Which used ZD model ?

[Rmart30]

Ive have google but not found much opinions. Looking for input good or bad on used ZD models. The price range im finding them in are machines that are about 4 yrs and older. Any certain ones to stay away from? 21 and 331 seem to be the main models that pop up for same in this area. I will not be running a bagger. Any preference or benefit over rear or side discharge? 72" deck is what id like to find.

 

[rustyshakelford]

We have a zd1211 and absolutely love it. Never in my life did I think I’d spend 15k on a lawn mower but it’s one of my favorite purchases. I have the rear discharge and would like to really express how nice it is. I don’t ever get grass and Dirt blown on me anymore and the cut is excellent

Brett

 

[RjCorazza]

At least some of the ZD21's had weak trasmissions. I have a high hour ZD326 that been a great machine with normal maintenance and one starter. I bought the ZD331 with 400h, and it had an aggravating fuel delivery problem that was solved with an additional filter and lift pump.
My 331 is significantly faster than the 326, and combined with the 72" deck it is hard to beat.

 

[Rmart30]

My 331 is significantly faster than the 326, and combined with the 72" deck it is hard to beat.

Thanks RJ thats good to know Im wanting to replace my deere 455 with 54". Super good on fuel use and cuts good, but its much slower than zero turns Ive seen in use. I will be going from a 1/2 acre yard to about 4 acres of cutting to do and i spend enough time running other types of equipment that I dont want to spend any more time on a mower than I have too.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I'm the rear discharge only or now believe the mulching kit on the side discharge will work as well or maybe better. I have owned several side and rear discharge and hate side discharge with a passion. The only real issue with rear discharge is the need to use a leaf blower to blow off some cut grass after mowing. I'm thinking the side discharge with mulching kit might be better since side chute is removed and grass is blown down for max cutting and not blown out the back to bounce up under the machine. Also there are usually many more side discharge units available because that's what dealers get and push so again I'd only buy a side discharge if I bought the mulching kit for it.

 

[RjCorazza]

Since rear or side discharge has come up... I haven't tried a rear discharge zd mower, but do have a rear discharge finish mower for the tractor. That one leaves windrows in moderately high grass.
On both zd's I installed after market chute gates that make my life a lot easier!

 

[Ortimber]

We have a zd1211 and absolutely love it. Never in my life did I think I’d spend 15k on a lawn mower but it’s one of my favorite purchases. I have the rear discharge and would like to really express how nice it is. I don’t ever get grass and Dirt blown on me anymore and the cut is excellent

Brett

This is exactly my sentiment as well. I bought mine last year and was only able to get about 10 hrs of seat time. It’s a great machine, no question.

 

[timswi]

I bought a ZD724 in 2015 and absolutely love it $9,500 with accessories. 54" and does a great job. No regrets. Side discharge and no issues with that either.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Since rear or side discharge has come up... I haven't tried a rear discharge zd mower, but do have a rear discharge finish mower for the tractor. That one leaves windrows in moderately high grass.
On both zd's I installed after market chute gates that make my life a lot easier!

If cutting the same grass with a SD, I’m betting it would be windrowing too. The thing with a RD is the grass is in the chamber longer so it’s being chopped up finer. The yard is much cleaner looking even when Long compared to a SD that would blow out a huge row of grass

Brett

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

If cutting the same grass with a SD, I’m betting it would be windrowing too. The thing with a RD is the grass is in the chamber longer so it’s being chopped up finer. The yard is much cleaner looking even when Long compared to a SD that would blow out a huge row of grass

Brett

This has been my experience. I've had a ZD326 rear discharge, three rear discharge RFMs and two rear discharge Fs and many side discharge BXs, an F and several side discharge box store mowers. Hate them because of not being able to cut close with both sides of the deck, wind blowing grass/dust on me and the windrowing for moderate high or high grass is worse for side discharge than rear discharge. Just my many years of experience using/owning both which has caused me to form my opinion that I hate side discharge mowing decks unless they have the mulching kit which blocks the removed side chute.

