Shopping for a new Zero Turn --- this is what I've found so far, INPUT NEEDED

westbrooklawn · Mar 16, 2013

You will love that Hustler... great choice and good price too...

TSO · Mar 16, 2013

Well, what a day! Woke up to 4" of snow, had to hurry up and plow. Wife & kids wanted to go along for the ride, so had to get them all packed up. Snow and freezing rain until I hit the Mich/Ohio line, saw 6 cars in the ditch along the way, as well as 4 traffic-slowing accidents.

Finally got to the dealership and there she was, all pretty and ready to jump up on my trailer.

. Loaded her up and started tying her down, and then realized I only had 2 of my 4 HD ratchet straps with me. I had some light duty ones too, which held tight for the quick drive to a nearby store for more HD straps.

Had lunch at Cracker Barrel, always a good time. Stopped for too many bathroom breaks (gotta live traveling with kids).

Got almost home, stopped for gas again, had to go to the third gas station because the first two didn't have functioning credit card readers. Which of course you don't realize until after you park and undo the gas cap.

So, roughly 9 hours of driving, but she's home. She's a little dirty from the drive, but I'll get her all polished before the cutting season starts. There's a couple paint rubs and blemishes that I'll touch up too.

But, she's home and parked in the barn. The engine really purrs, and the seat is really comfy. Very happy so far, although I've only put about 5 minutes in her!

Thanks again for the replies and input.

A few pics, including the old Ford she's replacing. Just getting it cleaned up and checked over so I can put it up for sale.

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robbyr · Mar 16, 2013

aczlan said:
The machines that I worked with in 2007 (2006 60" Huskvarna commercial zero turns with ~27HP Aircooled Kawasaki engines comparing to 2004-2005 eXmark Lazer-Z machines with 26-27HP Watercooled Kasasaki engines) had four main issues:
1. Slow ground speed, the eXmarks were significantly faster which is a fairly big deal when mowing large areas

2. Poor belt setup, the eXmarks have a "mule belt" that runs to a jackshaft on the deck, then a dedicated belt that goes from the jackshaft to the three spindles. The Husky had one belt that did all of that. The downside is that when you push the machine too hard, on the eXmark, you might smoke the $30 mule belt a once or twice per season (depending on the driver), but we would get several seasons out of the $70 deck belt. On the Husky, if the driver wasn't paying attention, they would smoke the $90 belt that drives the whole deck as happened 3-4 times per season

3. On the Husky, the top of the deck was shaped sort of like this: |---==---| and there was a flat coverplate over the lowered center section (the "==" in the diagram, which is where the belt ran). The belt path area was open in the middle of back, so you would get grass coming in there and migrating pack into the whole belt path. We almost had a fire at the beginning of the season due to that. We ended up running without the top plates most of the time so that we could blow the belt path out several times per day.

4. Not as well "balanced" when driving, the eXmarks were easier to keep going in a straight line as the damper shocks on their sticks were far more effective despite being older machines with more hours

Aaron Z

Thanks for the info, can't beat cold hard facts.

robbyr · Mar 16, 2013

TSO said:
Well, what a day! Woke up to 4" of snow, had to hurry up and plow. Wife & kids wanted to go along for the ride, so had to get them all packed up. Snow and freezing rain until I hit the Mich/Ohio line, saw 6 cars in the ditch along the way, as well as 4 traffic-slowing accidents.

Finally got to the dealership and there she was, all pretty and ready to jump up on my trailer. . Loaded her up and started tying her down, and then realized I only had 2 of my 4 HD ratchet straps with me. I had some light duty ones too, which held tight for the quick drive to a nearby store for more HD straps.

Had lunch at Cracker Barrel, always a good time. Stopped for too many bathroom breaks (gotta live traveling with kids).

Got almost home, stopped for gas again, had to go to the third gas station because the first two didn't have functioning credit card readers. Which of course you don't realize until after you park and undo the gas cap.

So, roughly 9 hours of driving, but she's home. She's a little dirty from the drive, but I'll get her all polished before the cutting season starts. There's a couple paint rubs and blemishes that I'll touch up too.

But, she's home and parked in the barn. The engine really purrs, and the seat is really comfy. Very happy so far, although I've only put about 5 minutes in her!

Thanks again for the replies and input.

