277cc Cub Cadet OHV 4-Cycle Engine •Electric start - just press a button and off you go! •Powers through the toughest winter conditions •No mixing of gas and oil
Two-Stage System •The heavy duty steel auger breaks up and pulls in the snow •The impeller then throws the snow out the discharge chute
4-Way Single-Hand Joystick Chute Control •Change direction and pitch of chute from operator position •Features 200 degree chute rotation and 50 degree pitch control
Zero-Turn Posi-Steer™ Power Steering •Fingertip trigger control allows effortless single-hand turns •Large 15 inch X-Trac tires offer superior traction
Additional Standard Features Include: •Cool Blue skid shoes rust resistant, non-marking, and reversible •Steel shave plate allows to clear down to the ground •In-dash halogen headlight lights your way
Experience The Assurance Of Class-Leading Warranties •3-year limited residential warranty •1-year limited commercial warranty
Model
Model Number:
526SWE
UPC:
043033558575
Manufacturer:
Cub Cadet
Engine
Brand:
Cub Cadet OHV
Type:
4-Cycle OHV
Power:
277 cc
Starting System:
120-Volt Electric /w Recoil
Fuel Tank:
5.0 quarts (4.73 liters)
Auger
Diameter:
12 (30.48 cm)
Material:
Serrated Steel
Impeller
Diameter:
12 (30.48 cm)
Profile:
Steel 3-Blade
Chute
Material:
Plastic
Chute Rotation:
Lever
Turning Radius:
200°
Max Throwing Distance:
35 feet (10.67 meters)
Drive System
Steering:
Handle-Mounted Triggers
Gear Case:
Aluminum
Forward Speeds:
6 Forward
Reverse Speeds:
2 Reverse
Tire Type:
X-Trac
Tire Size:
15" x 5" (38.1 cm x 12.7 cm)
Options
Remote Deflector Contols:
Yes
Drift Cutters:
Sold Separately
Front Weights:
Sold Separately
Interlocking Controls:
Yes
Hand Warmers:
No
Headlights:
Halogen
Skid Shoes:
Included - Reversible
Overview
Weight:
275 Lbs. (124.74 kilograms)
Dimensions:
55.0L x 27.0W x 41.0H (139.70 x 68.58 x 104.14 cm)
Q: When you get it delivered is their a lot of assembly required? by Kurt Pappalardo from Massachusetts on August 10, 2012
A: Kurt - assembly is pretty minimal. You will need to fold up the handle assembly and tighten it into place. You will need to attach the discharge chute and connect the chute rotation rod to the dash. Add oil and fill it up with gas. That's pretty much the extent of the assembly on this model. by Kriss, Product Expert
Q: Are snow blowers shipped assembled? If not, how much assembly is required? by Kathy T from Connecticut on November 20, 2011
A: These units would not come fully assembled. The units would need the handle bars to be pulled in their upright position and attach the chute. Other than this, that is it. by Kriss, Product Expert
Q: I have the Cub Cadet 526SWE. I've noticed there are greas fittingd at the ends of the auger shaft and on the gear box. My last MTD made snower blower didn't have these and there is no mention in the owner's manual that these require grease. What are the for? by Steve Korth from Illinois on October 12, 2011
A: These would be for adding grease if you needed to add more. When it comes to the Cubs, they are a little more high end than the other MTDs, so they do offer some more maintenance advantages so you can keep the product in good order longer. This is not something you have to do all the time. I would suggest doing once a season. by Kriss, Product Expert
Q: kriss i am interested inthe cub cadet model 526swe,i live in north carolina,we get heavy snows sometimes.last year we had about 18 in. at one time.will this model handle snows this deep? also i have a complete gravel driveway,is this a problem? thank you by George Race from North Carolina on October 11, 2011
A: This snow blower would have no problem in getting through snow this deep. A two stage snow blower would also be your best option with gravel because the auger never actually touches the ground. So no problem at all. by Kriss, Product Expert
The Cub Cadet 526SWE is a heavy-duty, residential grade two-stage snow thrower that allows you to clear snow effortlessly. Despite it's compact size, this snow blower has the power to tackle winter’s biggest storms.
The Cub Cadet 526SWE is powered by a 277cc, 4-cycle over head valve engine. The convenient electric start feature fires the snow blower up with the push of a button.
The Cub Cadet 526SWE has heavy-duty steel augers that move effortlessly through the harshest conditions. The high-impact polymer chute and stainless steel shave plate make it amazingly easy to operate through heavy snow and ice, so you’re out of the cold faster.
