Cub Cadet LTX1050

The Cub Cadet LTX1050 lawnmower has 2 variations. As with the 3 different Cub Cadet LTX1046 lawnmowers, the 2 different LTX 1050 lawnmowers are exactly the same except for the fact that each one has a different sized engine. The Cub Cadet LTX1050 KW has a 22 hp gasoline V twin cylinder engine that is made by Kawasaki. Meanwhile the Cub Cadet LTX1050 KH lawnmower is powered by a 24 hp, V twin cylinder Courage engine that has been designed and built by Kohler. Please note that both these machines are very similar, having the same sized mower deck with a cutting width of 50 inches. This mower deck uses a really ingenious SmartJet washer system that quickly cleans the mower deck by simply attaching a hose to the right valve. It is also very accurate in how much grass it cuts as it’s height can be adjusted by increments of just 0.25 inches. It’s cutting height ranges from as low as 1.5 inches above the ground to 4 inches above the ground.

Both Cub Cadet LTX1050 lawnmowers weigh in at 249 kg (548 lbs). They both use hydrostatic transmission boxes which make them automatic lawnmowers which have no need for a gear stick to change speeds. This transmission gives the LTX 1050 a top speed of 8.4 kph (5.2 mph).

Probably the greatest thing about both Cub Cadet LTX1050 lawnmowers is that they both have an incredibly small turning radius of just 0.3 m (12 inches) making them highly suitable for use in gardens that have many small areas that need an agile machine to cut the grass. When you are not using the LTX 1050 to cut your lawn, you can attach a snowblower to the front of it or a front blade or numerous rear attached implements. If you are looking for a smaller machine, then you should take a look at the Cub Cadet LTX1045 lawnmower.

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23 Reviews of the “Cub Cadet LTX1050”

  1. Don Buesing says:

    Bought brand new. After 25 total hours machine returned for transaxle replacement. Rusty axles ate the seals, non serviceable transaxle seized up. New axle replaced under warranty. After 100 more hours, 125 total, new axle seized AGAIN due to rusted axles eating seals. No warranty this time, it was two years old. Over two thousand dollars spent on this clunker that now sits in the shed. But it was nice when it ran. Can’t justify a thousand dollars each year for a garbage machine.

    Year of Manufacture: 2013
    Pros: None
    Cons: Transaxle junk
    Attachments: Bagger
    Modifications: None

  2. Harry Bunch says:

    Don’t waste you money on a Cub Cadet. Buy a John Deere but be sure to get it from a John Deere retailer, not a big box store.

    Year of Manufacture: 2011
    Pros: Great mower until the warranty expires.
    Cons: I have had 2 of these 50″ cut Cub mowers. Both hydrostatic transmissions went out as soon as the warranty expired. A 5 year disposable mower is what it is . To fix the tranny costs almost as much as buying a new one.
    Attachments: triple bagger
    Modifications: none

  3. Frank Kielty says:

    Junk, sitting waiting to be parted out

    Year of Manufacture: 2013
    Pros: Nice ride, mows nice
    Cons: Kohler Courage SV725 burst into flames while mowing

  4. Mark says:

    I would not recommend this mower to anyone. Turns to sharp and leaves dug in rings around trees. Waiting for the transmission to fail so I can keep the motor and haul the rest to scrap yard.

    Year of Manufacture: 0
    Pros: Kawasaki engine never fails to start and runs smooth. Very fuel efficient.
    Cons: Cuts uneven unless you adjust it to ride on the deck wheels. Deck bottoms out on 8 and highest setting for deck is not enough to drive on a trailer. Cables seem to long for deck adjustment. Transmission keeps wiping out axle seals and leaking drive fluid.
    Attachments: None other than mower deck.
    Modifications: None

  5. L Fast says:

    This model is unacceptable. My earlier lt 1045 was three times the mower. Sorry I bought this.

    Year of Manufacture: 2013

  6. Larry says:

    I do not recommend spending your money over $2000 on this lawn tractor. I have read too many issues with Cub Cadet products being trouble prone. Bad quality and defective designs. Don’t waste your money.

    Year of Manufacture: 2014
    Pros: Since mower deck replacement by Cub Cadet dealer supplied by factory has had no problems. The Cub Cadet LTX 1050 KW with the V-Twin Kawasaki engine cuts well and is a strong engine.
    Cons: I had mower deck belt breakage from the very beginning. During the first season broke 2 belts. Dealer gave me both belts free which normally cost $60 each, since it was still under warranty. It was very difficult to replace these mower deck belts. They did not follow the manual for replacement. The dealer had to install the belts and it is not user friendly installing the deck back on this tractor. During the 2nd season after the 4th belt breakage I took the tractor back to the dealer since I insisted it was a a defective design of the mower deck. The dealer kept saying it was my fault for the belt breakage with the reasons of wet grass, not cleaning out the deck of grass, or dull blades. The Cub Cadet factory kept trying to sell me new belts. After my persistence they finally agreed to replace the deck with a new design that has larger pulleys and a thicker belt. I have had no problems since the deck was replaced.

  7. D Hobbs says:

    Not sure who puts these things together, some Chinese peasant or some minimum wage peasant in this country, but there appears to be very little quality control involved before the mowers leave the factory.

    It’s a shame, too, because Cub Cadet used to be a quality product with robust, dependable mowers. Thanks, MTD!

    Year of Manufacture: 2016
    Pros: Cuts well. Easy to adjust seat and deck height.
    Cons: Lets see… servicing sealed transmission requires taking rear wheels off, removing transmission, and flipping it over to drain fluid (regular motor oil). Regular motor oil breaks down over time, so if the unit isn’t designed to be serviced that means the owner get to pay to replace it about every 400 hours. Either that, or service it themselves and void the warranty.
    My LT50 came with a mowing deck that had been assembled incorrectly. From the factory. How does that even happen? One of the idler pulleys was installed in the wrong deck hole, and the tension spring wasn’t attached correctly. The belt came off about 2 hours into my first mow with it. How it worked that long, I don’t know. Luckily, Tractor Supply just gave me a new one to replace it.
    What else? The engine is extremely loud. Maybe it’s the plastic hood that doesn’t muffle the engine noise, maybe it’s just poor design.
    Also, the tires came with about 30 pounds of air in them, which is about 3x more than is recommended.
    Don’t tow anything with this mower, or the tranny will fail much sooner than expected. This mower is for flat lawns only, as hills and loads will ruin the tranny quicker than normal.
    Other than that, it’s great (/sarcasm)

  8. David Kinnison says:

    poor deck design, multiple breakdowns, was not warned that if you buy from a large retail lumber yard it is difficult to get warranty work done, the independent Cub Cadet dealers will not service it….not good as I live 70 miles from anyone that will service the machine.

    Year of Manufacture: 2013
    Pros: powerful
    Cons: keeps breaking, first the throttle cable, now the transaxle leaked all the fluid out, only 35 hours on the machine. Deck poorly designed, grass builds up under the belt spindle guards, difficult to clean out.

  9. Scott says:

    I have the LTX1050KW. I mow 2 acres every week. Some steep hills some flat ground. Does a good job up and down the hills. Overall. I like it.

    Year of Manufacture: 2014
    Pros: Comfortable riding and very reliable
    Cons: Not very user friendly change from mower to blower. Kind of a pain.
    Does seem to mow a little uneven, several times when it is longer, I have had to mow it in another direction to get it all.

  10. Mike says:

    Koeler engine and the Cub Cadet transmission are powerful enough to work up relatively steep hills. Began having starter troubles the first month I had it, but the problems were intermittent, as though there was a short or bad spot in the windings. Contacted Cub Cadet who provided a list of dealers with service facilities in the area. Unable to obtain advice or information online. Dealers required me to bring tractor to their shop and would not discuss potential issues until I was able to bring the tractor in. By the second year, the starter went bad. I ordered a replacement starter. When the starter arrived, the box included a terse message about a series of tests that must be run for a starter under warranty because of the large number of starter warranty issues. Replacement starter works like a champ! Two year old tractor, now must replace the battery. Charged the battery when I installed the starter, but the battery would not hold a charge for an hour. This is the start of season three with this tractor and I’ve begun with a new starter and a new battery. On the positive side, I’ve not yet had to replace a cutting deck belt.

    Year of Manufacture: 2014
    Pros: Solid workhorse
    Economical on gas with Koeler engine
    Powerful to work up relatively steep hills
    Cons: Unreliable
    Casino Starter: Roll the dice for a chance to start the tractor4
    Warranty Service difficult, if not impossible, to obtain
    Components less reliable than expected for the price.
    Reputation of the Cub Cadet Line Deteriorating
    Attachments: Front Bumper

  11. jack says:

    would never buy another cub

    Year of Manufacture: 2013
    Pros: great when it runs
    Cons: transmission went out at 35hour
    Attachments: none
    Modifications: none

  12. gary says:

    SPEND MORE TIME FIXING THIS PIECE OF JUNK THEN USING IT TO CUT GRASS >>>>I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A CUB CADET AGAIN<<<<

    Year of Manufacture: 1913
    Pros: none
    Cons: BELT KEEPS BREAKING, UNEVEN CUTTING, TEARS UP LAWN WHEN MAKING TIGHT TURNS, >>>IT’S JUNK<<<< PUT TOGETHER WITH COTTER PINS AND CLIPS (NOT BOLTS AND NUTS, LIKE IN THE PAST) IT'S A PIECE OF S--T

  13. Mark says:

    Excellent

    Year of Manufacture: 2012
    Pros: 2012 LTX1050 with the V twin Kawasaki. No idea what the reviewers are saying regarding the main belt braking. 125 hours and three years on original belt and blades. This is the smoothest and best cutting riding mover I have ever used. Not a single problem with it. Deck wash out works well, and the turning radius is amazing as long as you are going very slow! Moves along at over 5 mph and leaves no standing grass behind. Great deck and blade design.
    Cons: None
    Attachments: None but I do pull a 10 cubic foot yard trailer
    Modifications: Disabled the seat safety switch.

  14. Steve says:

    It will cost me $60 a month to keep belts on this piece of junk. I paid cash for the mower , and now I’m making payments every month to Cub Cadet for belts . The local dealers can’t keep the belts in stock . I think I will order belts by the 6 pack so I can keep my grass cut . I will probably spend longer time mowing and less time fixing by using my smaller good ole John Deere . This purchase is the biggest regret I have .

    Year of Manufacture: 2013
    Pros: Kohler engine is easy on gas and plenty powerful .
    Cons: Blade drive belt broke at 39 hours. Wish I had read reviews before buying this POS . My old John Deere will work circles around it but it cuts a smaller path . I wish I’d went the extra money for a new bigger Deere . The headlights have never worked but it won’t cut long enough without breaking down to reach sundown . I think the blade belts are rotten when you buy them .
    Modifications: I am going to try and match up a John Deere belt drive belt .

    • Bertrand Smith says:

      I would never buy another Cub Cadet !

      Year of Manufacture: 2013
      Cons: The first year I had it I replaced 4 deck belts and 2nd mowing the 2nd year the center spindle came off the deck ………………. found that the other 2 spindles were loose ………… once fixed/replaced got threw the season. ……………. Have since replaced, starter, steering bushing, drive belt, re-welded one front deck wheel, wheel bushings, idler pulley.

      Wrote company and showed invoices and the response was that I had to take it to a dealer to be checked over.

      I use to do service calls for my father’s Western Auto, so I know what I’m doing.

      Modifications: none

  15. Dan says:

    This mower deck is junk. I have replaced the belt several times this summer, like once a month. One idler pulley broke, and I expect that to happen often as flimsy as they are. The grass does pile up in the deck which makes for more work on the mower.
    Don’t buy this one. Cub Cadet has copped out and went cheapo.

    Year of Manufacture: 0
    Pros: Looks nice
    Cons: Belt breaks often
    Idler pulleys are junk
    Deck clogs with grass

  16. Marlene says:

    Bought it last summer; after a few hours, was picked up for warranty work for 3 weeks (pully & belt issues); belt broke again yesterday. After buying a new belt for about $68, it took us SEVERAL hours to put it on. Is not a “user friendly” machine. I will NEVER buy another one, but will have to use this one until it’s dead, which will probably not be long.

    Year of Manufacture: 2013
    Pros: When it’s working, it’s ok
    Cons: Changing the belt is a nightmare.
    Attachments: ?
    Modifications: ?

  17. Gary B says:

    I have to use it until it dies, which won’t be long, when I do I’ll find a better built machine from a different brand.

    Year of Manufacture: 2012
    Pros: Engine (Kohler) runs well without issue.
    Cons: Deck belt replaced three times now in 105 hours run time. Tension spring fell out on the ground, My son, a mechanic and myself, a former equipment operator, along with the Cub Cadet manual, wasted a good hour trying to figure out where it goes and never did! Cuts terrible unless you’re on a level surface. Leaves uneven cuts and even digs into the dirt on side slopes. Adjusted the deck over and over with no resolve.
    I’m on the 3rd deck belt (at $55 each) in only 105 hours on the machine.
    The price of service parts (filters) is ridiculous just because the package says Cub Cadet on it. The machine has terrible traction and can barely get out of it’s own way. The hood is cheap, usually rattles terribly.The oil drain is nice, you put a hose on it, turn it and pull it out and the oil runs into the pan. Then you go to take the filter off and the oil from it runs all over the frame and down onto the mower deck under the machine. I could go on and on about how poorly built and designed this machine is! I’ve owned four other “real” Cub Cadets in the past. The poorly built versions available today sadly don’t hold a candle to the older ones.
    Attachments: Front bumper kit-overpriced and rattles like crazy!

