Buying Advice Buying a Zero-Turn Mower

[4570Man]

I have a F-series Kubota and a traditional zero turn. The Kubota is very similar to a Grasshopper. It is much easier to remove the blades from the Kubota. The Grasshopper and Kubota are twice the size of a regular ZTR. For that reason they neither one can mow a small yard as fast, but the front deck has lots of advantages.

 

[Clay45]

Are you guys trying to tell me that there are no reasonably priced new mowers capable of handling 7 acres of relatively easy lawn mowing 20 times a year (that's what, 50hrs a year?)? Because I find it hard to believe I'll have to pay 8K+ for something to do that. If that's true, I'm thinking a RFM for the Kioti might be the way to go. That'll only cost 3-4K max. There has got to be a grade between $3000 residential mowers, and 8K bottom line commercial mowers.

Actually not. For 7 acres you'll be doing good to get a quality SCAG, Ferris, Kubota or ExMark solution for $8500 - $12000. Don't cheap out. You opened this thread making it clear you understand the need for proper grade equipment and you just need to come to grips with the price tag.

 

[TSO]

Actually not. For 7 acres you'll be doing good to get a quality SCAG, Ferris, Kubota or ExMark solution for $8500 - $12000. Don't cheap out. You opened this thread making it clear you understand the need for proper grade equipment and you just need to come to grips with the price tag.

He'll be absolutely fine with an entry-level commercial unit under $6k, like the Gravely unit he already mentioned. As long as he remembers to avoid the box-store garbage.

 

[Kimber1911]

He'll be absolutely fine with an entry-level commercial unit under $6k, like the Gravely unit he already mentioned. As long as he remembers to avoid the box-store garbage.

I agree, you can actually get into a very nice zero turn for $6k.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Have you ever removed the deck off a zero turn Grasshopper, like my 725?

It involves:

1. Pull two keepers back and turn them.

2. Slide two chains off their hooks.

3. Remove the pto shaft. (same way a tractor pto comes off)

4. Start the motor and drive away from the deck...

oooooooh, and then in the fall, I drive up to my snow blower, reverse order to hook it up AND I have a REALLY good sno-blower to use all winter!

SR

I stand corrected. I am not familiar with Grasshopper mowers. I have only owned John Deere, Exmark, and Scag mowers. And in 13 years in the mowing business, I have never removed a deck. I never had a reason to.

 

[stoyan79]

The air filter is the only difference. There is a huge difference between FR and FS/FX.

I believe there are more internal differences between the FX and FS Kaw motors, not just the air filter.

I don't have any facts on that, but I was told that by several dealers.

 

[2ndhalf]

The air filter is the only difference. There is a huge difference between FR and FS/FX.

FX - True Commercial Motor - Look at a True Commercial $8k Plus and they have the FX
FR - Commercial but not as high end as FX
FS - A good residential motor

 

[stoyan79]

I got the Snapper Pro S125XT for $5,350 few months ago. I think this is your best bet.
Much better mower than the Bad Boy Elite from TSC for few bucks more. Much better dealer network, as Snapper invented lawn mowers and has been around for over 100 years. Parts are all the same between Snapper, Simplicity and Ferris as they are basically the same mower.

S125x Zero Turn Mower

I would not touch the residential Kohler engine that comes in the Bad Boy.
Bad Boy is not true commercial machine as some parts are residential grade. Even Bad Boy themselves call this mower a residential unit.

S125XT is 100% commercial mower. It has the commercial Kawi FS engine, 3400 trannys, OCD commercial deck. Everything is of commercial grade.

60" Bad Boy weights 858lbs
61" S125XT weights 1,113lbs

Weigh does not lie, Snapper Pro is built heavier and it is a true commercial mower.

Why would you save $600 and buy a residential unit?

Exactly. Now I'm at that point. Didn't get out over the weekend. But have time tomorrow, so I plan to check out the Cub Cadet and the Gravely. I did sit on the Badboy at TSC. I'm impressed by the badboy on paper, but it stops there. I have my doubts about the electric deck lift, and downright dealer support from a box store. I know they have actual dealers, but still... I'm leaning toward the 60" again. My yard is plenty big for it. The only sticking point is the trailer. I don't plan to haul the mower very often, but I do want to be able to. Ease of deck removal is the main consideration here. That will likely decide between the Gravely and the Cub Cadet. If they're equal, I'll likely go with the Gravely. Unless of course after sitting on them I feel differently.

Question: how hard is it to remove the deck on your Gravely? And, is it possible to drive the mower onto the trailer without it, or does that unbalance it too much? Also, does the ZT HD have the 3400 trans, I thought it had the 3100.

