Kubota ZD331 Reviews
Kubota Kid
Model Year: 2009
My ZD331 with 72in. deck is just about the best quality built lawn mower on the market today. I have almost 2000 hrs. now and still running the original belts. Only glitch has been the seat safety switch that I have replaced twice in 5 years. Heavy duty, built to last and the best tool to have with my Cyclone Rake in the Fall. I also have a Kubota GR 2010 with 54-in. Deck and Bagging System which I use around around smaller lawns. The steering and all-wheel-drive makes this mower operate better then an automobile. I could write a book on the outstanding performance and quality of both the ZD331 and the GR2010.
Pros: Heavy duty, quality built.
Cons: Minor problem with ZD331 seat safety switch ($7.00 item).
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Model Year: 2009
My ZD331 with 72in. deck is just about the best quality built lawn mower on the market today. I have almost 2000 hrs. now and still running the original belts. Only glitch has been the seat safety switch that I have replaced twice in 5 years. Heavy duty, built to last and the best tool to have with my Cyclone Rake in the Fall. I also have a Kubota GR 2010 with 54-in. Deck and Bagging System which I use around around smaller lawns. The steering and all-wheel-drive makes this mower operate better then an automobile. I could write a book on the outstanding performance and quality of both the ZD331 and the GR2010.
Pros: Heavy duty, quality built.
Cons: Minor problem with ZD331 seat safety switch ($7.00 item).
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A Real Nice Machine
Model Year: 2012
I, like another fellow on here started out with a 2004 ZD21. It was a real nice machine. Made a few repairs on it over the years but never let me down. Last year I upgraded to the 331 and it has worked out very well. It is much easier to grease as Kubota made access panels to get to the fittings, and fittings are in great supply which I like. This thing is built like a tank. Honestly, it is a good machine. A friend has a John Deere equivalent and his has done well for him under heavy use. I just trust Kubota as my last one was so good. Did I mention that darn fuel system? Okay, I'm finished...
Pros: Abrams tank build.
Cons: Confusing fuel tank switching system.
Model Year: 2012
I, like another fellow on here started out with a 2004 ZD21. It was a real nice machine. Made a few repairs on it over the years but never let me down. Last year I upgraded to the 331 and it has worked out very well. It is much easier to grease as Kubota made access panels to get to the fittings, and fittings are in great supply which I like. This thing is built like a tank. Honestly, it is a good machine. A friend has a John Deere equivalent and his has done well for him under heavy use. I just trust Kubota as my last one was so good. Did I mention that darn fuel system? Okay, I'm finished...
Pros: Abrams tank build.
Cons: Confusing fuel tank switching system.
My Second Kubota ZD, and No Regrets.
Model Year: 2012
I first bought a ZD21 in 2004 and used it to mow about 5 acres weekly around the farm. Good machine. I decided to upgrade this year and am very happy with the ZD331. It has some upgrades that were annoying with the 21. Foot pedals for the lift and e-brake. Easier access to the deck for greasing and service. I hate the dual tank system. (2) 6 gallons. One tank has use of the fuel gauge the other has a light that starts blinking when it gets down to half a tank and then you change a valve to the tank with the gauge. They need to connect the two tanks so the gauge reads both like semi trucks do.
Pros: Power, heavy build, dependable, a real tank.
Cons: Goofy dual tanks.
Model Year: 2012
I first bought a ZD21 in 2004 and used it to mow about 5 acres weekly around the farm. Good machine. I decided to upgrade this year and am very happy with the ZD331. It has some upgrades that were annoying with the 21. Foot pedals for the lift and e-brake. Easier access to the deck for greasing and service. I hate the dual tank system. (2) 6 gallons. One tank has use of the fuel gauge the other has a light that starts blinking when it gets down to half a tank and then you change a valve to the tank with the gauge. They need to connect the two tanks so the gauge reads both like semi trucks do.
Pros: Power, heavy build, dependable, a real tank.
Cons: Goofy dual tanks.
Great machine
Model Year: 2008
I have the ZD331 72" and cut about 5 acres, mostly bahia grass (fast growing and tough). Prior to this machine I had a Exmark 54" 25HP gas. The Exmark, is a nice machine for a "normal" yard, it just didn't cut it (excuse the pun) on this property. The ZD331 has more than ample HP and is just an all around heavier duty machine. This machine with the 31HP, will wreck the OEM blades when cutting tough grasses. When used with Gator blades, this thing can't be stopped.
Pros: Power, hydraulic lift deck, seat, & self contained jack for maintaining blades.
Cons: 72" deck can scalp-true with most wide decks; parts not cheap.
