Understanding the Fuel/Oil Ratio in Two Stroke Engines

cub-cadet-logoWhy do two stroke engines need oil mixed with the fuel? How do fuel/oil ratios affect performance? Let’s take a look at how these motors work, and what you need to do to keep the two stroke motor in your Cub Cadet running right.

Why Do Two Strokes Need Oil in their Fuel?

Four stroke engines, like the ones found in cars and larger lawn care equipment, have valves at the top of the cylinder head that stay closed during the compression and ignition strokes to contain the explosion and make power. This is followed by two more strokes, the exhaust and intake strokes, which use the pumping motion of the piston to push out exhaust gases and pull in fresh air and fuel. Each time fuel is ignited, the piston has to move up and down twice for a total of four strokes, hence the name. Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Do You Really Need a Fuel Additive?

1280px-gasolinecontainerLook at the manual for any small engine equipment, Cub Cadet or otherwise, and you’ll see the manufacturer recommending the use of a fuel stabilizer. Is this really necessary? Why is it recommended for small equipment and not automobiles?

Why Doesn’t Fuel Last?

Small engine equipment uses fuel more slowly than a car or truck, and this equipment is run off of fuel stored in containers rather than bought fresh from a gas station. That means this fuel tends to be older than what you find in your car. Modern gasoline ages pretty quickly, resulting in starting problems and other issues, although the root cause of this aging varies depending on the fuel formulation. Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Find Your Snowblower’s Serial and Model Numbers

31bh55tu710_product_listing_flashWhether you need a shear pin or an auger, you need to have the model and serial number on hand to get the right parts for your Cub Cadet snowblower. Where do you find this information, and what can you do if you can’t find it?

Finding the Identification Tag

On all Cub Cadet products, the serial number, model number, and other information is printed on a 2×3 inch white sticker.

On single stage (1X) models, this sticker is on the right side of the frame, next to the belt cover.

On two and three stage (2X and 3X) models, the sticker is located on the main gear housing or frame cover, which is between the rear wheels.

Reading the Identification Tag

Cub Cadet products have two model numbers. Under “Model Number,” located on the left side of the sticker, you’ll see the full model number and a short number below that. The short number is the number the model is marketed under, i.e. “21 HP.” This number identifies the general design, which may be in production for years. The long number is the specific model you own, indicating any minor running changes. These are usually issued for a single production year.

Unfortunately, even with the long model number, you may not have all the information needed to correctly identify your snowblower when buying parts. Small changes may be made during production years, so some parts may only work for specific serial number ranges. The serial number, located on the right side of the tag, is specific to your blower.

If the label is partly damaged or faded, there are some formatting rules used for these numbers that will help you determine what the characters are. Cub Cadet products built after 1996 use full model and serial numbers that are both 11 characters long. This can be any combination of letters, numbers and dashes.

Full snowblower model names always start with “31.” This name will be a combination of numbers or dashes (represented by 0’s) and letters (represented by X’s) in this order: 00XX000X000.

The second through fifth characters of the serial number indicate the manufacturing date:

  • The second digit will be a letter. Its alphabetical order indicates the month, so an “E” shows it was manufactured in the fifth month, May.
  • The next two digits are the day of manufacture.
  • The last digit is the year. This rolls over each decade, so a “3” could be 2013 or 2003.

The Identification Tag is Missing or Damaged. Now What?

First, check the owner’s manual. There’s a space to write down these numbers in the front or back of the manual. If you’re lucky, you or someone who owned the snowblower before you may have filled out this section. If you still don’t have the model and serial numbers, it’s time to talk to Cub Cadet.

Gather as much information as you can about your snowblower, including the purchase date, engine size, features, and other identifiers. Grab a measuring tape, get to a place where you have access to both the snowblower and your phone, and call Cub Cadet tech support. If you live in the U.S. or Canada, they can be reached at 1-877-428-2349. This line is open from 8 am. to 10 pm. Eastern Standard Time, 7 days a week. They will be able to identify your model using Cub Cadet’s archives, but be prepared for a lengthy phone call as they work through model details to determine exactly what you have. You may need to measure some parts, and in some cases the company may even need photos to help identify your blower.