 

[NC419N]

I would stay away from the early ZD21 machine's and the (ZG's just because of the torque performance of the Diesel machines) Rear discharge decks seem to be a more regional thing (I have used both and they both have pro's and con's) Shop for the best deal you can find and go from there just my .02

 

[628pm]

I had a zd326 for several years, great mower, no issues at all except mowing on slight inclines when the grass is wet. You cant mow grass in a ditch after a rain either, be prepared to pull it out from wheel slippage. Once you know the limitations on that no issues. Stepped up to a f2690 after being on this forum, mowed four hours Monday, with side discharge and mulching kit, no grass on me after getting done, yards look great with the mulching kit.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I had a zd326 for several years, great mower, no issues at all except mowing on slight inclines when the grass is wet. You cant mow grass in a ditch after a rain either, be prepared to pull it out from wheel slippage. Once you know the limitations on that no issues. Stepped up to a f2690 after being on this forum, mowed four hours Monday, with side discharge and mulching kit, no grass on me after getting done, yards look great with the mulching kit.

I to had a ZD326 Rear Discharge and it cut good on fairly level yard and short grass. But the F does better on hillside/steep and equal on level ground. I am now drawn to a side discharge with mulching kit as a good option to the rear discharge and maybe even better than the rear discharge. Have the side with mulching kit on my BX2370 and had it on a Kubota Z121 and both did/do great.

 

[om21braz]

Not many folks like the ZD21, but beginning 13 years on mine. Regular service, a few blade sets and a single battery. Only one yard with strong, overgrown bermuda that I would have wanted more power on. Cut quality with that series of pro deck is not that great, but neither is my yard. Uses approx. 1 gallon of fuel per 1.5 hours mowing time. Main con is weight - mowing wet, soft lawns is not recommended as these machines are very heavy. Unfortunately, as there are different tools for different jobs - this also applies to lawnmowers. Hope you find the right machine for your use.

 

[WM75Guy]

I like my ZD1211. Have not had any problems.

 

[mikester]

This has been my experience. I've had a ZD326 rear discharge, three rear discharge RFMs and two rear discharge Fs and many side discharge BXs, an F and several side discharge box store mowers. Hate them because of not being able to cut close with both sides of the deck, wind blowing grass/dust on me and the windrowing for moderate high or high grass is worse for side discharge than rear discharge. Just my many years of experience using/owning both which has caused me to form my opinion that I hate side discharge mowing decks unless they have the mulching kit which blocks the removed side chute.

Avoid the ZD21's and older pre 2009 ZD326's. I found lots of HST complaints/issues when I did my research.

I went with the ZD326-60P after demoing the ZD331 with rear discharge. I've got a lot of trees and don't like that I can only get close on one side.

The rear discharge seamed to leave a trail of clumps. The other thing I didn't like was Kubota welded beefy bumper "hooks" on the sharp front corners of the mower deck where the side discharge had a nice curved bumper. If I bump a tree the side discharge mower will slide past where the rear discharge risked hooking on to obstacles instead of sliding past. If they curved the hooks inward instead of straight up it would have been a lot better.

If you have a lot of leaves in the fall the side discharge blows the swarf away nicely where the rear discharge was more like a hamster leaving a poop trail behind it.

The ability to throw the swarf a long way has a lot of plusses. I liked my gator mulching blades because they lasted a long time and kept the edge longer but they left more clumps. I also ended up with a lot more clippings on my mower deck while cutting. The OEM high lift blades act more like a combo vacuum and leaf blower and leaves the grass looking clean vs clump trails.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Avoid the ZD21's and older pre 2009 ZD326's. I found lots of HST complaints/issues when I did my research.

I went with the ZD326-60P after demoing the ZD331 with rear discharge. I've got a lot of trees and don't like that I can only get close on one side.

The rear discharge seamed to leave a trail of clumps. The other thing I didn't like was Kubota welded beefy bumper "hooks" on the sharp front corners of the mower deck where the side discharge had a nice curved bumper. If I bump a tree the side discharge mower will slide past where the rear discharge risked hooking on to obstacles instead of sliding past. If they curved the hooks inward instead of straight up it would have been a lot better.

If you have a lot of leaves in the fall the side discharge blows the swarf away nicely where the rear discharge was more like a hamster leaving a poop trail behind it.

The ability to throw the swarf a long way has a lot of plusses. I liked my gator mulching blades because they lasted a long time and kept the edge longer but they left more clumps. I also ended up with a lot more clippings on my mower deck while cutting. The OEM high lift blades act more like a combo vacuum and leaf blower and leaves the grass looking clean vs clump trails.