A few pics, including the old Ford she's replacing. Just getting it cleaned up and checked over so I can put it up for sale.

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Sent from my Motorola Smartphone w/ TractorByNet for Android

NICE:thumbsup:

Alan L. · Mar 17, 2013

I don't think you can go wrong with that rig.

Coyote machine · Mar 17, 2013

Nice rig. What's that puppy weigh?
Curious why you'd tow it at the back of your landscape trailer, instead of up front to get some tongue weight?

newt92 · Mar 17, 2013

TSO, thats a great deal IMO on that Hustler. I did demo one of those, though I thought it was a little under powered, it could have just been the one I ran. Friend of mine runs one of those in his lawn care business and loves it.

Next time you plan a long drive like that, take the rear gate off and use ramps. You lose at least 4mpg+ with that gate catching air. Short runs around home gates are fine, but long trips like that just cost you a bunch more $ in gas..

Turbys_1700 · Mar 17, 2013

IMHO, you got a new mower at a used price...
172 hours is nothing for that unit...
You made a great choice...
My father-in-law was a superintendent at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga Tennessee for many years...
The only mower they ever used was Hustler...
He swore by them...
I know that is comparing apples to oranges but I still remember him talking about how good they were...
Get us some action pics...
You did real good...
Congratulations...

TSO · Mar 17, 2013

Thanks guys. I think she weighs around 1700. Definitely not a lightweight!

She was centered over the trailer wheels, actually a little bit forward of them - that's a 16' trailer.

Good point about the gate, didn't even think about that. I need to weld up some heavy duty ramps anyhow for my tractor (it weighs around 5000#) so that's in the plans. Hadn't even thought about MPG's tho.

I hope it's not underpowered - that Ford in the pic uses a 27 horse 3cyl Shibaura.. This Hustler has a 25 horse Shibaura. I'm assuming 3 cyl, but not sure. That Ford weighs around 2200#+ and is hydrostatic, I never felt it was underpowered . My property is mostly level, so not many hills to contend with. If it is underpowered, I'll post about it... I'll give it a fair review once I actually use it.

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westbrooklawn · Mar 17, 2013

You will really appreciate the suspension seat. I have it on mine, and when I rode a friend's without it I couldn't believe the difference. I've never used a machine with the flex forks, but my dealer said their efficiency goes down if the operator is over 230 lbs (which I am), so I never got them on mine. Seems they can flex a bit too much with the heavy weight and potentially cause a little scalping.

TSO · Mar 17, 2013

westbrooklawn said:
You will really appreciate the suspension seat. I have it on mine, and when I rode a friend's without it I couldn't believe the difference. I've never used a machine with the flex forks, but my dealer said their efficiency goes down if the operator is over 230 lbs (which I am), so I never got them on mine. Seems they can flex a bit too much with the heavy weight and potentially cause a little scalping.

That would make sense... I'm usually between 185-200lbs, so it should be fine for me. Obviously I haven't cut with it yet, but just driving it around on my driveway (gravel) it's quite smooth. Taking it over bumpy spots don't seem bad at all.

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Carl_NH · Mar 17, 2013

Congratulations on your new machine - thats an impressive looking zero turn and like others have said - nearly new. The shot from the back side shows how massive it is.

Once you get some running time I'd be curious what the noise level is on that machine? It would appear with the shrouding it will be quieter? I know on the Ferris it's 40% engine and 60% deck/blades - I wear earplugs or muffs when running.

Now its waiting time for the snow to melt before you can give it a good workout.

Carl

joshuabardwell · Mar 17, 2013

TSO said:
Good point about the gate, didn't even think about that. I need to weld up some heavy duty ramps anyhow for my tractor (it weighs around 5000#) so that's in the plans. Hadn't even thought about MPG's tho.

I have what appears to be basically the exact same trailer as you, and I have two cents to give you about hauling a tractor on it. If your trailer is like mine, it's a 16', tandem axle, utility trailer with 7000 lb GVWR. The cross-members on the frame are perhaps 2x3" angle iron, at something like 3' spacing. When I got my tractor, I thought, "7000 lbs GVWR - 1600 lbs trailer weight - 4000 lbs tractor weight = I'm 1400 lbs under, I'm good!" Not so. First of all, as you have suggested, the gate will not load the tractor without being damaged. It did it a few times, but I could see that it was going to give out. I eventually put some jack stands under the middle of it to give it some extra support, but even that was dicey. The real problem, however, is that a utility trailer rated for 7000 lbs is just not made to carry all 7000 lbs concentrated on as small an area as a vehicle creates. If you think about it, worst case scenario is that your tractor's axles are right over two cross-members, which means that each little piece of angle iron is carrying half the tractor's weight. If you look at car-haulers vs. utility trailers in a similar size and GVWR, you'll see that the car-haulers have different construction that is designed to handle the high point-load that a vehicle's tires make; utility trailers are not.

