Advice on zero turns

[tcartwri]

The Ferris IS700/600 and the Simplicity Citation are the best bang for your dollar period. Heavy duty components and fast mowing speed at residential prices.

 

[erda]

Just wondering if anyone's has any experience with Grasshopper mowers?

 

[TSO]

The local Kubota dealer carries them ... I've never used one, but I've Sat on practically every model they have.

Personally, they feel cheap and outdated ... like, I'm sitting on a mower from 1987. They definitely don't feel refined like my Hustler. But again, take this impression for what it's worth ... I've only sat on, and not used them.

 

[Hill Farmer]

I didn't read all the posts, so your questions are likely answered. You will cut your mowing time in half with a good 60" zero turn. It will easily handle more slope than you could think about putting your tractor on. Hard to flip a heavy 60" wide piece of steel riding a few inches off the ground. You will slide to the bottom before you turn over. A buddy of mine mows the berms at a local gun range without any issues. Some mentioned wet slopes being a problem, I guess they could be, but why mow when it's wet?

About your back, by design they ride like crap. Very short wheel base and most have no suspension. They ride rougher than a tractor, or tractor type mower. I have a 2006 Bad Boy Lightning with the adjustable spring tension type suspension seat. It rides like crap....
My neighbor just bought a new Bad Boy, the Outlaw or some such. It has an improved suspension seat, felt like an air ride but not sure if it was. The mower also rides on large rubber bushings as a "suspension." It rides GREAT compared to mine.
I've never mowed with a Ferris, but I've looked them over. They have a true suspension that should ride great. I'm am curious as to how the mower/suspension working up and down effect the cut. If I was looking I would demo one for sure, I have a dealer close.
When I compared apples to apples when I was looking Bad Boy seemed like the best bang for the buck to me. I also liked that they are made about 75 miles from where I live. I just couldn't find a heavier built mower for the money. That was 7 or 8 years ago, things could have changed.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Grasshopper mowers are definitely not cheap and outdated. They may have a boring, outdated paint scheme, but the mowers themselves are very popular with lawn care pros that put several hundred hours per season on their equipment. Those guys rely on their equipment every day, so reliability is important, which says a lot about the build quality of Grasshopper mowers. I see a lot of them on lawn service trailers around here.

You don't see many of them being used by Joe Homeowner because they are commercial quality machines built to stand up to professional use, not built to a price point to entice the bargain shopper.

 

[bigdogmax1]

Thank y'all again for the replies. We don't have a ferris or snapper dealer here. As I said before, I really like our local scag/hustler dealer (same place.) If they run a promo again with the zero percent interest and a couple grand off msrp, I'll jump on either the xone or cheetah. I really like the tiger cat, I just wish they offered the bigger 850 Kawasaki instead of the 23 horse. I will get an opportunity to look at the Kubotas this week too though. Thanks again everyone for the advice.

 

[TSO]

Grasshopper mowers are definitely not cheap and outdated. They may have a boring, outdated paint scheme, but the mowers themselves are very popular with lawn care pros that put several hundred hours per season on their equipment. Those guys rely on their equipment every day, so reliability is important, which says a lot about the build quality of Grasshopper mowers. I see a lot of them on lawn service trailers around here.

You don't see many of them being used by Joe Homeowner because they are commercial quality machines built to stand up to professional use, not built to a price point to entice the bargain shopper.

Probably depends on the area, but I can honestly say that I can remember seeing 2 grasshopper mowers in operation... one mowing a plaza (presumably by a landscape co) and one that appeared to be a homeowner mowing about 3 acres. Ever.

I do see them listed for sale used quite often though ...

 

[kevincook]

I have had a Ferris IS3100 for the last four seasons. This is a commerical mower and the suspension is more sophisticated than their residential models. Have the dealer bring you one to demo, you will not believe how smooth the ride is compared to a tractor or a ZTR without suspension. I think you would be able to mow your property in 1.5 hours with a ZTR.

 

[kwak]

I really like the tiger cat, I just wish they offered the bigger 850 Kawasaki instead of the 23 horse.

I own a 61" Tiger Cat with the Kawi FX730 23hp and I don't have any issues with power. If you search around a little I think you will find that the 23hp Kawi is comparable to other 25-27hp engines.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

The Kawi FX730 is now rated at 23hp, but used to be rated at 26hp. I think there was some class action suit against the engine manufacturers for overrating their HP, and they've all started backing off the HP claims the last couple of years.

 

[Manshoon]

This is just an option for you, they are very well built machines, although not commercial, but they are built as well as anything I have read up on. Toro time cutter 50" I just bought one myself, on Sale with Baggers and extra blades shipped for only 2700. priced matched. Because my neighbor has had one for over 5 years and it does a wonderful job on his property. Can't beat real life reviews and Since I have had mine, I can say "yes" it's a wonderful product so far. He has the 50" with the Kawasaki engine, I bought mine with the Kohler 23hp engine that people and industry have given excellent ratings.

