Install Bagger On Cub Cadet Lawn Tractor
Article by Mark Trotta
After shopping around for a double bagger for our Cub Cadet XT1, an MTD bagger kit was purchased online and arrived three days later.
Although mowing decks come in different brands, sizes, and depths, the MTD bagger will work on many types of lawn tractors, including Troy-Bilt, Cub Cadet, Yard Machines, Bolens, Husky and Craftsman. It's advertised to fit all riding mowers produced after 2010 with a 42- or 46-inch cutting deck.
Does It Fit the Cub Cadet XT1?
Curiously, Cub Cadet is not one of six brands that are mentioned on the box, but it does indeed fit the XT1. It looks like MTD copied the Cub Cadet double bagger, and made it identical in every way but price.
Twin Bagger Installation
At first, the assembly procedure seemed daunting because of all the extra parts for different mowers. But it was actually quite simple. After laying out all the parts, it was obvious what went where.
The hitch bracket assembly is comprised of three separate pieces. They attach with carriage bolts and wing-nut knobs included in the hardware pack.
The hooked ends attach to the back of the tractor.
After installing the vertical support bracket to the hitch bracket assembly, the hanger assembly can be mounted.
The hood is installed over the grass catcher covers. Carefully push the metal rod through the slotted hinges.
With the tractor's chute raised up, the boot is installed. Some models will take a wing nut to hold the boot on, but the XT1 already has a stud to hold the boot in place.
The flexible hose installs between the boot and the upper chute support. Install the two bags, close cover, and installation is complete!
The MTD bagger was a perfect fit on our 46" deck Cub Cadet, and 42" decks have the same configuration.
The twin bags have a 6.5 bushel capacity, which helps make leaf collecting or mulching much easier. The mower discharge adapter comes on and off easily for switching one to the other.
Shop: MTD Double Bagger
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Double-Bagger In Use
Our property is a little more than a half-acre, but the sides and backyard are all trees - and that means a lot of leaves in the Fall. Leaf pick-up was the main reason for getting the bagger attachment.
See-Through Tubing
The hose is made of clear flex tubing, so you can see when the bags are getting full. When you have a yard full of leaves, the bags fill up fast! To prevent clogging, I'm turning my head after every pass and check the leaf flow.
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2nd Year Review
Although the bagger unit works as well as it did the first year, the clear window is no longer transparent. So, to see if the bags have filled up, I reach around with my left hand and feel how full the bag is.
The chute can and does get jammed up if you don't empty the bags when full. If it does, it needs to be removed and emptied.
The MTD double bagger will fit most riding mowers produced after 2010 with a 42- or 46-inch cutting deck.
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