Bottom line: I wouldn't tow a tractor on a utility trailer.

TSO · Mar 17, 2013

Carl_NH said:
Congratulations on your new machine - thats an impressive looking zero turn and like others have said - nearly new. The shot from the back side shows how massive it is.

Once you get some running time I'd be curious what the noise level is on that machine? It would appear with the shrouding it will be quieter? I know on the Ferris it's 40% engine and 60% deck/blades - I wear earplugs or muffs when running.

Now its waiting time for the snow to melt before you can give it a good workout.

Carl

My 4 year old wanted to go for a ride... So we're going slow and at lower RPM's (for noise). I would say it's about as loud as a gasser, just different pitch.

It is big tho, which should help smooth out the ride.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJxiBU9Mico&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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TSO · Mar 17, 2013

joshuabardwell said:
I have what appears to be basically the exact same trailer as you, and I have two cents to give you about hauling a tractor on it. If your trailer is like mine, it's a 16', tandem axle, utility trailer with 7000 lb GVWR. The cross-members on the frame are perhaps 2x3" angle iron, at something like 3' spacing. When I got my tractor, I thought, "7000 lbs GVWR - 1600 lbs trailer weight - 4000 lbs tractor weight = I'm 1400 lbs under, I'm good!" Not so. First of all, as you have suggested, the gate will not load the tractor without being damaged. It did it a few times, but I could see that it was going to give out. I eventually put some jack stands under the middle of it to give it some extra support, but even that was dicey. The real problem, however, is that a utility trailer rated for 7000 lbs is just not made to carry all 7000 lbs concentrated on as small an area as a vehicle creates. If you think about it, worst case scenario is that your tractor's axles are right over two cross-members, which means that each little piece of angle iron is carrying half the tractor's weight. If you look at car-haulers vs. utility trailers in a similar size and GVWR, you'll see that the car-haulers have different construction that is designed to handle the high point-load that a vehicle's tires make; utility trailers are not.

Bottom line: I wouldn't tow a tractor on a utility trailer.

I completely agree with you, when I bought that trailer I did not expect to have a tractor as big as I do, and now I wish I had bought a car hauler instead of utility trailer.

I will only put the tractor on it when absolutely necessary. I am planning to weld a few bracket supports underneath the frame to help out during those few occasions.

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Carl_NH · Mar 17, 2013

TSO said:
My 4 year old wanted to go for a ride..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJxiBU9Mico&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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Sure we understand the 4yr old made you do it - i can see the smile on your face too!

It's like a big boy bumper car - had me grinning from ear to ear too.

Thanks for the video

Carl

djdicetn · Mar 20, 2013

TSO said:
That would make sense... I'm usually between 185-200lbs, so it should be fine for me. Obviously I haven't cut with it yet, but just driving it around on my driveway (gravel) it's quite smooth. Taking it over bumpy spots don't seem bad at all.

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TSO,
Everyone's spot on....U did good!!!!! I don't know about the flex forks, but I weigh about the same as you, have the same suspension seat on my Gravely and you're gonna really like the ride. If you take care off that Hustler it'll most likely outlive you:0)

TSO · Mar 25, 2013

So.. I had started touching up a few spots in the paint on the deck and frame with the dealer paint and it was really thin, didn't like using it at all. I had read that people claim that the tractor store brand "cat yellow" is a real close match, so i bought that and started applying it, much better & thicker consistency.

However, once it dried, it wasn't really close enough to match. The next logical step of course was to remove pieces and repaint it all! So, that's what i did. I also painted the flex forks, which were black, because i thought it looked better in yellow.

I still need to do the ROPS, and the engine cover (it's resin, so i want to wait until it's warmer).

But she turned out pretty good, and I'm a fan if Caterpillar yellow anyhow!