Cub Cadet XT2 LX42 42-inch lawn tractor review

The Cub Cadet XT2 LX42 is a current U.S. lawn tractor identified by product number 13APA1TEA10. It combines a 42-inch fabricated AeroForce deck with a 20 HP/747cc Kohler twin and a foot-pedal Tuff Torq K46 hydrostatic drive. This is a gas-powered seated tractor with conventional steering-wheel controls, not a battery mower or a zero-turn. The review uses Cub Cadet’s exact product page and the operator manual linked to this exact code; it is not a field test.

What the 42-inch deck changes

The LX42 is the narrowest of the four XT2 riding models on Cub Cadet’s current XT2 Enduro listing. Its 42-inch cutting width is a useful dividing line if you are weighing coverage against clearance: it takes a narrower swath than the 46-, 50- and 54-inch XT2 siblings, but that does not establish the complete tractor’s outside width. Measure the mower at its widest point and check gates, corners, trailer ramps and shed access before buying. The manufacturer page gives no acreage estimate for this exact model. A 42-inch deck or 20 HP rating cannot safely be converted into an acreage promise because mowing time depends on layout, grass, turns, slopes, clipping setup and conditions.

The deck is an 11-gauge steel fabricated AeroForce unit, not the stamped deck on a similarly sized XT1 model. That distinction is real; a fabricated label alone is not evidence of a tested cut or of immunity from damage. This LX42 uses two blades, manual blade engagement and manual deck lift. The listed cutting range is 1–4 inches in 12 positions, with two anti-scalp gauge wheels. The page describes the cutting system in favorable terms, but there is no independent cut-quality measurement here.

Tractor controls and engine ownership

Kohler’s 7000 Series HD KT720 is listed at 747cc and 20 HP, with twin cylinders, electric key starting, a carburetor and a 3-gallon fuel tank. Cub Cadet attributes horsepower to the engine maker’s gross rating at 3,600 rpm under SAE J1940. Read it as a published rating rather than a measurement of power at the blades. The 12-volt lead-acid battery listed on the page starts the gasoline engine; it does not propel the mower.

The K46 hydrostatic transmission is controlled by a foot pedal, so travel does not require selecting individual gears. The published maximums are 5.5 mph forward and 3 mph in reverse, with a 16-inch turning radius and cruise control. A seated tractor is comfortable for longer mowing stretches, but it needs room to turn and cannot pivot like a lap-bar zero-turn. The maker lists a high-back adjustable 15-inch seat with armrests, dual LED headlights, a cast-iron front pivot bar and a steel-tube bumper. These are features to compare against your route and priorities, not promises about comfort for every operator.

Plan for one clipping route at a time

The standard plan uses the manual’s lower-deck discharge deflector for side discharge. The exact page separately lists Cub Cadet’s 42/46-inch triple bagger, item 19A30056100, and the 42-inch fabricated-deck mulching kit, item 19B30054100. Neither is treated as included with the mower. Bagging and mulching are possible only after obtaining the compatible equipment and following the correct installation instructions; they are not simultaneous modes. If a bagger or mulch plug must already be in the box, the LX42 does not satisfy that requirement on the available package evidence.

Limits that affect fit

The mapped operator manual warns not to operate on slopes steeper than 15 degrees, directs travel up or down rather than across a slope, and restricts grass-catcher use to slopes no steeper than 10 degrees. Those are stated limits, not an assurance that a slope below them will be safe in all ground conditions. Do not mow when traction, steering or stability is uncertain, and avoid wet grass. The manual also describes safety checks, blade and interlock inspection, and keeping grass and debris away from hot engine areas. As with any gasoline tractor, plan for scheduled engine service, fuel storage, blade care and cleaning rather than treating it as maintenance-free.

Cub Cadet lists a three-year residential warranty with unlimited hours, five-year frame and front-axle coverage, and a lifetime-limited fabricated deck shell warranty; the page does not list commercial warranty coverage. Verify the written terms for the actual unit and sale.

Who should choose it?

Consider the XT2 LX42 if you want a conventional gas lawn tractor, prefer a fabricated 42-inch deck over a stamped alternative, and can accommodate the machine’s tractor turning pattern. It is a more clearance-conscious choice than the wider XT2 models, but Cub Cadet does not publish the full outside width or an acreage estimate here. If the lawn is open and you want a wider cut, compare the XT2 LX46 and its 46-inch deck; if a narrow footprint or hand control matters more than riding comfort, a walk-behind mower may fit better.

Use the finder to make the distinctions explicit: choose gas, ride-on, lawn tractor and tractor-wheel steering, then set a 42-inch minimum only if that threshold is truly essential. A request for a fabricated deck is supported by the exact specification, while bagging and mulching require separate purchase plans. Requiring a bagger or mulch plug in the original package rules this mower out. A gate-width requirement remains unresolved by deck width and needs a physical measurement.

Sources: Cub Cadet’s exact XT2 LX42 U.S. product page, its XT2 Enduro series listing, and Form 769-26989A linked on the exact product page. Model-code, feature and accessory statements apply to 13APA1TEA10, not to another LX42 year or configuration.