    • Thomas Lyon says:

      Mine was used with 200 hrs on it. Nice looking machine and performed well for the first 15 minutes. Eventually the tractor started slowing down and just quit rolling altogether. Hydrogear model 618-0319 transaxles in this model are common problem. New replacement is very pricey. My fault for buying at a consignment auction in the first place. I did research and was able to find out what other Cub Cadets used this transmission. Started my search and
      luckily found a used LTX1045 parts mower for $100. Has the same Hyrogear transmission. Replaced mine with it and all okay. Then the mower deck was not mowing right and I found out the drive belt was not routed correctly. Center blade going backwards…I’m not quite sure to this very day of how they did that but just make sure you follow the belt routing diagram on the deck. I mow yards that aren’t so smooth and flat with my LT1018. It has a two blade 42″ deck which has a better tendency to follow ground dips and knolls.

      Year of Manufacture: 2012

  18. Patrick says:

    Good mower for the money. To move on to next step of true Garden Tractor or large zero turn would be almost twice the cost of this model. Hydrostat is the only way to go on large properties and lots of hills. Doesn’t free-wheel when going down hill.

    Mow 1 1/2 acres of very uneven terrain. Less than 20 hours on it so far, so I can’t speak to reliability yet.

    Would recommend buying from a cub cadet dealer. Will answer all questions and can actually do repairs on the machine if/when need arises. Nothing against big box stores, but the dealer can usually answer questions that they cannot. Mower was set up perfectly and ready to go when I got it.

    Year of Manufacture: 2011
    Pros: Kawasaki motor
    runs very well, plenty of power
    50 in deck w/ 3 blades goes through tall grass easily
    Nice, comfortable seat
    Turns very sharp
    Hydrostatic great for changing condidtions and stability on hills.
    Cons: hydrostatic transmission whines more than previous models I’ve had. Really noisy when mowing up steep hills. Doesn’t affect performance just annoying.
    Loses a little traction turning when going up hills, but I would guess all models would based on the terrain.

  19. Kevin says:

    I shoulda bought one a long time ago!

    Year of Manufacture: 2011
    Pros: I bought a 1050KW last spring. This thing mows!!! Tall grass, wet grass it dosn’t matter! I have had no clog ups, even in the real wet area out back by a stream. Unlike my old Yardman I replaced. I was stuck between this and a John Deere. But the Kawasaki engine pushed me in the Cub. Thanks Cub Cadet “MTD” for making a tough affordable lawn tractor!!
    Cons: She mows a little slow, but she ain’t no Dixie Chopper either. Goin into reverse is a little cumbersome..
    Modifications: Rear facing red LED running light. For mowing up near the highway!!

  20. chad says:

    Absolutely awful!

    Year of Manufacture: 9
    Pros: when it is working it cuts great
    Cons: Where to start. I have had nothing but problems from day one. I have replaced the blade belt three times in two years. The transmission drive belt has been replaced twice and broke again, only this time it threw a spring off and I cant locate exactly where it goes. It also shredded the hydrostat fan. The cost of a tune up is ridiculous I replaced the filters, oil and blades it cost me over 120 dollars. Im not sure the deck even throws grass out as it constantly plugs up. The deck wash is a joke it doesnt really remove alot of grass from the deck. When trying to find info on how to replace the transmission drive belt it says to take it to a dealer of course. I guess I learned a hard lesson in buying a lawn mower. You get what you pay for and apparently I payed for crap! Stay away from this p.o.s. unless you enjoy working on your lawn mower every week.
    Attachments: none
    Modifications: none

  21. Vince says:

    Something fails every time you start a new Cub Cadet.

    Year of Manufacture: 2011
    Pros: Readily available-no waiting.Good looking and comfortable.
    Cons: Ran for 20 minutes before transmission failed and mower would not move. Dealer can and picked unit back up and I replaced with a 2011 LTX1046.Unit was delivered this morning and first the battery had to be replaced and then the carburetor had to be replaced due to flooding. The units just are not like the older Cubs that ran forever.They are junk.Mine were purchased thru a Cub Cadet Master dealer.
    Attachments: None
    Modifications: None

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