Mow with my bx24 or buy a zero turn mower?

harleyguy302 · Mar 3, 2011

Here's the story, when I originally bought my bx I had planned on buying a mower deck for it when my current riding mower died. Well now my mower died so I checked into pricing for the mower/bagger for the bx and it's in the ballpark of $4000. So now I am thinking maybe I should buy a zero turn mower instead. It would probably save me a lot of time as well. I just hate to have two pieces of equipment to maintain. Anyone had this issue?? Oh yeah I'll be mowing around 2 acres with a fair amount of trees.

roma3112 · Mar 3, 2011

depending on your fabrication skills I was abel to adapt a mower deck from a bx22 to fit my bx24. It works well(second season) and I only paid $800.00 from craigs list. if i find my link i will post it

roma3112 · Mar 3, 2011

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/148308-bx24-mmm-compability.html

here is the link good luck !

DAY · Mar 3, 2011

I'll be mowing around 2 acres with a fair amount of trees."

I think a zero turn would be alot faster than either a rider or a MMM. When I see them mowing industrial parks and the like, they really zip around. 2 acres every week or two is a lot of seat time. Any chance of renting one to see if it would be the tool of preference? (In the best of all worlds, the dealer will deliver a unit to try out!)

whiskywizard · Mar 3, 2011

I just went through the same decision process. In the end I decided to buy the ZTR instead of the MMM. I was concerned about the weight of the tractor in the Spring when the lawn is soft, and the extra trimming required. The ZTR is MUCH faster and leaves almost no trimming.

Part of the cost of the ZTR is covered by the savings of foregoing the MMM.

Tompet · Mar 3, 2011

I went through same thing...I got rid of deck from the Massey GC2310 I had at the time (just used deck once) and a couple years later bought a ZTR. I'd rather dedicate the tractor to other uses. I have a couple acres of lawn with a lot of trees and a small woods...mowing isn't even a chore with the ZTR. It's amazing how quick it is compared to the way I used to mow. If it wasn't for a ditch along road I wouldn't even need trim mower..just a weed whip and ZTR.

450EXC · Mar 3, 2011

I'll vote for the ZTR also. I switched last spring and never looked back. I was mowing 4 arces with a 6' 3-pt and trim with a rider. Love the ZTR.

9973720wb19 · Mar 3, 2011

I've owned and used both. My Zmower runs circles around a tractor with MMM. I'm mowing about 15ac and I've had my son on the Z and me on the tractor/mmm at the same time, and I feel bad at the end because my son ends up mowing most of the land. the only value i see with a tractor is if you have a cab and when it's "very" hot can mow in a/c, other than that i'd get a Zmower...it does one thing and one thing very well...mow.

leonz · Mar 3, 2011

harleyguy302 said:
Here's the story, when I originally bought my bx I had planned on buying a mower deck for it when my current riding mower died. Well now my mower died so I checked into pricing for the mower/bagger for the bx and it's in the ballpark of $4000. So now I am thinking maybe I should buy a zero turn mower instead. It would probably save me a lot of time as well. I just hate to have two pieces of equipment to maintain. Anyone had this issue?? Oh yeah I'll be mowing around 2 acres with a fair amount of trees.

If it were me,I would buy a 60 inch flail mower for your BX 24
from Ken Sweet preferably for half the money as he is site sponsor. or buy a 60 inch Caroni Flail Mower from Agri Supply - Farm Supplies, Tools, Lawn Mower Blades, Cast Iron Cookware rather than buy a szero turn mower.

radioman · Mar 3, 2011

you only have 2 acres to mow you said. Are the trees random/close together or far apart in some sort of a line? they have 48 inch deck you know that might work instead. I prefer a 60 inch on 2 acres, saves time. If there are many trees, then I would say grass doesnt grow well so it wont be growing like crazy.

