Fixing my FIRST zero turn mower: Cub Cadet RZT
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- Опубликовано: 25 ноя 2023
- I took a chance on a cheap zero turn listed on Marketplace. The engine ended up having several problems including: broken coil, bent push rods, bad starter, bad fuel pump, dirty carb, governor adjustment, choke linkage adjustment, leaky valve covers, and probably more! Anyway, I got it sorted out and restored! should I sell it or keep it?
#cubcadet #kohler #mower #lawnmower #zeroturnmower #zeroturn #diy #repair #satisfying #project #mechanic #smallenginerepair #smallengine 
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One man's trash is another man's treasure. This really shows the value of attention to detail and intuition. You turned a total piece of junk into a great machine again with only a few weeks invested. It really speaks volumes about how people take care of their stuff. If everybody had the snap to take care of their homes and vehicles like that, this country would be cheap to live in and easier to find help with almost anything.
Fantastic Video. I just bought the same exact machine from a good friend this week.
$200 and it runs well. Watching your video just taught me everything I needed to know.
Leaking valve cover gaskets , Thank You! I’ll order new ones tomorrow. I went got a seat cover, be here tomorrow. I painted the left fender today. Removing the right one has to be investigated due to the ignition and the engagement knob. ( wish you covered that) . But I’m basically on my way to do everything you have done. Thanks Again for a great video.
I found your channel today and haven’t got anything done with my mowers because I can’t quit watching! Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much! But I’m sorry you didn’t get anything done!
Hello there, I am a new subscriber, I just gotmy first zero turn Gravely 2350 for free. It was just the frame and deck when it was given to me by a friend, I have since been hard at work putting it together using cub cadet parts wiring harness/engine/belts/pulleys/front wheels & tires, all from the cub donor.
Now it's running and mowing just fine but still not quite right yet, I have noticed something quite interesting and you won't believe it, the left side transmission losses all power when engaged the deck but regained power when I disengaged the deck, I have it solved soon and I'll be watching your videos during my breaks. You have a good one , God Bless.
Glad you like my videos! Hope you get your zero turn sorted out soon!
WOW!! What a great transformation! I am really surprised that the motor didn't blow up with the push rod issue. Plus great luck finding the $80 market place motor. Well done Kyle and have a great holiday season!
Thanks!
Working on one now with similar engines and have done many of the things you did. REALLY ENJOYING the video. Great detail and good camera angles. Saving this video. Keep up the great work!
Much appreciated!
Nicely done. Thanks for sharing. Cheers
Thanks!
Great job there! looks nice!
Also on the tire tearing up the lawn. When turning sharp or quickly, use both to turn one wheels should go one way and the other the opposite . If you use only one you pivot the tire instead of it rolling. That is what tears the grass. Hope that makes sense :) And the choke comment sent before the end when you figured it out. Again thank you and great job :)
Good advice about turning! I’m not used to zero turns that’s for sure
Hey, Kyle! Just discovered your channel from your comment on Alex’s (Freedom Mowers) most recent video on a zero turn for $200.
I appreciate all the work you did on this one to bring it back.
Subscribed - I’ll check out some of your other videos.
Thanks for the support!
Enjoyed your video. Obviously the previous owner did'nt know what they were doing.
Nice looking machine and great job.
Thank you very much!
Yes I can agree with all the work you did to it I couldn't blame you for keeping it on the other hand I see the worth on selling it also nice work on bending back the push rod 👍
Good job...looks great
Thanks so much!
You will enjoy cutting your lawn with a zeroturn. I have a cub cadet 50" deck 19 years old did a value job on it and it runs very nice and cuts my 3 acre lawn. Be Safe and Enjoy
Thank you!
Great video
Thank you!
Love the seat, that looks better than the factory, armrest are a nice option too, for the zero operation :)
Thanks!
Get the xb-455 beadbuster best tool i ever bought. I had an issue with the aluminum pushrod bending more then once, so I ended up using 2 steel ones, not sure if the Kohler is the same but it never bent the steel rod, this was on a briggs
Great video keep it up
Thanks!
Good job on the mower. Look good.
Thanks!
That's a Gen 2 starter. Need Gen 3. They break/explode/die. They drill and tap the end but the shaft is too small, usually breaks but yours is bent! Gen 3 is a thicker shaft as well
I agree it pays to get the 3 but don’t expect them to sale it because most of the time it’s a 2 😢😢😢
Kyle you did an awesome job brother. Super stoked for you!! Your troubleshooting skills payed off and got this unit running great after all the little hang ups. That piece on the transmission that was missing on one side is the parking brake. When those teeth mesh with the gear it holds it in place. The cadet turned out excellent. A tip for overspray is just take a little gas on a rag and it wipes right off, especially when it is still curing. Keep up the great work 😎😎🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks! Great advise- I’ll try that
Do you think I need to buy a replacement parking break for that one side? Or is the break only supposed to be on one side?
