50 Hour Service for Craftsman T210 & T2200 or other MTD 42-inch Riding Mower with Kohler 5400 Engine

This video covers the recommended service items at 50 hours for the Craftsman T210 and T2200 riding mowers, but also applies to any MTD 42" riding mower with a Kohler 5400 series motor such as the Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro. I've also included my incremental 10 hour service points and the two recommended 25-hour service procedures.
Oil and Filter kit used in this service - amzn.to/3wcPUSN
Kohler Air Filter for 5400 engines - amzn.to/3LdZtoX
Comment below with your thoughts on the T210 and T2200. Also, give this video a thumbs up if you found it information, and don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already. Make sure you activate the notification bell as that's the only way to get notified when there are new videos on KevReviews!
Also, check out my other channel, KevCentral: / kevcentral
Check out the links below for KevCentral/KevReviews Merch and great bike parts:
✅ Buy a Shirt - kevcentral.store
✅ Stickers - www.ebay.com/usr/kevcentralmerch
✅ Bike Parts - www.amazon.com/shop/kevcentral
☑️ Patreon - / kevcentral
☑️ Twitter - / kevcentral
Get a free month of Instant Ink: try.hpinstantink.com/rk9qfy
note: I earn a small commission from sales links, including Amazon, where as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
-------------------------------------
For Mimi by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org/

[@joshh1004]

that is one of the cleanest 50 hour engines ive ever seen. great video for scheduled maintenance

[@kev-reviews]

Here it is at 100-hrs: MTD Craftsman T210 T2200 Riding Mower 100-Hour Service + ADDITIONAL SERVICE ITEMS NOT IN MANUAL kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6WXgKuAjMyFqdE

[@mr.astrophysics9115]

The Craftsman Turn Tight series are the best you take care of it you'll get decades of use out of them

[@fatbikearcticnomad2122]

I’m glad you have this channel, I love it. I’m huge Craftsman fan 👍👍

[@grownnotflown2]

" criticized for my Evian Bottle" too good 🤣

[@walterconn5637]

Thanks for the videos, I am happy because I just bought one of these.

[@harrygrimley4352]

A well cared for machine is a beautiful thing.

[@jacobn3160]

Great video. Lawn equipment is one area most people neglect to maintenance regularly. With all my mowers I like to blow them off after each cut to keep dust and dirt from building up. I also apply a spray ceramic wax to the underside of the deck after washing it out. This keeps grass from sticking and makes washing it out a breeze. Hope you get many years out of that craftsman. Yesterday my dads craftsman LT1000 finally gave out. Turns out he had not changed the oil in many years and only topped it off, this resulted in a connecting rod letting go and putting a whole in the block. Just like anything with an engine, keep that oil changed!

[@toolinhand]

Great review. We had a Craftsman push mower that was about 15 years old, but started with one pull because I kept up in maintenance like you do.

[@Gary65437]

Your maintenance is top notch. I just replaced my 11 yr old steering shaft with the little gear on it. Greased up front wheels and axle and all other metal on metal parts like you did and pumped up the front tires to 12+ lbs. It feels like I now have power steering and will help this steering shaft last longer. I got the mower used with the property I bought. Not well taken care of.

[@timr31908]

Somebody painted your Cub cadet red and I'd be really pissed about that...😮

[@julieyarbrough14]

Love the video. I've had my T210 going on 3 Summers now. At the end of your video you talk about a grommet dust boot for the ball joint, I looked at mine and both of mine are just about destroyed. I would very much like to know what you find out about this very small rubber part. Thank you so much

[@bcamcam2]

Any time you have a new engine its good practice to do an initial oil change sooner than the normal interval to get out the initial break-in metal particles.

[@ronames91]

Thank you for continually putting out these very detailed and informative videos on our mowers, they have been invaluable to me as a first time mower owner. One issue I’ve noticed is my steering/alignment has gotten way out of wack. The steering wheel is turned to the left about 15° just to go straight. Is this normal for this type of machine? If not, how would I go about fixing that issue? Thanks!

[@stephenbelser6318]

i feel as if i'm watching an episode of King of the Hill...

[@kev-reviews]

Propane

[@jeremyr722]

I thought the same thing 😄

[@robshuter4284]

Hey thanks for the video! Any word on the solution for the dust bowl problem?

[@klaverty]

Great videos. Thanks for the awesome content. I love my T210. However, I can’t seem to fix a problem with the belt slipping/being loose. Wondering if you or anyone else has run into this problem. I have only 14 hours on my machine and have replaced the belt with two separate belts. One was a generic and then the factory replacement. Both seem loose when installed. Is there a tension adjustment that I am just overlooking ? Thanks again for the videos.

[@MikeX50]

Thank you again for the very nice and detailed video - much appreciated! Regarding the 50 vs. 100 hour oil change issue, I was thinking that if you use the Kohler brand full synthetic oil it is 100 hours (or annually, which ever comes first), and 50 hours (or annually) if you use SAE 10-30 (non-synthetic) oil? Thanks again!

[@garypic4083]

Has that mower ever seen a lawn? Geez that motor is cleaner than a new one.

[@kev-reviews]

Thanks. I clean it after every mow

[@ccss6374]

You kind of speeded through the oil change. But I was able to understand how you did it. Engine looks great by the way

[@kev-reviews]

Thanks for watching. I have another video that covers the oil change process start to finish: Craftsman T210 First Oil Change | 5 hour Oil change | Kohler 5400 Series 18hp kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZvVm3iIhr2ijKs

[@ReZuRRR]

Thank you for your very informative videos. Can you link the battery tender you’re using please?

