ZTR gone, hello front mount

[KenBike]

Have 15 acres of land with fence around 11 for horse pasture. 15 years ago purchased a Kubota ZD21 with 60 deck and installed bar lug tires. Good mower and no issues just blades and fluid changes at 1200 hours decided to upgrade last year to a Kubota ZD 326 with 60" pro deck. Great mower but very heavy and after one year had ruts all over the lawn and along fences tress ect. Decided it had to go so switched over to a Grasshopper 729 T with a 60 deck. This has a Kubota 3 cylinder liquid cooled gas engine with carb. My dealer said guys really like this motor because it is 29 hp, has lots of torque and is very smooth. Only put about 10 hours so far but really love the machine. It is 350 lighter than the 326 at cuts much better. The front mount deck is great for getting under trees and sticks out 7 inches wider than tire on left side with 326 sticking out about 4".
Mounting snowblower this week so will see how it does.
Overall it is not as polished as the 326 but sure does more well.

 

[Creamer]

Totally agree! I will never have a mid-mount - the front deck on a ZTR keeps me out of the tree branches much better, makes for less trimming, and is much easier to service.

 

[DK35vince]

I have a question.
With a mid mount ZTR you eat a lot of grass on a dry/windy day.
Are front mounts better or worse for covering the operator with grass clippings?

 

[MossRoad]

I have a front mounted mower on my FEL arms and its a rear discharge, too. The clippings go under the tractor. I stay relatively clean.

 

[DHD]

Never owned a ZTR, but I really like my front mount mowers, (only 570 pounds) and really great on hills.
Easy service flip up deck (clean out clipping and change and sharpen blades) deck is also very easy to remove (less than a minute)
Not running over the grass with the tractors front tires before it's mowed.

DK35vince......
I can run either
rear-discharge or mulching.
Rear discharge can leave a buildup of clippings on the front transmission of my Husqvarna R322T awd, so I use the mulching option and have no problems with clippings gathering on the machine or operator on dry/windy days.

MossRoad..... That PowerTrac PT425 is an impressive machine.
Looks like you have two mowing decks ?

 

[Cpjlube]

I have a question. With a mid mount ZTR you eat a lot of grass on a dry/windy day. Are front mounts better or worse for covering the operator with grass clippings?

On the Grasshoppers, the discharge is usually to the front right of the operator. If the shield is installed the grass is discharged to a spot immediately to your right (3 o'clock).
Because of this design there are conditions where grass and dust will get you.
Be aware that the radiator sits directly behind you. So any grass or debris that come near you can get onto the radiator screen. Make sure to clean this screen often. One of the techs at a dealership near me said one of the few problems they see with the Kubota engines was overheating due to clogged radiators.

 

[Creamer]

My mower discharges to the right but with the deflector shield on I never have an issue eating grass clippings. Sometimes in the fall with dry leaves I will have to eat some dust and leaf debris if the wind is wrong. I also eat some dust when I go over my dry rock driveway with the blades on but that is because it creates a cloud.

 

[MossRoad]

Never owned a ZTR, but I really like my front mount mowers, (only 570 pounds) and really great on hills.
Easy service flip up deck (clean out clipping and change and sharpen blades) deck is also very easy to remove (less than a minute)
Not running over the grass with the tractors front tires before it's mowed.

DK35vince......
I can run either
rear-discharge or mulching.
Rear discharge can leave a buildup of clippings on the front transmission of my Husqvarna R322T awd, so I use the mulching option and have no problems with clippings gathering on the machine or operator on dry/windy days.

MossRoad..... That PowerTrac PT425 is an impressive machine.
Looks like you have two mowing decks ?

60" three blade finish mower and 48" brush cutter.

 

[KenBike]

Pulled off the deck and installed the 60" blower. I spent about 1 hour the first time but should be a half to swap back. Just waiting for enough snow for the first blow.
This is one big advantage of the Grasshopper front fount over mid mounts.

 

[Coyote machine]

Pulled off the deck and installed the 60" blower. I spent about 1 hour the first time but should be a half to swap back. Just waiting for enough snow for the first blow.
This is one big advantage of the Grasshopper front fount over mid mounts.

Cool! Can you post pics of the blower, stationary and in use? Are you going to chain the wheels for better traction?
What kind of money do these front mount mowers run?
Thanks.

 

[KenBike]

My setup was 16,000
No snow yet so just go to the grasshopper site or look for videos on you tube.
Going to try to use without a cab or Electrci lift

 

[bucktaker]

I have a Woods 6215 60 inch with kubota diesel engine (identical to a grasshopper) I have a grasshopper 48 snow blower for winter it is a real nice setup but I do get a lot of snow on me when its windy

 

[KenBike]

Sounds like I better get out the ski googles and face mask!

 

[Xfaxman]

Sounds like I better get out the ski googles and face mask!

This is what I use, Wolfsnout a TNB Sponser. http://www.wolfsnout.com/

Check this Thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/311403-dusty-nose-question.html

 

[Coyote machine]

Sounds like I better get out the ski googles and face mask!

Goggles maybe?! Hard to wear googles last I checked.eace:

 

[tnjind]

I have a really clapped out 3 cylinder kabota gas on my 1990's grass hopper, the whole machine was wore out years ago. I love it.
But I am in need of a hydro unit now. I would not hesitate to own another. Although I did pick this one up for $500 about 8 years ago.

 

[Creamer]

I have a really clapped out 3 cylinder kabota gas on my 1990's grass hopper, the whole machine was wore out years ago. I love it.
But I am in need of a hydro unit now. I would not hesitate to own another. Although I did pick this one up for $500 about 8 years ago.

That must have been used hard commercially or not taken care of to be worn out. I have a late 90's that is running like new. What happened?

 

[ztrjim]

That sounds like a nice new setup you have. I'm sorry to hear the Kubota was leaving ruts everywhere. Have any pictures you could share with us?

 

[tnjind]

That must have been used hard commercially or not taken care of to be worn out. I have a late 90's that is running like new. What happened?

It was a commercial mower trade in, then used again for commercial then I bought from my brother that traded 5 ricks of firewood for it.
Really rough shape, bearings shot, rust but I still use it. Needs a hydro, deck wheels, tail wheels, deck spindles etc...

 

[KenBike]

That sounds like a nice new setup you have. I'm sorry to hear the Kubota was leaving ruts everywhere. Have any pictures you could share with us?

No photos but over the spring my yard was really rough from the weight of the Kubota. In areas along fence or buildings that require to drive in the same location to cut close I had 1" deep tracks from both back tires. I think the ZD 26 weighs 1800 lbs with 60" deck, grasshopper is 1400.
Kubota is great for dry yards but my place stays very wet until July.