest dealer is an hour away. But we trailered it there, they had it for 2 weeks and deemed theirs nothing wrong with it of course.

Since then, we've tried a few things.
1. slowing down. Yes, this works, but only if your at a snails pace. A push mower is faster.
2.Verified the blades are correct and in the correct position, they do overlap a hair so I do not know why this is happening.
3. Bought a new Mulching kit for it from Cub. That included 3 new mulch blades and the cover for the shoot that doesn't fit perfectly so grass blows up through the crack between the cover and the deck. Excellent. But nope, didnt help, still streaking.
4. Clean the hell out of the deck to make sure there is zero build up and proper air flow.

I'm thinking the main issue is that it's a Cub. Really pisses me off, $5g for this and it's a **** show.

Any help? other then selling it and getting Exmark/Toro or something that is.

Thanks all!

Have you figured out how to remedy this situation? I just bought (about 2-3 months ago) a Ultima ZTX6 54" for $8k and it does a very similar thing. It randomly leaves streak spots and occasionally leaves a taller weed completely uncut. Right in the path of the blades. I tried cutting the first time at the 4" setting and that lifted so much debris up and around the deck I was covered at the end of mowing.

I called the dealer that I bought the mower from and told them what was happening and he said that it was probably due to lack of suction and that I should try cutting it at a shorter setting. I asked him what's the point of having the setting if the mower won't effectively cut at that setting? He really didn't have an answer. I tried at the 3" setting today and it was a little better but not much and certainly not the cut I would have thought a high end mower would produce. I guess it's the same claim that the mower will cut up to 7-9mph. Well sure, it will cut 'some' of the grass but you will not get any sort of a decent cut at that speed.

My issue is 2 things. I'm probably expecting too much but...
1. The mower has 1 primary function, to cut THE grass. Not some of the grass, not a bit of the grass, and not all of the grass IF you go at a ridiculously slow speed for a high end mower boasting speeds of 7-9 times faster cutting speeds than what it actually possible OR/AND the grass has just the right amount of moisture OR/AND you have after market blades of X certain type OR/AND you are over lapping 2/3 of the pass you cut before OR/AND etc, etc, etc, etc...

2. I have seen much cheaper mowers cut grass without steaking or missing longer weeds altogether, are high end mowers just a suckers play?

I have no frame of reference for larger mowers, this is my first zero turn mower and certainly the first time I've spent $8k on a mower. If a $8k mower does this crappy of a cut, how bad are the $2k ones you get from Home Cheapo?

I did a lot of research before my purchase and the one consensus was that everyone agreed that no one brand was truly superior. I do think that this level of lawn mower shouldn't need 'tweaking' to successfully accomplish mowing the lawn. I only have about 6 hours on the mower, maybe I can them to take it back and go but a $2k mower...

Would love to hear if you found a solution, I did read another forum where someone suggested to another person to use Oregon blades and he claimed that solved his issue. https://www.oregonproducts.com/en/consumer-products/lawn-and-garden/mower-blades/c/mower-blades-c

I don't know, maybe I'll give them a try and see what happens. Not happy with Cub Cadet, I certainly wouldn't recommend them to anyone looking for high cut quality.

 

I tried at the 3" setting today and it was a little better but not much and certainly not the cut I would have thought a high end mower would produce. I guess it's the same claim that the mower will cut up to 7-9mph. Well sure, it will cut 'some' of the grass but you will not get any sort of a decent cut at that speed.

I'm sorry the CC brand is NOT a high end brand, it is a residential brand with a bad reputation. I'm sorry to say you've been suckered by their marketing hype. If you picked any other well known commercial brand and purchased at that price point you'd likely have a much better performing mower.

 

Did I find an actual FIX, nope!

I've posted this issue across multiple forums...

I was advise to:
-drive slower
-cut the grass lower.
-instead of tilting the deck 1/4" lower in the front then the rear (as specifically said in the manual)... to reverse this and go 1/4" lower in the rear then in the front.
-cut the grass more often, 2x's a week instead of 1x
-change the blades to a different brand... again. Went from Stock, to Cub Mulching blades, to some other regular cut brand, might be Oregon but I'm not sure.

Nothing, absolutely nothing has helped with this.

-last advise was, buy a Grasshopper.

ridiculous.

My old Toro regular tractor with 2 blades never had this issue. The neighbor just had an estate sale and was selling a 54" 2 year old John Deer tractor for $1000. I was planning on grabbing it but someone snagged it before me. His grass never... ever had any type of streaking. From now on i'll be sticking with regular tractor mowers instead of zero turns.

 

I mow about 6-8 acres was hoping for something better than a tractor mower.
sorry to hear no resolution. Good luck.

 

My neighbor has the Cub 54" ZTR and he has the same issues you guys are having. He tested my Exmark Quest 50" in the same areas in his lawn that his Cub struggles and mine mows it at full speed without issue. My observations of his machine is it does not seem to have the airflow that my residential Exmark has, mine will throw grass at least two passes over from the discharge chute while his doesnt throw half that distance. He has to mow slow and short in order to get a decent cut. He did see an improvement going to Gatorblade G5's though. I think its just a poor deck design.

 

This issue has nothing to do with it being a ztr versus a rider.

There are ztrs that cut great and there are riders that cut great..... at all price points actually. I owned an El Cheapo MTD Gold riding mower and it left a great cut.

Unfortunately for you all you happened to pick a brand that apparently sucks azz.

In the future, when spending $8,000 on a mower go with a quality brand.

Cub Cadet is not known for quality it's known for a homeowner grade garbage.

 

My only suggestion would be, every time you mow just mow full sticks in two directions.

Or mow two to three times a week and then the streaks won't be as noticeable

 

If I paid $8,000 for a mower and it did that, and the company just shrugged, I would catapult it right through the CEO's office window, while it was running...

I would pester them so bad, every day, they would happily pay me $8,000 to go away.

 

I agree with this! Complain enough and get heard!

 

I am having the same issue with my Cub pro z 554s kw. I have had it to different dealers over 3yrs to no avail. It's an $11,000 piece of junk.

 

I've decided this winter I'll take the time to remove the deck, flip it, figure out the distances between the overlap of the blades, and modify the center blade with overlap extensions welded onto it. I would much rather have the "uncut lines" be actually CUT and 1/4" shorter (the overlaps would under the other blades) then the rest of the pass, then this crap.

 

and modify the center blade with overlap extensions welded onto it. I would much rather have the "uncut lines" be actually CUT and 1/4" shorter (the overlaps would under the other blades) then the rest of the pass, then this crap.

If I understood you correctly you are going to weld on the blades? If so, PLEASE don't! You can buy a bigger blade and trim it down but PLEASE PLEASE don't weld on them, you could kill yourself or others.

 

What other brands does that dealer carry?? I would be demanding A: They fix it...they can't...B: That money should be fully refunded, or applied to another brand mower that actually mows.

A local town bought 2 new Cub's instead of JD's and they have said they're the biggest hunk of junk out there. The Park District uses Scag's and they're trying to get 2 of those and use the Cubs for $10,000.00 paperweights. I sincerely hope anyone considering Cub Cadet anything reads this thread...a far cry from what Cub was 40 years ago...

 

Have you checked the engine RPM?