 

[2ndhalf]

He'll be absolutely fine with an entry-level commercial unit under $6k, like the Gravely unit he already mentioned. As long as he remembers to avoid the box-store garbage.

Agree, He made it very clear his spend limit so guys need to respect that. He Doesn't want to spend $8k nor does he need to.

 

[Kimber1911]

I got the Snapper Pro S125XT for $5,350 few months ago. I think this is your best bet. Much better mower than the Bad Boy Elite from TSC for few bucks more. Much better dealer network, as Snapper invented lawn mowers and has been around for over 100 years. Parts are all the same between Snapper, Simplicity and Ferris as they are basically the same mower. S125x Zero Turn Mower I would not touch the residential Kohler engine that comes in the Bad Boy. Bad Boy is not true commercial machine as some parts are residential grade. Even Bad Boy themselves call this mower a residential unit. S125XT is 100% commercial mower. It has the commercial Kawi FS engine, 3400 trannys, OCD commercial deck. Everything is of commercial grade. 60" Bad Boy weights 858lbs 61" S125XT weights 1,113lbs Weigh does not lie, Snapper Pro is built heavier and it is a true commercial mower. Why would you save $600 and buy a residential unit?

Wasn't familiar with this model, but after looking at it this does seem like a good one to consider.

 

[stoyan79]

I am not aware of better machine at $5K. Puts to shame the TSC Bad Boy for few hundred more.

Wasn't familiar with this model, but after looking at it this does seem like a good one to consider.

 

[stoyan79]

Nope.

FR=residential, lots of plastic parts, would not buy
FS=commercial - decent motor
FX=same as FS, with upgraded air filter

FX - True Commercial Motor - Look at a True Commercial $8k Plus and they have the FX
FR - Commercial but not as high end as FX
FS - A good residential motor

 

[2ndhalf]

Nope.

FR=residential, lots of plastic parts, would not buy
FS=commercial - decent motor
FX=same as FS, with upgraded air filter

Not according to this link.. FR Series Professional-grade power gets personal | Critical Power by Kawasaki Engines

Looks like the FS/FR are the same except FS has dual stage air filter.. everything else is the same.. The FX is the True commercial and that is why you see it on the Hustler super z's, Scags etc.

Though I do agree with one thing you say, the OP should consider snapper also.. seems like a nice mower for the money.

 

[stoyan79]

OK, how about that.

FR = good
FS = better
FX = best

In reality, all 3 are probably very similar, or maybe the same, with the only difference being the air filtration.

Not according to this link.. FR Series Professional-grade power gets personal | Critical Power by Kawasaki Engines

Looks like the FS/FR are the same except FS has dual stage air filter.. everything else is the same.. The FX is the True commercial and that is why you see it on the Hustler super z's, Scags etc.

Though I do agree with one thing you say, the OP should consider snapper also.. seems like a nice mower for the money.

 

[2ndhalf]

OK, how about that.

FR = good
FS = better
FX = best

In reality, all 3 are probably very similar, or maybe the same, with the only difference being the air filtration.

I think from everything I have read, that is right.. I think you would be pretty happy with all of them. You have to pay a lot extra to get a machine with the FX, for a commercial guy might be worth it but not for me.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Which one of those Kawasaki's has the plastic timing gears that fail? OR have they corrected that by now?

SR

 

[2ndhalf]

Which one of those Kawasaki's has the plastic timing gears that fail? OR have they corrected that by now?

SR

Prior to 1998 JD 400 series was putting in a FD Kawasaki that had a plastic came shaft that was failing at around 1000 hours. If that is what your talking about.. they switched to steel in 1998.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Prior to 1998 JD 400 series was putting in a FD Kawasaki that had a plastic came shaft that was failing at around 1000 hours. If that is what your talking about.. they switched to steel in 1998.

Thanks, I knew two guys locally that had failures one at 500 and the other at 600, so that's probably what happened.

I never saw the engines...

SR

Now that I'm thinking about it, the two I know of, weren't "that" old, so ???

 

[aczlan]

Prior to 1998 JD 400 series was putting in a FD Kawasaki that had a plastic came shaft that was failing at around 1000 hours. If that is what your talking about.. they switched to steel in 1998.

We had that with a Exmark Lazer Z (no idea of the year, pretty sure it was early 2000s) which had a 25HP water cooled Kawasaki on it. It was somewhere between 900 and 1200 hours when it failed IIRC.

Aaron Z

 

[stoyan79]

I was told by a dealer that FR has plastic internal parts. FS and FX do not. My Snapper Pro S125XT, which is a true commercial machine, has the FS engine. Many other commercial mowers come with FS engines, only the high end commercial mowers come with FX.

Which one of those Kawasaki's has the plastic timing gears that fail? OR have they corrected that by now?

SR