One of the Best Commercial Mower, Cub Cadet has created an excellent zero turn lawn mower that has all the features you need for a clean, professional mow.
The cub cadet ultima series mowers were not only built on a sturdy tubular steel frame but also designed with your comfort in mind, with a wide and comfortable high-back seat, plenty of legroom and easy-to-reach controls.
To learn more about the features and specifications, here is our Cub Cadet ZT1 50 zero-turn mower review.
Table of Contents
Specifications
The beating heart of the Cub Cadet ZT1 50 zero turn mower is a powerful 726 cc Kawasaki, twin cylinder FR619V engine that produces an impressive 23 horsepower.
This is then diverted to the heavy-duty drive train as well as the cutting deck. On a single tank
of gas the Cub Cadet ZT1 50 can cut up to 4-acres!
The Cub Cadet ZT1 50 has a Hydro-Gear EZT 2200 hydrostatic transmission that is known for being very responsive. It works in tandem with the zero degree controls to let you dance around trees, flower beds, and other landscaping features.
This zero-turn riding lawn mower has a maximum forward speed of up to 7 miles per hour and a mow in reverse maximum speed of up to 3.5 miles per hour.
Cub Cadet also kept comfort in mind when they were designing the ZT1 50. It has a 20-inch adjustable high back chair.
The lap bars are easily adjustable and the controls have a soft grip. These comfort features might not sound like much on paper, but a professional operator will surely appreciate them at the end of a long day.
Cutting Deck
The cutting deck measures in at 50-inches and features Cub Cadet’s AeroForce cutting system. This is a series of three integrated cutting blades that replicate their own mulching effect.
There are 15 height settings that let you adjust the cutting deck as low as 1-inch or up to 4.5-inches high
The deck itself is fully welded and backed by an impressive limited lifetime warranty. It also features a Smart Jet deck washing system to remove any stuck-on grass or other organic debris.
| Deck Cutting Width | 50inches |
| Deck Wash | SmartJet deck wash system |
| Deck Material | 11-gauge fabricated steel |
| Deck Engagement (PTO) | Electronic fingertip blade engagement |
| Spindle Construction | Seales cast aluminum housing |
| Blade(s) | Triple Blade deck blades |
| Cutting Height Range | 1 inch to 4.5 inches |
| Deck positions | Foot pedal with spring assist creates the perfect cut – 15 positions |
Engine
This Cub Cadet part uses a powerful Kawasaki engine in the model. The engine is a Kawasaki FR Series OHV V-Twin engine with a 3.5-gallon fuel tank.
The model has a working volume of 726 cm3 with an engine power of 23 hp. The Ultima can mow up to 4 acres of land with ease at this fuel consumption and is powerful enough to tackle small hills with ease.
This Cub cadet mower has a transmission system – Dual Hydro-Gear EZT-2200 with a top speed of 7 mph and a reverse speed of 4.5 mph.
| Engine Brand | Kawasaki® |
| Engine Model | FR Series V-twin OHV |
| Engine Displacement | 726cc |
| Engine Output | 23 HP |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 3.5 Gallon fuel tank capacity |
Drive System
The Hydro-Gear EZT 2200 hydrostatic transmission is very responsive and responsive, which is what you want in a zero-turn lawn mower. It allows you to cut the power when you want to cut the grass at a maximum speed of 7 mph.
However, it also allows you to slow down quickly to deal with the area around the trees and complex landscape features.
The three blades of the AeroForce cutting system do an excellent job of cutting the chips, almost reproducing the mulching effect.
| Transmission | Dual Hydro-Gear™ EZT-2200™ |
| Forward Speed | 7 mph |
| Reverse Speed | 3.5 mph |
Equipment’
Cub Cadet has designed this model with your comfort in mind. Not only is this a lawnmower that makes lawn care a lot easier, but it also has some handy features that you will love.
The Cub Cadet lawn mower Ultima ZT1 seat is not only durable but also adjusts to your height. This ergonomic 18-inch seat ensures that your back is entirely comfortable when cutting.
The suspension system is strong enough to provide stability while clipping. Finally, the mower uses a rod system instead of a steering wheel to control the mower, which might be a little odd for new users.
| Seat Type | Automotive-inspired, ergonomic, fully adjustable premium 18″ high-back seat |
| Seat Suspension | Durable, advanced polymer seat suspension system optimizes comfort while reducing operators fatigue |
| Handle | 3- way adjustable ergonomic lap bar |
| Brakes | Integrated parking brake system in lap bars for ease of use |
| Steering Wheel Control | 3-way adjustable ergonomic lap bar |
| Headlight(s) | Illuminating Dual-LED Headlights |
| Mow in Reverse | Standard |
Chassis
Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 is reliable. The platform itself is made of 11 gauge steel. The structure is made of 2 “x 2” steel tubes.
To make this model even more pleasant to own, Cub Cadet coated the Ultima ZT1 with its Triple Guard corrosion protection system. The coating protects the cutter from corrosion even after years of use.
The wheels consist of a 2 “by 2.5” tubular steel axle fixed and fully welded with 1/4 “steel forks.