The Cub Cadet 526SWE also features zero-turn Posi-Steer™ power steering for effortless, single-hand turning. And speaking of single hand control, the 4-way chute control allows you to quickly and effortlessly change the direction and pitch of the discharge chute with one hand as well.
March 06, 2013
Steve Lindenwood, IL
Up-date Of An Earlier Review
I rated this snow blower in a previous review with limited actual use. After several snows, the last being 10 inches of very heavy snow, I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at the performance. The engine performed well with sufficient torque and HP to blow the snow 30 ft. My only concerns now are that the handles are too low and the blue skids are problematic. I will recommend this blower overall.
March 04, 2013
Greg G. Wading River, NY
Snow Blower Needed
Northeast storm dropped 32 inches on us here in Long Island. After hand shoveling for 9 hours I decided to buy a snow blower.
Knowing that inventory locally was low or non existing, I jumped on the web to see if I could find one for the next storm.
Snow Blowers Direct had exactilly what I needed in stock and ready for delivery. When it arrived I was pleased with the way it was crated and how easy it was to assemble. I added some fresh gas with stablizer in it and off I went. The snow blower is in my garage ready and waiting for the next storm.
I would highly recomend this site to everyone.
Northeast storm dropped 32 inches on us here in Long Island. After hand shoveling for 9 hours I decided to buy a snow blower.
Knowing that inventory locally was low or non existing, I jumped on the web to see if I could find one for the next storm.
Snow Blowers Direct had exactilly what I needed in stock and ready for delivery. When it arrived I was pleased with the way it was crated and how easy it was to assemble. I added some fresh gas with stablizer in it and off I went. The snow blower is in my garage ready and waiting for the next storm.
I would highly recomend this site to everyone... more
February 10, 2013
Salty
Did The Job !
I purchased this in January, and the big storm hit 2/09/13. We had 24-30 inches here in New Hampshire with that storm.
The Cub Cadet proved very worthy, as we did not only our property but many neighbor's as well.
The power steering was remarkable, how did we ever do without it on older blowers? 277cc was very powerful indeed. The large fuel tank was filled once in the morning and lasted all day. It also has meaty tires on it.
I was very pleased.
February 09, 2013
Joe R. Willmar, MN
Defective Cub Blower
I purchased a Cub snow blower and as I started the blower up and began blowing snow the belt got toasted and I had no clue why? I took the blower back to Arnolds of Willmar, and it took almost a week to get it back. Again I fired it up and began blowing out several driveways when the blower would not drive forward like it should and I was almost pushing it to get it to move. I took it in the garage and looked it over when I noticed oil coming from what looked like the seals under the motor. The oil was dripping on the rubber drive wheel causing the wheel to slip. I dried it off and added a cleaner on the wheel to get the oil out. I wiped what looked like oil off and tightened the screws some more on the plate, then fired it up, and the blower moved. About 10m later it did the same thing. Again oil was slowly coming from this plate and on the wheel. I was upset, and took the blower back to Arnolds. I wanted another one and not the same one. Arnolds had to get it okayed with Cub but Cub said no. I was not very happy, I spent over a $1000.00 and the snow blower was a lemon. So much for a warranty Somehow the seals were not very good and oil was leaking.
I spoke with Cub and again they would not give me another one, and Arnolds would not give me a refund. Since I purchased the Blower in September and it was now the end of December and our first snow fall, I couldn't get the blower refunded. I ended up getting half the value of it and put it towards a zero turn mower.
I purchased a Cub snow blower and as I started the blower up and began blowing snow the belt got toasted and I had no clue why? I took the blower back to Arnolds of Willmar, and it took almost a week to get it back. Again I fired it up and began blowing out several driveways when the blower would not drive forward like it should and I was almost pushing it to get it to move. I took it in the garage and looked it over when I noticed oil coming from what looked like the seals under the motor. The oil was dripping on the rubber drive wheel causing the wheel to slip. I dried it off and added a cle... more
February 08, 2013
Steven
Works Great
The snowblower works great. I really like the electric plug-in starter with no battery. The fingertip trigger is great for turning.
The unit is easy to start, run, and operate. It cuts through light and heavy snow- no problems. There was some light assembly when it arrived. Other than that all I have done is add gas.
November 24, 2012
Nate Bradford, PA
My Mistake, Don't Make The Same One!
I'm not into posting reviews, but I feel like it's my duty. Calling this thing "JUNK" is being nice. The only positive is, it started on the first try. Not quite 3 inches of lake effect snow seemed to be too much for this "277cc bad boy." It barely threw snow the width of the machine. 4-6 feet was the best I could get. It clogged twice within the hour and a piece of the plastic chute broke day1 during assembly.