It's Big, Red, and cuts anything in it's way so far, and with the 7MPH cruise speed, it's Fast as well.

 

[Capricious]

"..Toro time cutter ..."



It is my understanding that these machines, as well as many other "lower-end" zero-turns, use the Hydro Gear EZT drives. A little internet searching shows that the EZT drives do not have a stellar reputation. In fact, one can find several stories of failures, usually the left side drive.

If I were going to buy such a machine, I would not want one with this particular drive.

 

[tcartwri]

"..Toro time cutter ..."



It is my understanding that these machines, as well as many other "lower-end" zero-turns, use the Hydro Gear EZT drives. A little internet searching shows that the EZT drives do not have a stellar reputation. In fact, one can find several stories of failures, usually the left side drive.

If I were going to buy such a machine, I would not want one with this particular drive.

You can find issues with every level and brand of equipment. The internet just makes it easier to find people who have something to complain about.

 

[bigdogmax1]

Thanks again for all the imput. I still will be going with either the Scag Tiger Cat or Hustler X-One. I get 12 cc pumps on the Hustler vs 10 cc on the Scag, and I can get the bigger Kawasaki FX850 on the Hustler or the FX730, vs just the 730 on the Scag. Do I really need more than the Scag...lol probably not but hey, the X-One goes on promo for about the same as the Scag so why not go bigger. I think the biggest thing I here is that Hustlers handle and ride better, but the Scag has a prettier cut. Of course, the Hustler now has the VX4 Deck which I here is just as good as the Velocity. I will definitely hop on both before I make my decision. I did like the visibility of the deck on the Tiger Cat when I sat on it. I think that would be great going around my trees, driveway, flower beds, and pond. I wish we had a Ferris dealer here but the closest is almost an hour away. I will not own something that I can't have a service department close by. The Dixies are pretty cool looking but I just don't know.....we have a local dealer and they're priced competitively. Ex Marks just aren't what I expected for the price. Plus the warranties with the Hustlers are awesome (5 year), and Scag right behind them with the warranty (3 year.) I still have plenty of time to compare. I don't think ANY of our dealers demo.....

 

[IndianaDC]

So, my guess is I am late to party here but wanted to throw in my 2 cents anyway. Prior to a recent ZTR purchase, my wife and I would spend 8 hours total between us mowing the lawn each week. I would use my Case IH Farmall with a 5' finish mower and she would use a Toro Wheelhorse riding mower with a 52" deck. This summer we purchased a Hustler SuperZ HD with a 35 horse Kawi motor and 60" VX4 deck. I can now mow everything on the ZTR in a little less than 4 hours even up around the house. This unit has exceeded all my expectations. It was expensive no doubt, but the dealer is a family member and the unit was a demo with 24 hours on it so I got an awesome deal. I have a significant hill on my property as well as a pond and the Hustler has no issues what so ever. I was worried about this a great deal since I mowed those areas with my 4WHD tractor. I do use the ROPS and seat belt and never mow the hill or pond when wet. It took a while to get used to it and I am still figuring it out but mowing with this unit is pleasure. I have now even stated mowing fields with the ZTR that I used to only mow with the Tractor and bushog. I could not be happier with the unit.

 

[Capricious]

".. I have now even stated mowing fields with the ZTR that I used to only mow with the Tractor and bushog...."

How rough are those fields? Can the ZTR handle tall grass (like knee-high or waist-high) without the deck holding it below the level of the blades?

I have about 5 or 6 acres of rough ground to mow and made an offer on 3 acres more (turned down, but it aint over yet.)

 

[Navasot]

Just go sit on them all and see which one you like. If you have a cub cadet dealer near you it would be worth checking out the New Zforce LZ Commercial since its a good bit cheaper than what your looking at. Also if your mowing a lot of steep slopes like the tank dam a SZ model with a steering wheel and front wheel control might suit your needs better

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Whatever you do, get Kawasaki power and pulleys made from metal. The front steering zero turns are better on hills. With just castor wheels on the front of my zero turn, I added a bar that accepts bar weights and with fifty pounds, this weights the rear wheels so they hold on hills. My next upgrade will be new, wider tires.

 

[Capricious]

My concern is cutting tall grass; the old garden tractor that I sometimes use can only handle grass up to a certain level and then the front "wall" of the deck holds it down below the blades and nothing gets cut. I had to buy a tractor & rotary cutter for when the grass gets that high. I should mention that this is wild grass and some sprouting stumps, along with a few rocks, but no real heavy brush (not any more.)

I have trimmed a bit off that wall on the garden tractor deck, and may trim a bit more, but I don't want to cut steel off the deck of a new or "newer" machine.

 

[Navasot]

If you go commercial you wont have to worry about the tall grass. Iv had a M60 Tank Cub Cadet that I used like a bush hog.