Besides, the cutter is protected by a 2” all-steel bumper. “X 2” If you have any problems with your cutter’s longevity, contact Cub Cadet for a limited lifetime warranty.
| Frame | High-strength, continuous square 2″ x 2″ tubular steel frame with fully E-Coat lower frame and Triple Guard Corrosion Defense System™ protects against wear and tear. |
| Front Axle(s) | Fixed 2″ x 2.5″ fully welded tubular steel axle (e-coated) / 1/4″ steel yokes provide greater durability |
| Turning Radius | Zero degrees |
| Front Tires | 11 “x 6″-5” smooth tread front wheels pivot 180 degrees without turf damage |
| Rear Tires | 20″ x8″ -8″ Turf Master premium rear tires offer excellent traction, minimize turfing and provide a better ride on uneven ground at higher speeds |
| Bumper | 2″ x 2″ Tubular steel bumper |
| Rear Tow Hitch | Standard |
Dimensions and Capacity
| Dimensions L/W/H | 80-inch x 61-inch x 47-inch |
| Weight (approx.) | 585 pounds |
Key Features
- 726 cc Kawasaki engine
- 23 HP
- 50-inch cutting deck
- AeroForce 3-cutting blade system
- Smart Jet deck wash
- Limited lifetime warranty on cutting deck
- 3-year mower warranty
- Hydro-Gear EZT 2200 hydrostatic transmission
Comfort
The Cub Cadet ZT1 50 is very comfortable and easy to use. It has a 20-inch adjustable high back chair, as well as adjustable lap bars and soft-grip padded ergonomic controls
It truly is a zero-turning radius lawnmower that can turn on a dime when you want to chew through wide-open rows of the lawn. Yet it still has the nimble mobility to trim tightly around trees and landscaping features.
Maintenance
The Cub Cadet ZT1 50 will require all the normal maintenance that a gas-powered zero-turn riding lawnmower does. This includes giving it quality high octane fuel, as well as periodic oil changes and filter replacements.
You will also need to sharpen the three cutting blades on the AeroForce cutting deck, or simply replace them seasonally.
Cub Cadet took the time to recognize this need and they engineered the ZT1 50withh an open floor plan. This makes it very easy to access critical areas and perform key maintenance tasks.
Safety Features
The Cub Cadet ZT1 50 has all the standard safety features and PTO blade engagement systems that you expect to find on a zero-turn gas-powered riding lawnmower.
Since the three cutting blades of the AeroForce cutting deck are small, they also tend to stop faster than one of two large cutting blades.
Pros
- Comfortable seats
- Excellent suspension
- Stable structure
- Easy to manoeuvre with a safety bar
- The parking system is integrated into the roll bars
- Large cutting width (50 inches)
- Maximum cutting range 4.5 inches
- Excellent cutting of three blades
- Zero turning radius
Cons
- No sun protection
- A thin layer of paint in some areas
- No armrest
- Smaller fuel tank
Cub Cadet Frequently Asked Questions
What’s so special about a Kawasaki engine?
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. is a Japanese company known for manufacturing heavy equipment, motorcycles, aerospace and defence. It also produces industrial robots.
Kawasaki is one of the three largest Japanese heavy industry manufacturers. So, if Kawasaki makes the engine, you know it’s high quality.
What is the advantage of a zero turn mower?
The advantages of zero turn mowers over lawn tractors are speed and maneuverability.
The out-front nature of the mowing deck allows the mower to efficiently mow areas in a way a lawn tractor cannot, mainly getting into tight spaces and getting closer to obstacles.
Are zero turns worth it?
Zero turns are worth it and are better than riding mower. They have faster speeds, better maneuverability, and cut down on the weed eating time that you would normally have.
Although the time saving feature of a Zero Turn is very tempting, if you put a ZTR on steep terrain, it will end up costing you more time than you are saving.
How long will a zero-turn mower last?
How long it lasts after that depends on how well it’s been maintained.
Maintain the mower and put about 2,000 hours on it, then sell it and buy a new one if you don’t want to dump money into it.
A zero-turn mower will generally last two thousand hours without any major repairs, provided that it is well-maintained.
Can zero turns tow?
Zero turns are made for one purpose only, mowing grass.
A 42-inch residential zero-turn is NOT designed to pull things. Yes, some have a hitch and you can pull a small yard cart or spreader but you will destroy the transmissions in them if you try to pull loads of dirt, firewood, or a leaf vacuum regularly
Conclusion
The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 riding lawnmower has an aesthetically rich design while also boasting wide tires and a fabricated deck for more sturdy riding.
It aims to cover all bases to create the best riding lawn mower experience, and definitely ticks one box when it comes to power, with its 23 horsepower engine.
There’s also an aim within the design to make the seat as comfortable as possible, so that you’re raring to get behind the wheel.
This is a zero-turn model, meaning that taking care of your backyard should be speedier than ever. And given that it’s suited to larger outdoor areas, this will be super handy for shaving the hours it takes to mow the lawn.
Author
George