@@KylebythecreekI believe the brake needs to work on both sides. The side without a parking brake might allow it to turn sideways on the hill or run into someone if they get off. This could cause the mower to tip sideways or cause you to fall off the side. Could be a liability if you sell it.
@@gordonwilloughby8793 that’s very good to know. I’ll look into a replacement part
That loose cable is for each wheel, pull them out and over (so they stay out) to unlock the wheels to move the mower manualy short distances while not running.
I knew it was only one cylinder.Worked on enough time to recognize the exhaust sound. Good luck
True. I wasn’t very quick to pick that up, but I got it eventually. I really tried to take my time and diagnose everything carefully
Yes sir Team Cub all the way! Same seat on my ZT1, and very similar to my ZTR50. Mine has 22hp Briggs 600hrs. Keep it 👍🏾
Thanks!
Worked on one kept having ,trouble put on two new carbs ran good for a while missed and died , checked out Electrical trouble , carb and fuse wiring put on new ground , two places ! Compression test shows leaking off , head gasket or valve s also Compression release gear stuck or striped1 Check Teeth on starter some have 13 +15 or put new head bind ix on old starter/ Push rod s are different Exhaust is steel intake is Aluminum so it will bend and not bust engine , could be valve guides there bad about raising up not letting the valve close causing backfire check bolts under fly wheel they come lose busting the magnets and put new key way in new any time you take off the fly wheel cam gears strip made of plastic! /Now all you like is the Safety cover/belt keepers on deck
Grease the spindles on your deck they could be holding the engine tension
I stopped the video at 16:13 noticing that the exhaust mufflers are different colors. I think the right side cylinder is not firing. Back firing meaning it is firing some of the times.
I had a starter bend like that because the compression release wasn't working. Had to replace the cam shaft.
320 wet dry sandpaper works good to clean up faded plastic
Then at 31:04 you noticed one exhaust was cold after removing the spark plugs. I say all this because I also wasted a lot of time before I noticed the exhaust on my Scag Zero turn restore. Worth keeping this in mind.
Yeah but I bet it's quicker, comfy and easier to mow with than your other options. 😁👍
I would have cleaned up the threads on that loose valve stud and used some thread locker and torqued to spec to prevent a recurrence. I also would have pulled the other ones for the same reason - if one came loose then the others could too.
Did you check the lash on those while you were at it?
Very cool straightening the bent pushrod! You’re the very first one I’ve seen do that. Apparently, it works! Great trick!🔧👍
Man I Have Been Working On One Just Like It !!! Thanks For Some Pointers !!!!
You’re welcome!
@@Kylebythecreek mine surges when I throttle it up, but levels out when I engage the blades ..
@@5dennisk I’ve had that problem several times. Unfortunately it’s a dirty carb. Usually a very small passage is clogged
@@Kylebythecreek bought a new one off of Amazon, and it cleared up a bunch of. Bought a kit for 39.00 that had a carb , 2 plugs , 2 filters, 2 cut off valves, and a fuel pump . Along with a new piece of fuel line . Poured some Sea Foam cleaner in the tank and it runs pretty good . Need to adjust the throttle cable like you did for the choke . I just reach around while I’m cranking it and hold it up . Fires right off .
Hey Brudda, awesome job :) Make sure the choke is adjusted properly, may not be getting full choke :)
Yes, I adjusted the choke. It’s in the video somewhere
Love the dual mufflers lOl :)
Yeah, previous owner did that
Yep it came out great should be a good resale item especially when you had most of the parts in stock and did not have to invest a lot of money into the total repair.
Thank you! I think so too
Should have painted height adjustment rack Great Job oldman
Thanks
I wonder if you can adjust the deck height up so you can use the lowest setting on the slots
get this missing part at hydro gear or off used parts unit. very common part :)
kohlers head gaskets are known problem with leaking oil , that was my problem. Put new head gaskets on and no oil leak, ran better too.
Good to know
With that high compression reading I would guess either the valves are out of adjustment or the compression release is broke inside the engine. The compression release drops the compression making it easy to start. I think the compression should be around 60lbs. with compression release working. I would guess that's why the starter motor got bent. Good luck
Good point! You are probably right about that
I didnt see you remove the pilot jet.. could easily be the cause of surging
Mines a 2010 with kholer 22..Yours has dual exhaust 😂..Looks good.