Model Year: 2008
I have the ZD331 72" and cut about 5 acres, mostly bahia grass (fast growing and tough). Prior to this machine I had a Exmark 54" 25HP gas. The Exmark, is a nice machine for a "normal" yard, it just didn't cut it (excuse the pun) on this property. The ZD331 has more than ample HP and is just an all around heavier duty machine. This machine with the 31HP, will wreck the OEM blades when cutting tough grasses. When used with Gator blades, this thing can't be stopped.
Pros: Power, hydraulic lift deck, seat, & self contained jack for maintaining blades.
Cons: 72" deck can scalp-true with most wide decks; parts not cheap.
ZD331LP72
Model Year: 2010
Speed and performance, reduced my mowing time to a third of what it was. It is well built, commercial grade with very little plastic unlike other equipment I have seen and owned. Maintenance has been easy so far, grease zerks are easily accessible. Filters for engine and hydraulics are within easy reach.
Pros: Fuel economy, power, construction, ease of maintenance.
Cons: Price.
Model Year: 2010
Speed and performance, reduced my mowing time to a third of what it was. It is well built, commercial grade with very little plastic unlike other equipment I have seen and owned. Maintenance has been easy so far, grease zerks are easily accessible. Filters for engine and hydraulics are within easy reach.
Pros: Fuel economy, power, construction, ease of maintenance.
Cons: Price.
A huge grass eater.
Model Year: 2009
Traded a well liked ZD28 w/ 72" deck in on the new ZD331 w/ 72" deck, as it had some new features that we liked. This is an excellent mower, with lots of power, nice features, and the Kubota tradition of quality. This is an good choice for large areas that are fairly flat. But beware, it is large and heavy, and does not get along very well with hilly terrain. We have a pond at the bottom of a hill that the ZD28 was fairly good with, but the ZD331 is a scary ride toward the pond. My wife will not cut the grass near the pond on the ZD331. Once it is moving in a descending direction, it likes to keep going. I ended up purchasing a GR2110 4WD to handle that task as the ZD331 was not to it.
Pros: Powerful, quick cutting.
Cons: Heavy, not well suited for hilly terrain.
Model Year: 2009
Traded a well liked ZD28 w/ 72" deck in on the new ZD331 w/ 72" deck, as it had some new features that we liked. This is an excellent mower, with lots of power, nice features, and the Kubota tradition of quality. This is an good choice for large areas that are fairly flat. But beware, it is large and heavy, and does not get along very well with hilly terrain. We have a pond at the bottom of a hill that the ZD28 was fairly good with, but the ZD331 is a scary ride toward the pond. My wife will not cut the grass near the pond on the ZD331. Once it is moving in a descending direction, it likes to keep going. I ended up purchasing a GR2110 4WD to handle that task as the ZD331 was not to it.
Pros: Powerful, quick cutting.
Cons: Heavy, not well suited for hilly terrain.
Best ZTR Mower I've ever used.
Model Year: 2008
When I bought this Mower the first thing that stood out to me was how much "heavier-duty" it was than any other mower I had looked at or owned in the past. Mow with the strength come quite a bit of weight, however I thought it was a good trade off, you just have to be a little more careful when the ground is wet. I also love the transmission in this machine. It actually has a hydrostat trans. rather than a just two hydraulic pumps, which makes it a little less "touchy" for those less-experienced operators. Another excellent feature is the 31 hp Kubota diesel engine. It provides more than enough torque to cut through even the highest, wettest grass if it had to. The only thing about this mower I would change is the lift, you actually have to "jack it up" rather than just pull out a "lifting arm" and drive forward. It's just more time consuming, and time is money. Also, compared to mowers I've owned in the past it is much harder to get clean because it has so many cracks and crevices where grass can get down in, but again not that big of a deal. I would recommend this mower to anyone with a large space to mow.
Pros: Hydro trans, diesel, heavy duty, hydraulically lifted deck
Cons: a little heavy, lifting mechanism, a bit pricey.
Model Year: 2008
When I bought this Mower the first thing that stood out to me was how much "heavier-duty" it was than any other mower I had looked at or owned in the past. Mow with the strength come quite a bit of weight, however I thought it was a good trade off, you just have to be a little more careful when the ground is wet. I also love the transmission in this machine. It actually has a hydrostat trans. rather than a just two hydraulic pumps, which makes it a little less "touchy" for those less-experienced operators. Another excellent feature is the 31 hp Kubota diesel engine. It provides more than enough torque to cut through even the highest, wettest grass if it had to. The only thing about this mower I would change is the lift, you actually have to "jack it up" rather than just pull out a "lifting arm" and drive forward. It's just more time consuming, and time is money. Also, compared to mowers I've owned in the past it is much harder to get clean because it has so many cracks and crevices where grass can get down in, but again not that big of a deal. I would recommend this mower to anyone with a large space to mow.
Pros: Hydro trans, diesel, heavy duty, hydraulically lifted deck
Cons: a little heavy, lifting mechanism, a bit pricey.