Cub Cadet XT1 with Snow Blower in Deep Snow

Using my Cub Cadet XT1 with the 3-Stage Snow Blower in the first big storm of 2022.

[@edwardbrooks5860]

Best 12 minutes on KZbin! The fast forward effects are my favorite part

[@cub1009]

I'm actually impressed. That works good.

[@RobinRK1962]

I have a 2004 Craftsman GT5000 and a 44" Berco blower, it works very, but a newer machine like yours is always nice to have. I love watching videos like this, I always learn something as I contemplate upgrading. As I do my driveway I try to make sure all the edges are straight, maybe I'm just too fussy, but a neat job tells people something about the person who did the work.

[@TheFlatlander440]

I have a 2016 Cub Cadet XT-2 with the 25HP Kohler V-twin engine and 3X snowblower attachment like yours. It's worked great for the last 7 years clearing my driveway. Living up in northern Vermont we get our fair share of snow as well. Two Winters ago I broke down and purchased the suitcase weight kit and I was amazed at what a difference it made for traction with just two suitcase weights. I have the rear tires liquid filled and have the chains as well which are needed in heavy snow. The one thing you may want to look into is get yourself a soft cab shell which really makes a difference when you're blowing snow on cold windy days. My driveway is 90 feet long but at a 35% grade down to the main road so sometimes it;s a bear trying to blow heavy wet snow uphill but it gets the job done. I also go through about 6 shear pins per season and always have plenty on hand when they do shear off. Thanks for sharing.

[@bdawg8907]

Nice little tractor! 😊

[@paulthesoundguy1]

I would park the tractor facing out so that you can easily blow….also I cover mine with a tarp

[@JohnnyLacaille]

Hahahah was gonna say that

[@thomaslynn8441]

You gotta love those cub cadets !

[@stephenbrooks6743]

I love how you blow that snow😉

[@johnevans8553]

I didn't know that 4 to 6 inches was considered deep snow

[@avlisk]

No, not here in Maine anyway. I'd wouldn't call anything "deep snow" until it got over a foot. I'll keep looking.

[@manuelpiston]

It depends where you live. Eastern NC 1 inch is deep deep snow.

[@Idahoprepper71]

I Have been thinking about getting the snowblower attachment for my XT1. I have the 24 hp motor. I plow with a JD 1025r and my SxS, but we are getting so much snow here in northern Idaho it would be handy for moving the snow farther away from the area.

[@wildbill23c]

I have an XT1 as well, but with the 18HP Single cylinder Kohler engine, and the same blower it works just fine. Although the blower is very expensive and a pain in the ass to install. So, unless you are going to use it all winter long, I wouldn't get another one, wasted a lot of money on this blower, and in the past 5 years have only used it twice, and that was with 10" of snow...I have a sub-compact tractor now, so the blower just sets anyways because we haven't had enough snow to even bother installing it.

[@GRSUSAN]

Buy a blower for the 1025r

[@scrubsz]

I was actually really impressed with the performance of this. Such a great review! Leave it to Cub Cadet to have a 3x snow blower accessory! I was a little worried when you couldn't get the tractor our before you started, but it did make it out. Two quick questions. Did the chains on the tires mar your driveway at all? (We have a brand new driveway and its not sealed yet) Second, would you consider the accessory cab attachment and do a review of that? Great job! Thanks again!

[@wildbill23c]

You really want the cab accessory, the snow blower will cover you in snow and make your snow removal venture even less fun. I have the same lawn tractor and blower, without that cab accessory its miserable. Chains aren't going to tear up a concrete or paved driveway as long as you are just sitting there spinning the tires...and as light weight as these lawn tractors are, you will do far less damage to your driveway than you ever would with your car.

[@scrubsz]

@@wildbill23c Thank you Bill! We're in the dead of the Summer right now but I will seriously consider the attachment this Fall. I have a really long driveway. We can fit about 12-14 cars in it. Neighbors always have trouble shoveling/plowing the sidewalks for the kids to walk on, this system would be PERFECT for that. Plus, I have to plow a large section in the backyard for the dogs to do their thing. I also noticed that Mark kept the tractor outside in the elements? I keep mine in the shed outback on a battery tender to keep the battery healthy. Did you think this would cause issues with startup in the winter? Lastly, I'm a little confused on how the auger actually works? Do you hook up the existing mower belt to make it work, or is a completely different belt system to make it work? (thank you for answering my questions! I had to watch this video again it was so great!)

