Is the Cub Cadet 26 in Three-Stage 357cc Model 3X 26 snow blower right for you?
Hello, Thank you for recommending the cub cadet 3 stage snow blower. We live in NJ. It has been our snowiest season in 20 years! This machine gets through the slush and ice in no time!
It takes my husband and me 3 hours to clear our property by hand with just a few inches of snow, the cub cadet brought it down to 30 minutes for powder and an hour for slush and ice.
It is our best purchase last year!
Thank you for the advice, Stacey
I have been watching snow blower technology for a long time and in the last few years, there have been a few attempts at a high-speed snow blower. The Kahlbacher KFS 170M2 is one example that will blow snow while traveling at speeds up to 35 mph. One of the innovative changes that made this snow blower (called a cutter/blower in Europe) was a center auger. The center auger rotates at the same speed as the blower and pulls the snow into the blower at a consistent rate.
Kahlbacher KFS 170M2
The market moves slowly… I was wondering when this idea would carry over to walk behinds and it looks like Cub Cadet has figured it out. The 3X snow blower is the biggest single change since the Toro SnoHound started using the front intake auger back in 1960.
Is this new snow blower for you?
Cub Cadet 3X
This snow blower is not for everyone and I won’t recommend it for everyone who wants a 26 or 28-inch snow blower. But…If it takes you hours to clear your sidewalks and driveways with a 26 or 28-inch snow blower the 3X will shorten that time by 20 % or more. The ability to cut through deep snow up to 50% faster means you can walk faster behind the unit. Typical 4 to 6-inch snows you won’t notice much time savings, it is the 10 inch and larger snows where you will see the real time savings. This snow blower is about $300 more for their similar two-stage unit. Is it worth an extra $300 to walk faster when blowing your drive? That’s up to you to decide.
I have a video on YouTube using a competitor’s snow blower to move 14 inches of snow. The snow blower has plenty of power to handle that much snow. The snow blower has plenty of traction to push through that much snow. But the snow blower can only take so much snow into the impeller at one time and it actually starts pushing snow out in front of it like a snowplow. Even though I had plenty of power and traction I ended up slowing the snow blower down so it could eat and throw the snow. The new Cub Cadet 3X promises to eliminate this bottleneck. The new 3X induction accelerator (center auger) will move snow into the impeller 50% faster than a two-stage unit. (Search “Biggest Snow Blower in Wisconsin!” at YouTube)
How It Works:
1. The auger on your two-stage snow blower takes the snow and chews it into manageable chunks for the high-speed impeller to throw it out of the machine. The auger on the new 3X works the same way. The issue with this the auger is it only throws the snow into the center. The forward motion of you walking with the snow blower causes the snow to move into the impeller.
2. With the 3X the new center auger (called an Induction Accelerator) pulls the snow into the impeller. No forward motion of the snowblower is required to get snow into the impeller. The Induction Accelerator is rotating at the same speed as the high-speed impeller so the snow is literally thrown into the impeller. This new action gets snow into the impeller faster resulting in what Cub Cadet claims as 50% more capacity.
3. The impeller then throws the snow out of the machine and the 4-way chute puts it where you want it to go.
Click on this link and you can view the new snow blower in action:
SnowDays Ahead! The 3X starts around 1:30
Do you spend hours walking behind a snow blower? The Cub Cadet Three Stage promises to let you move snow faster.
New Machine, New Problems?
Cub Cadet has a solid history of doing the prove-design before they bring a new item to market. They claim the 3X will handle snow 50% faster than their two-stage units and I feel the snow blower will live up to those claims. I’m sure they threw a boot and other items you will find out in your driveway into this machine to see how it responds. There are shear pins in the right places. I don’t expect any issues or recalls on this snow blower. For you gearheads here is the parts manual: 3X Parts List
Click This link to read more, buy online, pick up at your local Home Depot or have it delivered to your home.
The Cub Cadet Three-Stage is easy to use. The 3 features that make it the easiest are the height of the controls, the power steering, and the 4-way chute control. These features plus the standard premium features you find on a Cub Cadet make it one of the best snowblowers for anyone who has difficulty using a snow blower. Yes, you can buy one of these for your spouse and she will be able to use it. And anyone who is tired of “manhandling” a snowblower will really like how easy this one is to use.