[@kev-reviews]

This is what I use: amzn.to/3FNzymM Though I think this is the same thing at a fraction of the cost: amzn.to/3FQXuWy Note as an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases through affiliate links

[@totaleclipse2k]

Great video! Looks like I have a project for the weekend. I’ve noticed that my mower doesn’t like reversing like it used to. It’s slow to nothing sometimes. Any idea how I could address this on my T210? Thanks!

[@kev-reviews]

Look for a clump of muck where the reverse rocker pivots

[@rhinofro]

Great.... now I have to go "maintain" my stinking mower. Its sickening! I bet he even waves at his neighbors. Ugh. I guess I'll subscribe since I lost my owners manual

[@kev-reviews]

😂

[@ArrozConPollllo]

Where in blazes is the spark plug? And how do you disconnect it to conduct other maintenance? It's not on the diagram in the manual, and i cant find info online. TIA!

[@garypic4083]

Don't believe his mower has been use to cut a lawn

[@edhoff2865]

I got a question for yah, I may have missed it if you had mentioned it in your video but does the manual say anything about replacing the fluid for hydrostatic transmission?

[@kev-reviews]

These are supposed to be sealed units. Supposedly you can get longer life out of them by changing it, but the unit doesn’t have a drain plug so it has to be completely removed to change. I’m leaving mine as-is and I expect a long life out of it since I keep it clean so it doesn’t overheat

[@philipchandler330]

Did you lube oil filter rings and put oil in oil filter before install?

[@kev-reviews]

Yep. You can see the full oil change procedure here: Craftsman T210 First Oil Change | 5 hour Oil change | Kohler 5400 Series 18hp kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZvVm3iIhr2ijKs

[@neilmiller6405]

Hey Kev could you please make a suggestion for me. I messed up and greased the steering gear of my craftsman T 3000 42" riding mower. Listened to you saying the manual says not to do. Was wondering if you could suggest what to use to get the grease off . Tried wiping off with rag. Is there something I could spray in there now like the dry lube you mentioned. Thanks neil

[@kev-reviews]

I would just wipe what you can and periodically check it to make sure dust hasn’t built up in the grease. That’s the reason they don’t recommend greasing it - lots of excess grease can attract dust. What I wouldn’t do is spray a cleaner on it. Just wipe what you can. The little that would be left shouldn’t pose a problem

[@neilmiller6405]

@@kev-reviews thanks again

[@BossSwanger]

Hey I have a Craftsman T240 and my transmission seems super super weak. It doesn’t like any hills. Will not back up the smallest hill. And going forward has trouble up hills Bad transaxle?

[@kev-reviews]

It sounds to be like the control pedal is improperly adjusted. There is a sweet spot. Too much one way and reverse is slowed/weakened. Too much the other way and top speed is compromised

[@PrivatePractical]

I have this same lawnmower have you had any problems with the choke staying on?

[@kev-reviews]

Hello. Meaning staying in place or staying on as-in staying in the choke position?

[@kev-reviews]

That sounds like the cable slipping. I would check to make sure it’s properly tight at the carb linkage

[@eldodiaz1863]

where is the spark plug located on this kohler 5400? Do I have to remove something to get to it?

[@kev-reviews]

Remove the hood for easy access. I think I covered that in this video: Craftsman T210 - 1 Year Review - ISSUES? How has it held up? Rumors Dispelled! T2200 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJbTfGeMrZmEeNk

[@MrLogic1971]

Kholer 5400 oil recommendation is 10W 50. Any reason why you used 10W 30?

[@kev-reviews]

Kohler 10w-50 full synthetic is a recent update to the manual and is only when paired with Kohler Pro filters. It is said to extend change internals to 300 hours. They also mention that 100 hour intervals use 10W-30 - which is what is stated in my manual (and the new updates). 10W-30 is fine and approved

[@Alex_Friends_Family]

What made you not choose the craftsman 42 zero turn instead ?

[@kev-reviews]

I don’t buy budget zero turn mowers for a couple of reasons: they don’t handle the slope of my back yard well. Plus, they’re less useful to me as a lawn tractor. A standard rider is better for using seeders, dethatchers, carts, etc.

[@billz410]

Maybe I missed this- are the spindles greaseable?

[@kev-reviews]

No. The factory spindles have sealed bearings

[@user-yr4bv8hj1o]

Did you change steering ball joint

[@kev-reviews]

Nope. Everything (except oil, oil/air filters) is original

[@user-yr4bv8hj1o]

Probably be fine I remember older mowers I don't think had rubber cover and lasted for decades

[@ivabuttitch]

Is this the one with the composite transmission?

[@kev-reviews]

Are you talking about the plastic housing transmission? This mower has a metal Tuff Torq

[@ivabuttitch]

@@kev-reviews yes, I saw a video that said craftsman was using plastic transmissions and they were junk

[@kev-reviews]

I think the entry level John Deere has a plastic transmission, but I can tell you my mower and the T2200 I looked at had a metal Tuff Torque

[@CRich715]

I know the newer model T2400 is definitely a downgrade from the T240..

[@rickyrodriguez3656]

I don’t even think you cut grass with that thing!

[@kev-reviews]

Thanks. I clean it well after each mow (though I do skip cleanings sometimes in the fall when I’m usually mulching leaves every few days)

[@timr31908]

As a farmer and having lots of experience with machinery.. I would say you're way overkill on servicing your machine.. you're wasting a lot of money... These machines are designed to fail add a certain time .. have you been able to get a good quality cut at 3 in because that's the normal healthy length that you should be cutting grass... 😮