Getting the Parts You Need for Your Snowblower

www.cubparts.com is a certified Cub Cadet dealer, so we carry all the OEM parts you need to maintain your snowblower. Select your blower’s model and serial number using our advanced search engine, and you’ll be shown factory parts diagrams and descriptions, making it easy to identify the part you need to order. Best of all, we can ship your order to any address in the U.S. and Canada.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Log Splitter Safety and Operation

30243Any device that can put enough pressure on a chunk of wood to make it split is bound to do some serious damage if used incorrectly, and in some cases, the possible causes of injury aren’t obvious. These tips will help you use your Cub Cadet log splitter safely when you get firewood ready this winter.

Use Square Pieces of Wood

The logs need to be flat on the top and bottom to be steady on the bed and when the wedge first makes contact. When you cut the firewood, make straight cuts against the grain to get the right surface for the splitter. Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Maintain Your Course with the RG3

rg3-unit-2016-updateWhen it comes to groundskeeping at a golf course, your best friend may be a robot. The Cub Cadet RG3 doesn’t just mow and roll, its precision allows it to do these jobs better than any other method while freeing up your staff to do other tasks to improve the overall quality of your course.

Saving Labor with Automation

Courses that have added this mower to their equipment have seen labor productivity increase by at least 50%. The chassis has built-in rollers to finish the grass as it mows, cutting and rolling in a single step, and it requires no operator intervention. Once the mower is set up, it can handle these tasks by itself day after day. Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Learn How to Prune

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERALopping off tree limbs may sound like it would damage trees, but done correctly, it can help them grow and reduce the chance of property damage and injury. This guide will help you use your Cub Cadet pole saw effectively to keep your trees trimmed and healthy.

Why Prune?

There are three reasons to prune: to remove damaged and diseased branches in order to keep the tree healthy, to control the shape of the tree, and to remove unproductive growth to help keep the available nutrients going to the productive parts of the tree.

When Should I Prune?

Ideally, pruning should be done at the end of winter or the beginning of spring when there isn’t any fruit or leaves in the way and the tree will more readily seal off cuts as it comes out of dormancy. Additional pruning may be needed during the summer to remove damaged or diseased branches. Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top 10 Chipper and Shredder Safety Tips

24a-424m710_product_detail_zoomGetting your land ready for the winter means pruning and clearing dead branches. When it comes time to run that wood through your Cub Cadet chipper, keep yourself safe; these tips will help you get the job done without having to use your first aid kit or visit the hospital.

1. Read the Manual

That safety text isn’t just there to make your equipment lawyer-friendly, it’s based on a significant amount of testing to ensure you can operate your chipper safely. Letting someone else use your chipper? Make sure they’re versed in proper safety practices, too.

2. Keep Yourself Out of the Chipper

Unless you really feel like reenacting parts of “Fargo,” you need to do everything you can to make sure the only limbs that reach the blades are from a tree. Avoid loose clothing that could be caught in the machine, and never reach into the chute. Before you access the internal components, make sure everything has stopped spinning and the engine isn’t just off, but set up so it can’t accidentally start. The simplest way to do this is to disconnect the spark plug. Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to Split and Stack Wood

firewood-599141_1280Are you ready for next winter’s cold weather? Get a head start by splitting and storing some wood. Properly cut and stacked, this wood should be fully seasoned by the time you need to start up your fireplace.

Understanding Firewood Measurements

Firewood uses measurements that you normally come across with any other material. Typically, it’s stored and sold in two sizes: cords and ricks. A cord is 128 cubic feet, and is usually measured out as 8 feet long, four feet high and four feet deep. When looking at a rick or face cord, sizes will vary. There is no official measurement, but a rick or face cord is about a third of a cord. Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Troubleshooting Tips for Cub Cadet Snow Throwers

31ah57sz710_product_listing_flashA winter storm has blown in, and your driveway is covered in snow. You pull out your Cub Cadet snow thrower to clear the way, but it just won’t work. Now what? This guide will take you through the most common problems and their solutions so you can get the snow out of your way.

Stay Safe

It may be tempting to work on your snow thrower inside where it’s warm, but you should always start the engine outside, at least three feet away from buildings to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Setting Up Your Cub Cadet Snow Thrower

3x-3_625Are you ready to face the snow this season with a new Cub Cadet snow thrower? Here’s what you need to know to get it up and running from assembling it straight out of the box to making adjustments for your local weather conditions.

Before You Begin

The engine is shipped without any oil. Do not attempt to start the snow thrower until oil has been added to the crankcase.

What’s in the Box?

Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment