QuestionI have a 2006 Cub Cadet GT1554 with a Kohler 27HP motor. I was cutting the grass and the motor started knocking and sounded bad. It was running but had a miss. After dumping my bags, I re engaged the PTO and it died with a couple of backfires. It will turn over and then it spark locks and I have to bump the key a few times to get it to turn over again. The mower only has 20 hrs on it. Oil, gas, aircleaner and plugs all good. I was told the flywheel key may have sheared. It is under warranty, but the only shop around can't even look at it for 3 weeks. I live on an acre and a half so I can't wait that long. What is involved with replacing a sheared key? What tests can I perform to verify the problem? Thanks for any info. Ray
AnswerSorry Ray, the truth is going to hurt.
You are learning why you should buy a NON MTD PRODUCT. MTD (who builds cub cadet) dealer support sucks. Any dealer who would make you wait 3 weeks for a warranty repair isn't worth having. If you bought the tractor at Lowe's or Depot that's your problem, not the dealer.
In my dealership, if you bought it from us, you go straight to the top. Not just at 30 hours but for your full 2 year warranty. If it came from Lowe's or Depot you go to the end of the line. When you buy from Lowe's or Depot you are taking money from your dealers dinner table. You could have went to a dealer and paid the exact same price and gotten the support you now need.
Whether you learned a lesson about going to a dealer or if you did buy it from a dealer and he just sucks, you will need to fix it yourself or wait the 3 weeks. Actually that's a pretty good turn around this time of year.
It is semi-common to shear a flywheel key. The only way to test for this problem is to pull off the flywheel and look.