I bought it over the Ariens, thinking it would be easier for my wife to use when she had to. It had zero turn power steering and a joystick chute control. Well, I can hardly move the chute with both hands on the stick. Steering left isn't so bad, but going right is tough because the the forward drive control lever and turning lever are so far apart you can't bump the forward lever while holding the right turn lever unless you have xx large hands. The head light is in a bad location and there is plastic all over this machine including the main driving mechanism for the chute control... I wonder how long before that breaks. Just don't do it! If you really want one, I'll sell you mine.
I'm not into posting reviews, but I feel like it's my duty. Calling this thing "JUNK" is being nice. The only positive is, it started on the first try. Not quite 3 inches of lake effect snow seemed to be too much for this "277cc bad boy." It barely threw snow the width of the machine. 4-6 feet was the best I could get. It clogged twice within the hour and a piece of the plastic chute broke day1 during assembly.
I bought it over the Ariens, thinking it would be easier for my wife to use when she had to. It had zero turn power steering and a joystick chute control. ... more
September 17, 2012
D.R.
My Third Blower
This is the third blower I have owned over the last 30 years, and the biggest.
This is the first with the chute control up where you don't have to bend down to change the direction of the chute. I have been disabled & retired because I have a very bad lower back. The the ability to change chute direction on the fly with a flick of the hand is a big plus for me.
Every retiree that decides to stay up north in the snow belt should own a blower at least this capable.
May 01, 2012
Steve Lindenwood, IL
Experienced Snow Blower User
I had a 1964 Toro single stage that I kept blowing snow for 42 years. It still ran well, but I couldn't get repair parts. (They don't make engines like that anymore!). I retired it in favor of a new MTD 8 HP Tecumseh, 26" which I used for four years before selling it in anticipation of getting a more user friendly unit. The Toro was very solid and the MTD, while not as robust, served the purpose. I just didn't like the position of the chute rotation crank and it was a hand-full to operate. (I'm not as young as I used to be.!) Based on the performance of the MTD otherwise, I looked at all of the manufacturers in the various colors and brand names and settled on the Cub Cadet based on the MTD experience and the features.
PRO's: Sheet metal construction appears to be heavier on the Cub than others in the price range. The unit is balanced over the wheels so it is easier to handle than most. I hate it that the manufacturers have done away with horsepower ratings on engines. I was almost swayed from buying this unit because I needed at least the performance of the old unit and the cub does not have an American made engine. Based on the two snow falls we had this year, the the 277 cc engine performed well and I would place the power somewhere between 8 and 10 HP. I have the power steering and, once you get used to it, can help an old man maneuver. I found that the best part of this is actually moving it around in the garage with the engine not running or when I just want to pull the unit back to make another pass. All the power steering does is release the drive on each side when you pull the triggers. It moved heavy, slushy snow without bogging down. When brand new, the snow wanted to pack in the impeller housing, but it seemed to clear up with use.
CON's: To add the "Power Steering" the drive axle is raised a couple of inches on the frame which lowers the hand grips about 4 inches. I'm 6 ft tall and this almost makes me bend at the waist to operate. You really end up bending down if you need to raise the front in a turn. Not good ergonomics. I didn't notice this until after I started using the machine. If you are taller, it could be a problem if used for an extended time. As with all snowblowers I've ever used, the reverse is so slow as to be useless. That is why I said the the trigger release helps to pull the unit back for short passes. The chute control is better than bending down to turn a crank, but doesn't work the best. The position lock doesn't work well and takes a lot of effort to move the chute while running. The headlight is important in that most snow blowing happens in the dark hours. The light on this unit is useless. Because of the power steering, the unit sits lower in the back. This points the light too high. Secondly, the chute and rotation mechanism sits in the way. You can't see where you need to go. A really bad design. I mounted a light on top of the impeller housing which works well. The worst part of this machine are the blue plastic glides. True, they don't leave rust marks on the garage floor, but they are terrible in use. They grab anything over 1/4 inch high and, because of this are quickly out of adjustment and wear quickly. It is a nightmare on un-even concrete or blacktop. They will stop you dead in your tracks. In Northern Illinois there are few driveways and sidewalks that don't have un-even surfaces due to frost heave. Terrible design. I will re-design before next winter and make something that will work.
Overall, the unit got the job done. I'm still trying to figure out how the raise the handles. It can be a killer on the back. Also, I added the heated hand grips to my machine. The retro installation is easy. Chis from this website said the grips were "Whistles and Bells" and he is correct. They make the grips fatter and can be too warm making your gloves wet. I used it once and then shut it off.