Not clear about what your saying regarding your opinions with a rear discharge mower. Are you saying you owned one for some years and your opinion is based on those years of use on your property and different machines or are you saying your opinion is based on testing one for some period of time like at a dealers lot or observing other people using one? My opinion with years of experience using several rear finish mowers on several different Kubotas I've owned on my different properties are not matching up with your opinions or experience.
Are you also saying you caught the deck runners on trees when you owned/test drove one or just think a person could do that? I don't think I ever have over years of use other than when I done it on purpose to cut a small sapling or small shrub.
I also love the leaf cutting poop trail to fertilize my yard instead of buying bagged fertilizer which I never do and the same with the grass clippings. I hated blowing leafs into neighbors yard, well, not really but they did and the same with hugh built up windrows of cut grass. My actual experience using both for years is that the side discharge leaves these windrows that want to dictate my mowing pattern where the RFM deck lets me go any direction at any time and being a schizo mower that's important to me. I do circle cuts around trees and around and around and around and then take off in different directions as the mood strikes or the sun sets behind my back or side of my face and no accumulating windrows to ever consider and I can get up against trees using both sides of the deck with no concerns of where the cut grass is going or which side the chute is on to dictate my direction of approach..

 

[mikester]

Hi JOHNTHOMAS , I have always used side discharge 3PH mowers but don't always like having the chute on one side.

When I bought my ZD I went with new. I originally wanted the rear discharge model thinking it would be better to let me cut close on both sides. The dealer sent me a demo model of each ZD to try on my lawn. I found that the rear discharge left a trail of clumps behind the machine. The side discharge spread out the grass clippings more evenly and left less clumps. I ended up buying the side discharge after the demo because I think it left a better finish.

Both models leave grass clippings to fertilize. The rear discharge just left more visible clumps of grass behind the machine.

With regards to the runners: Yes I have accidentally bumped trees, rocks and fence posts over the years. Based on the fact I know I'm probably going to bump something accidentally again in the future I like to see smooth edges on corders and bumpers on my equipment. I also like to see things like accessible grease fittings, sensible placement of controls, etc.

Here's what I'm talking about - look at the attached photo showing the side and rear discharge decks. The side discharge has a nice rounded front with steel flatbar bumper welded at the base. The rear discharge model uses a round bar that sticks out AND has a hook in the front. I think this hook idea is just bad design.

 

[628pm]

I bought the side discharge f2690, then added the mulching kit. That is really nice, no clipping all over you and you can mow close on both side. Last week I mowed when the grass was wet, very few places had any sign of grass clippings. Just cleaned the bottom of the deck, there was some grass but not as much as I thought it would be. Bottom line this forum lead me to the mower I have now, and the mulching kit from what JT has stated. Very pleased. Oh the wife tried it out today, never would get on the zd326.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Hi JOHNTHOMAS , I have always used side discharge 3PH mowers but don't always like having the chute on one side.

When I bought my ZD I went with new. I originally wanted the rear discharge model thinking it would be better to let me cut close on both sides. The dealer sent me a demo model of each ZD to try on my lawn. I found that the rear discharge left a trail of clumps behind the machine. The side discharge spread out the grass clippings more evenly and left less clumps. I ended up buying the side discharge after the demo because I think it left a better finish.

Both models leave grass clippings to fertilize. The rear discharge just left more visible clumps of grass behind the machine.

With regards to the runners: Yes I have accidentally bumped trees, rocks and fence posts over the years.
I guessBased on the fact I know I'm probably going to bump something accidentally again in the future I like to see smooth edges on corders and bumpers on my equipment. I also like to see things like accessible grease fittings, sensible placement of controls, etc.

Here's what I'm talking about - look at the attached photo showing the side and rear discharge decks. The side discharge has a nice rounded front with steel flatbar bumper welded at the base. The rear discharge model uses a round bar that sticks out AND has a hook in the front. I think this hook idea is just bad design.

I guess just a difference of opinion based on one trial vs several years of use. If I were buying today I'd buy the side with mulching kit and remove the side chute. What I did with my latest purchase of a BX2370 last year.