What makes this snow blower the best snow thrower?
- Clear snow faster: new 3X induction accelerator moves snow up to 50% faster than 2X snow throwers
- The Posi-Steer makes this snowblower the easy to use. When moving just pull the small trigger under the handle in the direction you want to go and the snow blower go that way. Unlike most 24 inch snowblowers with solid axles, the power steering makes turning the 524 SWE effortless.
- 357cc Electric start Cub Cadet 4-Cycle OHV engine. The motor has plenty of power. You will be able to move snow faster than you ever could before. The motor has a throttle control so you can idle the snow blower down if you want to before turning it off and a safety key. (Other brands do not have a throttle and you can only shut off the motor by removing the safety key.) It also has a stepped choke so you can control the fuel mixture for all temperatures. This engine has an excellent reputation and I know that as long as you use good fresh fuel and change the oil as recommended this engine will last you many, many years.
- Cool Blue skid shoes. These rust-resistant, non-marking, reversible skid shoes are the strongest skid shoe on the market. These shoes are exclusive to the Cub Cadet line and last longer than steel shoes. They don’t scratch your driveway or patio and glide effortlessly along surfaces for better maneuverability
- 6 Forward 2 reverse speeds. 6 Forward 2 reverse speeds for easy snow clearing at your pace. Yes, most snow blowers have these but the speeds on the 3X are matched well to the size of the snow blower.
- Push button electric start makes it incredibly easy to start in the tough winter conditions
- 4-way pitch control and chute rotation. I call this chute control a “forearm control” To use it you take your left hand, reach over the top of the handle and grab it like you are picking up a baseball bat by the end. Pull the red button with you middle fingers and use your forearm to move the chute from side-to-side. Pushing or pulling on the handle raises and lowers the deflector at the top of the chute. The tension that holds the deflector in place is controlled by a wing nut. If you use the 4-way chute this way it is one of the easiest to use on the market. It quickly rotates, is very easy to operate and is designed to last longer than the old bottom crank designs. The “hanging chute” design eliminates the chute binding up from heavy wet snow. The hanging chute stays in place when you let go of the red button. The extra long chute controls the snow better than your old short chute and you don’t get as much snow blowing back in your face. The chute is made of a durable polymer chute and has proven just about indestructible. Snow never sticks to it. I also like the chute control a lot.
- In-dash headlight allows you to clear your driveway any time of the day or night
- 15 in. x 5 in. X-trac tires are sized well for this machine. The tires have a lot more traction than the ones found on the cheaper 24 inch snow blowers. You will have plenty of traction to go out in the backyard and clear a spot of lawn for your dog.
- Use with 5W-30 oil for best results, the unit comes pre-filled with oil
- Warranty is 3-year residential/1-year commercial
- MFG Model # : 524 SWE
- MFG Part # : 31AM53TR756
Where To Get One
Home Depot is the best place to get your Cub Cadet. They always have the best price and a great reputation for getting the purchase to you quickly. They also have good customer service.
Click This link to read more, buy online, pickup at your local Home Depot or have it delivered to your home.
All Snow Blowers need maintenance. When you get your new snow blower home be sure to read the manual, check all the fluid levels and bolts. Learn how to change the shear pins and inspect the drive belts. (The belts are easy to change if you tear one up) ALWAYS have extra shear pins on hand. Learn how to start it and operate it. Snow blower engines run differently than your lawn mower engine. Most of the time you will have the choke on to some degree. (That’s why there are 4 positions on the choke) Practice using it on you driveway. (Don’t run the engine more than 10 minutes if the temperature is over 45 degrees) If you have any questions leave a comment below and we (other readers and myself) will gladly answer your questions. Above all PLEASE use a fuel stabilizer like Sea Foam or blue Stabil in your gas.
Value: This snow blower is about $300 more than their similar two-stage unit. Is it worth and extra $300 to walk faster when blowing your drive? That’s up to you to decide.
Service & Parts Availability: Service and parts are readily available through Cub Cadet authorized repair centers. Home Depot is easy to work with if you have a problem.
Parts You Will Need:
All MTD manufactured snow throwers use the same shear pin. Here are some from Sears. Shear Pins: Craftsman Snowblower Shear Pins