How tuff is a zero turn mower?

[ztnme]

Just got my first zero turn mower - a BobCat FastCat RZ 52
I'm having a great time flying around the property with it, but soon realized my yard is a lot more bumpy than I ever imagined. I knew it was fairly bumpy with my garden tractor. But now that I have the extra speed, I'm probably jumping from bump to bump and going air borne over the dips. :thumbsup:

My question is ...... who is going to give out first, my body, or the ZT?

That has to be a lot of abuse to the axles, bearings, pumps, etc.

Any opinions or experience on this?

 

[magicheater]

If you slow down you will achieve a better cut. Just because you can go fast doesn't mean you have to. If you have a grass catcher on you may have some amplified forces that could stress the frame where it is mounted. Happened to me with my Hustler, great mower but poorly designed grass catcher.

 

[kf4uda]

Slow down and save your equipment. As magicheater said you will achieve much better results. If the mower is going airborn, then it is not cutting grass. I have a 52" SnapperPro zero turn. It will travel up to 10 mph. It will do a great job of cutting grass at that speed on a nice smooth yard. Most of my yard is not so smooth so I slow down. I paid a lot for my machine with the mindset of keeping it for a long time.

 

[ztnme]

Thanks for the replies. I'm just trying to figure out what I can and cannot do with this thing. After seeing how bumpy the ride is, it got me thinking. So I was just wondering if anyone had experienced or heard of failures due to the rough ride. Anyhow, thanks for the input.

By the way, I was looking at the Snapper Pro 150S before I bought the BobCat. Nice machine, just outside my budget.

 

[ztnme]

I see the post is getting a lot of views but not many responses.

Is it possible that means these zero turn mowers are hard to break?

 

[Shirleyshusband]

I've had my JD for two years now. Love it and beat it. As fast as I can go, slid around turns and along hills. Kind of like a fun ride at the carinival. Shows no signs of wear and runs like a champ!

 

[ztnme]

Awesome :thumbsup:

 

[futuresweets10]

One word for ya buddy.... FERRIS.... I love mine.... 4 wheel independent suspension.

 

[ztnme]

Solid 4 wheel dependant on mine

 

[wushaw]

My Grasshopper is 5yo and is a mowin machine, I mow as fast as my body can take it.

 

[doall]

My jd is about 4. never turned a bolt except servicing. your body will go first.

 

[lilranch2001]

eXmark for me.....
They are made to run 8-10 hours a day, 6 days a week and they usually last the commercial guys 3-4 years, I plan on mine lasting the rest of my life just mowing my 7-8 acrss I mow.

10 years old and I have replaced 1 fuel filter, 1 mule belt and 1 deck belt and god knows how many sets of blades from mowing in the woods and along the fence row.

Change fluids and keep fresh fuel and I believe I will have a running eXmark when I am cold n planted in the ground

 

[ztnme]

This is good news !

 

[coobie]

Solid 4 wheel dependant on mine

Not the same as ferris(INDEPENDANT)coobie.

 

[ztnme]

Coobie - I understood "independent"

Anyhow, just a follow up.
I bought a seat suspension seat kit from BobCat for the RZ. The seat from the factory was solid to the frame.

Now it's a whole new world out there with the suspension kit!!!!!

 

[Groo]

anyone have any input on the residential grade ZTRs and the integrated Hydro-Gear EZT sealed-for-life, non-servicable trannys?

 

[JTKub]

anyone have any input on the residential grade ZTRs and the integrated Hydro-Gear EZT sealed-for-life, non-servicable trannys?

I've read of lots of failures of the Hydrogear EZT series transaxles, right around the 250hr+ mark. It's mostly on 4-6yr old untis. I'd like to think Hydrogear has improved them to date given every ZTR manufacturer that I know of uses the EZTs on their entry level ZTRs. The main reason I bumped up to the Cub Z-Force is because of the fully serviceable ZT-2800 transaxles. Going back to the topic, my 1.5acres is extremely bumpy. I don't find the ride of the Z-Force any worse than the Cub 2544 it replaced. I'd love one with more 'suspension' than the pivoting front axle, but for the $3699+tax I paid for my 2010 Z-Force 44, it can't be beat. IMO, there's less parts on a ZTR w/out a steering axle, etc. so less to break. Wishfull thinking?!?!

Joel