And where you was talking about putting the washers on that starter I did exactly that between starter and motor..Little bit of a pain but It quit binding up and been useing it for years now.I pulled both hydros and change fluid and replaced cooling fans..Both coils been replaced..valves reset..It don't like doing hot starts neither..Floods left plug..I think the carb is prob..Got new one just hadn't put it on.Runs perfect from cold start..Been a good one..4
I need to right a book..Mine is a 50 in cut..Mine also has separate choke pull.That mount on front of your deck you said roller mount Mine has like a ubolt that goes to the front to adjust the deck left are right and support..Had one handle safety go out..And I picked up a like new seat for it on face book for 40 bucks.Hadnt put it on yet.lol.You got all kinds of good help taping that baby up..Looks really good guy's. .
Thanks!
how much did you end up selling this for? do you know how much time you spent on restoring it? how much money did you end up spending total? this info would be beneficial for the people who are considering doing a fix n flip. i know you probably spent more time than normal but it did come out great. good job!
I think I got $2200 for it. I originally bought it for $500 and I put a couple hundred into it- hard to tell because it was so spread out over time and I don’t keep track of that too well, but i definitely made a huge profit. How much time spent on it? I don’t know! Whatever it takes!
Surely you did adjust the valves on the second side?
Intake is usually aluminum because it doesn’t get as hot as exhaust thus exhaust are steel if they are the same length steel is ok for intake but aluminum is not good to use on exhaust
Thank you! And now I learned something today!
have to find some covers for the mower deck
True! That would look nice
@@Kylebythecreek That would be a lot safer also. Great video.😀
Make sure the choke is actually turning on
Did you end up replacing that vacuum hose that was all pinched up or were you able to save it? Hoses are too cheap to not replace them while you already have them off, especially since you saw it collapsed. Great video!
The second engine had a good vacuum hose
@@Kylebythecreek Nice
I didn’t see you pull the emulsion tube or pilot jet on this carb. Any particular reason? Is there actually a pilot jet - I couldn’t see one.
I thought that might be one of the issues until you finally discovered the throttle cable wasn’t adjusted correctly to actually hit the choke setting.
Once I get cables set correctly I hit either side of the clamp with paint marker for the future.
Cable goes to the parking brake :)
Great job Kyle. Did those foot rubbers come that length or in a roll? Amazon?
Hey Rick! Thanks! Yes, those rubber pads came that length. The two treads came in one package, I bought it off the shelf at tractor supply
Really it’s good deal if engine is solid and not trash, if hydo bad you messed up big time lolol 😊
👍
They call these my big mistake 😢😢 it’s true 😊
Check spark plugs
Changed em!
Fuel solenoid
What about the fuel solenoid?
When it stalled out, thinking it could be the solenoid
I committed to soon 👍
@@American_Creed it was the fuel pump
Did you change the gas and oil,fuil filter .
Yes I did why?
You looked at the filter and said it was new,jse
@@seaneastman6323 not everything is filmed. I did a full service on this engine
@@seaneastman6323skip to 1:18:26 and you’ll see me changing the oil and the oil filter. It’s a long video, seems like you might not have gotten to this part yet.
Just wipe the plastic down with WD-40 and it will look like new.
I do that all the time! The torch give the same affect, just permanently and without collect dust like wd-40
Probably easier without ryobi slowing you down
Thank you
It is a lot of money to spend on a machine that has so many issues. I would rather be getting paid to do all this work but in your case your stuck with it now. I would sell it to recoup money spent but it would work great around your property and cut down on time mowing thus saving you money in the long run. Your choice.
I’m curious about the cost of zero turns in your area. In my area of CT $500 for a zero turn with good hydros and non-blown engine is a really good deal. I’ve seen them for $700 with no engine and a bad hydro side
Was basically commenting based on your description of items needing attention. Locally they sell for $4500 to $7500 used but fully serviced the price difference covers age of unit. Luckily your transmissions are in good shape but likely require fluid change. Is there an hour meter on this unit? A valve lash reset will likely improve starting and running. Check out Jakes video on the 3 generations of Kohlet starters many on line are still the 2nd generation and will fail as yours did or just snap the shaft off.@@Kylebythecreek
Canadian dollars@@Kylebythecreek
@@waynestefinashen239 if you get a chance, watch the video. You’ll see all the work I did to it and how it came out. I think it came out great!
Chinese made engines will do that to ya
😭😭😭🥶🥶🥶
With the damage you have with your valves I would not trust your compression gage, I can not trust 170lb per cylinder.
Cub Cadet is made by MTD...
Many Troubles Daily
Made To Die
Maybe. But I sold it for good money!
@@Kylebythecreek how much did you sell it for??
@@Gaslightingnarcissist $2200 I think
1sr issue ITS A CRAP CUB... they are not made like the old ihcc..
It would be cool to see a zero turn made by International Harvester though!
😢won't last long
If you buy from flippers keep watching 😢