I would just cut down a few trees and dig out stumps to make it easier with MMM on BX (which you already have:thumbsup:

I too hate to maintain another machine- it just makes the yearly maintaince expensive. changing oil costs just doubles and on 2 acres it really doesnt make sense IMHO.

freddyr · Mar 3, 2011

Id rather fit a tree with the zero turn than the kubota. If u have room for storage the zero turn is the way!

harleyguy302 · Mar 4, 2011

It looks like the zero turn is the way to go. I know one thing, I want the 60" deck either way. I have been mowing most of it with a 38" deck.
The trees are randomly placed and I have done my landscaping anticipating a 60" deck. I do love having the bota around, the front loader and backhoe have saved my back.

spike23 · Mar 4, 2011

Too bad you're looking now and not a few months ago, after mowing season ends. I bought mine in the dead of winter in 2005 and got it at a good price. Problem was I couldn't play - er, I mean work with it for a few months.
Chris

harleyguy302 · Mar 4, 2011

You are correct I should have been looking. But I have been busy trying to complete a remodel on the house. Been dumping alot of money and TIME into that. I am just looking forward to getting back outside and playing in the yard with a new toy...I mean mower.:thumbsup:

korydz · Mar 4, 2011

I went through the same process last spring looking to replace the 38" rider that I had been using for the last couple of years. I ended up buying a 60" deck for my BX2660 and am thrilled with it. I'm sure the ZTR would be even faster, but the lower cost of just buying a deck and having one less engine/battery/maintenance to worry about makes the deck for you BX at least a strong consideration.

I had never had the FEL off of my BX until I got the mower. It is incredible how much smaller and more manouverable the BX is without it. If you've never done so, take off the loader and drive around your trees and see how tight you can get. My well treed lawn used to take two hours with the 38" rider I can now do in an hour, and far more comfortable too.

Don87 · Mar 5, 2011

The only thing I can add is the fact that my neighbor can mow 3 acres to my 1 in the same amount of time..............But I still ain't getting a ZTR.............I need my tractor.

EDIT: If you opt for a ZTR..........get a commercial model...............ya don't need to take my word for it, check the threads here on TBN............thank me later.

ejkessler · Mar 5, 2011

I have owned both and initially thought a Zero turn was mostly hype. Man was I wrong. I had the 60" deck on a BX22 and it did all right. Some scalping at times but that depends on how truly flat all of you area is. The zero turn will do the area in easily 1/3 the time of the Bota with MMM deck. I own a Scag Freedom Z 52" and it works like a dream. Don't get caught in the trap of buying some of the Zero turn crap out there. Most of the commercial grade manufactures make an entry level machine that works well for home owners. Cub Cadet, Husqy, Toro via Home Depot/Lowes/Tractor Supply sell mostly the tinny crap. Scag, Ferris, Kubota, Snapper are solid well built machines. Stay with the Kawasaki engines and not the Briggs and Stratton, Tecumseh or Kohler. They will work but they are just not the same. If you value your time you will go with a quality made zero turn.

Don87 · Mar 5, 2011

ejkessler said:
I have owned both and initially thought a Zero turn was mostly hype. Man was I wrong. I had the 60" deck on a BX22 and it did all right. Some scalping at times but that depends on how truly flat all of you area is. The zero turn will do the area in easily 1/3 the time of the Bota with MMM deck. I own a Scag Freedom Z 52" and it works like a dream. Don't get caught in the trap of buying some of the Zero turn crap out there. Most of the commercial grade manufactures make an entry level machine that works well for home owners. Cub Cadet, Husqy, Toro via Home Depot/Lowes/Tractor Supply sell mostly the tinny crap. Scag, Ferris, Kubota, Snapper are solid well built machines. Stay with the Kawasaki engines and not the Briggs and Stratton, Tecumseh or Kohler. They will work but they are just not the same. If you value your time you will go with a quality made zero turn.

Excellent point...............even though one is dealing with a commercial manufacturer...........be sure that you are dealing with a 'commercial' machine.

BotaBigot · Mar 5, 2011

No comparison...ZTR designed to do one thing...mow grass. Tractor is multi-purpose. Multi-purpose tools are a compromise...

whiskywizard · Mar 5, 2011

Don87 said:
EDIT: If you opt for a ZTR..........get a commercial model...............ya don't need to take my word for it, check the threads here on TBN............thank me later.

+1
there's a small cost difference and a huge quality/reliability difference when you step up to a commercial ZTR (even from the same manufacturer).