[@oneh2tkill]

Do you find that it works great or you would of like to have a bigger engine like the 22hp ? Thanks

[@roderickmarruffo7600]

1st I've ever seen a setup stall out when blowing the snow, like it doesn't have enough power, nice setup though. I just got a blade for my lt1046 & it works wonders.

[@markersniffen]

It’s definitely a little underpowered, but mower wasn’t actually stalling out - the reverse safety switch kept turning off, which was pretty frustrating.

[@judahbrooks1511]

That’s an awesome attachment! I have the same XT1 mower and have been looking for the attachment, can you specify where you found it?

[@ygrowupmike]

At the Cub Cadet web site.

[@jarred267]

It's $1500, you can get the 24" Cub x2 Self propelled snow blower in the off season for $900-$1000, and not have to spend the extra money or time screwing with rear weights/weight bracket/tire chains on your mower.

[@DrumGod22]

@@jarred267 Aint no way you don't have to put on tire chains or extra weight in the rear of the kit. Stock tires have terrible grip in anything but dry pavement.

[@scrubsz]

@@jarred267 2x would certainly do the job. But if you live in a bad winter climate where it snows more than 12"-16" often....the 3x is the way to go. The 3x is 30% to 50% faster at chewing up tough snow.

[@MySledgeHammer]

@@jarred267 - - You need to reread what he wrote and what he actually said. Now go back and read it because he didn’t say anything about what your talking about.

[@hopehunterrider491]

this little bug need couple more horsepower l think...great fun bud...

[@JohnnyLacaille]

Just to say should warm up your véhicule for at least 5 to 10 mins before moving in winter

[@jameswilliams5428]

do these mowers have a locking rear differential? or something to that effect? my troy bilt slips on spit lol one wheel drive

[@KevinNelsonkcnelso2]

I bought this recently and I never once thought about the snow blower attachment. Right now I'm paying a neighbor (I live in Maine) and he does a great job but wondering if I can take on the task myself this year if I get the blower. Was wondering what you thought, my driveway is not paved, its gravel/dirt and is about 250 yards long, with maybe 25 total feet of incline. Is this actually an option? Not sure if it can handle the length, heavy snow and incline. Any thoughts on this I would appreciate it. Thanks

[@wildbill23c]

A blower on a gravel driveway is a pain in the ass...it'll pickup rocks and throw them, break shear pins, you name it. I have a gravel driveway, although pretty small, the blower sinks down into the gravel and just scoops it up. Wouldn't waste my money on a snow blower for a gravel driveway, just a blade would be a much better solution.

[@SF-fm7ov]

There are remedies for gravel driveways, lower skids, longer skids, wider skids, pvc covering scraper plate, and guage wheels to name a few.

[@unti419]

My question is how is this powered? You obviously remove the mower deck and that pully is available. But could you do a video of the installation of this blower?

[@ZynexPlays]

It looks like it's similar to the John Deere and "Argi-Fab" blowers if you look up Argi-Fab Blower install, should be pretty similar.

[@wildbill23c]

There is a mount kit that comes with the blower, 2 pins on the push tubes under the tractor, a 2nd pulley bracket that mounts under the tractor that pulls the power from the mower pulley back towards the middle of the lawn tractor, then drops to a lower pulley and then out to the blower. There are 2 brackets up front that slide into a couple holes in a plate on the front side of the tractor. If you have the manual PTO, you have to connect the PTO cable to the mid-pulley bracket. Its quite a pain in the ass to install, and not really something to easily record...trying to get the pins and push tubes lined up under the tractor are a pain, then lifting the blower up to put the 2 bracket pins in on the front of the tractor are also a pain. Its a very terrible outdate design.

[@supersoup5509]

Do,you have to drill into the frame of the tractor or do existing holes exist?

[@markersniffen]

All the holes exist, no drilling required!

[@wildbill23c]

Existing holes for all the mounts. Just a pain in the ass to install a snow blower like that.

[@buyamerican3191]

Just like at my house, when you have jeeps the snowblower is just for fun.

[@RockyTop85]

4-wheel drive doesn’t make you invincible. You can still get stuck…

[@mrvoyagerm]

Oops looks like your hose is still hooked to your outside tap. That's a disaster waiting to happen. Usually in the middle of the night your wife will say "is something running?".

