STAY AWAY - Just Aweful!!
Brought my Cub Cadet GT 3100 to Hooksett Turf Depot and they shipped down to Still's (Turf Depot) and these guys are a COMPLETE JOKE. I am a mechanical guy (rebuilding a classic car) and have had the entire front PTO system of this machine off, rebuilt the entire deck (incl finishing), and service the machine annually with the full Kohler kit.
That being said, when it comes to a fully sealed hydrostatic transmission slipping under load, I figured it was time to have the machine given a 'once over.' To Still's credit, the machine does have 550 hrs. however, my father's is a 2010 with 850 hrs. and still runs, cuts, and drives like a champ. Also, it should be noted, this machine (during my ownership) has never spent a night outside - garage kept, blown off every mow, and uses a 48" Berco to blow snow in the winter.
I was told 3 days to diagnose when I called Hooksett TD, after 1 week they said it needed to go to Manchester TD to their 'specialist'. What an exaggeration that is. After 2 WEEKS in Manchester I started calling as I already had to enlist a cut service for my 3/4 acre yrd. Derek on the phone told me the trans was bone dry and they were trying to figure out where the fluid went. After another week I began calling daily. The first 3 days, the mechanic 'didn't show for work' and then I got the 'specialists' results. Derek said the Cub Cadet Drive Fluid is $17 per qt. and the trans holds 6 qts. Derek and the mechanic said:
"THE MACHINE ISN'T WORTH THE $102 WORTH OF FLUID. The Cub with 550 hrs is WELL PAST ITS LIFESPAN and I should CONSIDER REPLACING IT."
I was completely floored. This machine has: new front tires, new ball joints, completely rebuilt deck (all pulleys & spindles), new front PTO drive dear, belts, PTO tensioner, seat, just to name a few. WHAT MORONS!
Picked it up, it took 2 1/2 quarts of trans fluid (STILL HAD 3 1/2 QTS in it) and now drives like new. My bad for not digging into it and checking the fluid myself, but STILL'S TURFDEPOT is such a disappointment for NOT EVEN TRYING with this machine. They didn't even step into the ring, they just completely checked out.
It should be noted as well that when I went to pick up the machine the guys at the service counter were rude and barely gave me the time of day - like they were inconvienced that I was there (as a customer). Especially rude was a largely overweight, slicked back haired gentlemen who was especially nasty. SUCH A JOKE.
I attached pics of the mower and the lawn the day I filled the fluid. read more