Cub Cadet / Home Depot - Mini Rant.

[Fordiesel69]

Um - you do realize that the John Deere you buy at HD or Lowes is exactly the same tractor you get at the dealer right? And that Lowes also sells Husky and they too are the same. They even had one with a fabricated deck.

Also sometimes good enough, is well good enough.

Also 2 if was actually going to buy one, this one wouldn't be it, but i'll take it on loan and try to rehab it for us to use helping out the widow next door (it is actually her tractor) and i'm pretty sure it did not come from HD or Lowes.

Anyway.

Only readily available round arbor blades are John Deere and they seem to be a different hole diameter.

I am aware some dealers do stock the same JD and CC models as the big box stores. They also have higher end models that will last. I am also aware that many local small OPE dealers are closing one by one because of people buying from big box stores. Years ago all of us could drive and get a part from one of these dealers. Not anymore. The kicker is the price is usually not different. And when you step up to a decent machine the price is not double either. Yes it is more but often times worth it.

I have two local dealers left and they are not that great. But they have parts.

 

[DuckRyder]

I am aware some dealers do stock the same JD and CC models as the big box stores. They also have higher end models that will last. I am also aware that many local small OPE dealers are closing one by one because of people buying from big box stores. Years ago all of us could drive and get a part from one of these dealers. Not anymore. The kicker is the price is usually not different. And when you step up to a decent machine the price is not double either. Yes it is more but often times worth it.

I suppose thats a valid point, i had such a place at my GA house, but their hours weren't exactly convenient.

Same argument could be made about most industries.

I have two local dealers left and they are not that great. But they have parts.

I talked to two local hardware stores that carry such things, not exactly a guy and his wife operations but not huge corporations either. They both said they haven't stocked these blades in years.

Let.s not fool ourselves either these are MTD blades I'm sure they fit other stuff that cub cadet. Now that i know what the spindle is i believe i need: 742-P3033 Which superseded 742-04101.

 

[DuckRyder]

i believe i need: 742-P3033

Those might actually work - Bonus say USA.

 

[Tdbo]

It may be older than I thought, still Home depot had these things stacked 3 deep in front at the time. No excuse for me not to be able to get blades and filters there.

They actually are doing your wallet a favor by not doing so. For example, the John Deere fuel filter that they stock for the models they have in the store (which just happens to be the same filter that my X series uses) is 3x more than I pay at the dealer.

 

[Learn Ya]

I never buy big toys from big box retailers anymore. The dealers have the same prices...plus you get reliable service, warranty support, and in-stock parts.

The last piece of equipment that I purchased from big box was a Cub Cadet snow blower. It was an end-of-season floor model sale. The unit was not assembled correctly...loose bolts, cables routed incorrectly, etc. When I got it home, I quickly realized that Spicoli did the assembly after smoking his lunchtime doobie. It ran great after I fixed stupid. LOL