[@BC-vh2ik]

You should never shut it off at full throttle and hot (any tractor). Let it cool down at low throttle for at least 3 minutes. You can blow rings out of it doing that.

[@markersniffen]

Good to know

[@platinumlawnservice]

This is funny. There are actually companies who tell you to turn off their engines at full throttle. This is coming from a former small engine mechanic who now operates a lawncare company

[@scrubsz]

Is this why you may hear the engine backfire after prolonged use? I own an XT2. I have an almost 2 acre property which I mow. Towards the end of my mowing, if I stop to empty my grass bags, I throttle down quickly and I hear the engine "POP" on occasion. Wasn't sure why this happens.

[@BC-vh2ik]

@@scrubsz Yes

[@BC-vh2ik]

@@platinumlawnservice LOL

[@stevec.2924]

sounds a little under powered but what do I know. Still impressive

[@springfield03sniper]

22 horse is plenty if you don’t push it too fast.

[@charleslanphier8094]

Ha, maybe back it in to place next time.

[@kyohco4366]

Does the PTO run the auger?

[@markersniffen]

Yep, pulley attaches to the PTO to run the auger

[@skiprope536]

Under powered.

[@scrubsz]

Buy a C/C and get back to us on that opinion....

[@skiprope536]

@@scrubsz you can hear the motor laboring…under powered. Period.

[@wildbill23c]

No, just going too fast. I have the same lawn tractor, mine doesn't bog down at all, even in 10+ inches of snow....the issue with snow blowers is you have to go so dang slow with them, vs a plow where you can go much faster...most new operators don't have a clue that a snow blower requires you to go quite slow. The 18HP Kohler has plenty of power for the blower, just gotta know how to operate the equipment.

[@rosswallace2969]

Can’t find where to buy the blower attachment

[@markersniffen]

A dealer told me that Cub Cadet didn't manufacture any of the blower units this year due to supply chain issues...I ended up finding mine on Facebook Marketplace.

[@rickmoore218]

Hi do you do anything special to get it to start. I have a ne xt2 and if I don't put a heater on it. It won't start and I'm in a garage

[@rickmoore218]

PS I have the Kawasaki motor once it starts it's outstanding in heavy snow

[@markersniffen]

I haven't needed to do anything special to start it - I did just get it this past summer so the battery is relatively fresh.

[@SF-fm7ov]

Use 10w-40 oil which helps start in winter. Jump battery from a truck etc. but don't have the truck running. Use a touch of starting fluid as a last resort. Make sure your choke works.

[@terryburke2587]

That engine is under powered for that blower, but it still managed to get the job done.

[@pascalberube1463]

how much HP your model is ?

[@MisterTwister88]

18 hp

[@MuMMuTTT]

what engine is in this XT1?

[@markersniffen]

It's the 18 HP Kohler 5400

[@mattwoody1089]

Is that machine fuel injected

[@porkypyn]

How many HP is the engine?

[@markersniffen]

It's the 18 HP Kohler 5400 Series engine

[@porkypyn]

@@markersniffen Very nice! Thanks for the reply!!

[@lfeco]

Could spend $25,000 on something bigger and fancier but wouldn't do much better job than you are doing.

[@wildbill23c]

No, but its far less of a pain in the ass to hookup those snow blowers on a sub-compact or compact tractor...the old style push tube mounting system on the Cub Cadet snow blower leaves a lot to be desired, on the other hand the neighbor kids learn a new language while you are hooking up the blower LOL.

[@JohnBraman413]

bogging down...slow the speed down and let the cub do it's job. try to push it too hard and will do damage over time.

[@wildbill23c]

It also forces too much snow and will break shear pins LOL.

[@mrvoyagerm]

Just needs more weight and you will be fine.

[@GrowHobbyRU]

рукожеп

[@michaelayares3862]

Why dont he slow down that motor isn't going to last long

[@jtbassgambler2594]

Not smart lol

[@donaldgodin3491]

This is no deepsnow! What a joke! He is also going too fast with the snowblower. Not a very good operator, either.

[@markersniffen]

This was my first time operating a snowblower, thanks for the advice.

[@tomlorenzen4062]

Maybe run the dog through the snowblower, then we don't have to listen to it ...

[@StroMedia]

What a rude comment.

[@TheNewenglandboys]

Ok does that tractor have posi traction? I just bought the LT46 with 23HP Kohler. But mine doesn’t have posi traction.

[@Huntersprojects]

No it’s a basic model probably has a 20 kohler courage