I hopes this helps with your decision! I looked for 6 weeks before settling on this machine which is probably the last one I will own. Whatever you buy, at the end of the season, clean it well, change the oil, run all of the fuel out, and oil the cylinder. It will last many years.
I had a 1964 Toro single stage that I kept blowing snow for 42 years. It still ran well, but I couldn't get repair parts. (They don't make engines like that anymore!). I retired it in favor of a new MTD 8 HP Tecumseh, 26" which I used for four years before selling it in anticipation of getting a more user friendly unit. The Toro was very solid and the MTD, while not as robust, served the purpose. I just didn't like the position of the chute rotation crank and it was a hand-full to operate. (I'm not as young as I used to be.!) Based on the performance of the MTD otherwise, I looked ... more
February 22, 2012
Mark D. Apple Valley, MN
Updated Review
We've had a very mild winter and yesterday there was maybe 3 inches of the heavier spring type snow. On the plus side the machine just chugs happily away through even this type of snow, with little hiccups or complaints.
However, the distance thrown is greatly reduced to maybe 5-8 feet out, at best. Yes I know it's heavier snow. I was doing some research on the web about increasing distance, and basically it comes down to the amount of space between the impeller and the chute. So I go outside this morning and look at it and sure enough, there is a bigger than normal gap between the impeller fan blades and the chutes. My other one is much tighter clearance, the 8HP craftsman, which this is basically the same in engine size. So I think that aspect may need to be improved by MTD, but then again I've never been that impressed with MTD or the way they conduct business. Unfortunately they are the largest mfg of such types of equipment.
I may be doing some experimentation to see what happens if I minimize that gap.
We've had a very mild winter and yesterday there was maybe 3 inches of the heavier spring type snow. On the plus side the machine just chugs happily away through even this type of snow, with little hiccups or complaints.
However, the distance thrown is greatly reduced to maybe 5-8 feet out, at best. Yes I know it's heavier snow. I was doing some research on the web about increasing distance, and basically it comes down to the amount of space between the impeller and the chute. So I go outside this morning and look at it and sure enough, there is a bigger than normal gap between the imp... more
December 04, 2011
Mark D. Apple Valley, MN
Just Got One Of These About A Month Ago.
Had an old 8 HP Craftsman that lasted 23 years, and was still running, but it needed service and figured I'd be better off with putting that money into a new one, since sooner than later that old Craftsman would be about done.
Anyway, this was a great value overall. So far we've only had light snow, today was more of a better test as we had maybe 3-4 inches of light snow. The 526 works well, one pull start, handles easily with the power steering. Doesn't throw snow as far as the old craftsman, maybe it seems like 20-25 feet, where as the Craftsman literally would toss it 30-35 feet, seriously, and that was rated the same HP as this one. But probably has something to do with the lighter snow, as I noticed at the end of the driveway where the snowplow dumped it seemed to be better.
The one thing I don't care for is the chute seems to not rotate far enough to the left for what I'd like. To the right it comes back farther, but only about midway on the left. I'd like more range. But overall I'm happy with it, and from what I saw in the stores prior to this then I think it was a great choice. Personally, I wish they'd toss the 357 cc engine on this one, because the 30" is just too big for what I need it for. But a bigger engine would be nice. I don't think in the long run I'd have been happy with the 208 cc engine.
Had an old 8 HP Craftsman that lasted 23 years, and was still running, but it needed service and figured I'd be better off with putting that money into a new one, since sooner than later that old Craftsman would be about done.
Anyway, this was a great value overall. So far we've only had light snow, today was more of a better test as we had maybe 3-4 inches of light snow. The 526 works well, one pull start, handles easily with the power steering. Doesn't throw snow as far as the old craftsman, maybe it seems like 20-25 feet, where as the Craftsman literally would toss it 30-35 feet, se... more
November 16, 2011
Ed G. Eden Prairie, MN
Great Deal
Needed a new blower since my 10 year old Toro was getting a bit worn out and wanted a larger machine given the new house. Spoke to the folks at SBD and they recommended this machine and I am very happy with it. Easy to use and great features and the best part is I saved a couple of hundred bucks and it was delivered right to my house. Would highly recommend this machine if you have a big driveway and live in a place with a lot of snow.
November 04, 2011
Greg M. Florence, MA
October Snowstorm
Got my new Cub Cadet one week before the surprise snow storm hit us. 8" of wet, sticky snow that knocked us out of power for two days. The Cub handled it extremely well. It's a lot lighter and with the power steering is much more maneuverable than my previous Lawnboy blower. It also throws the snow much farther and higher. On the negative side, it seems more cheaply made than the Lawnboy which was an all gear drive and lasted me for twenty, rugged New England winters and is still running. I guess that time will tell.
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