Best commercial zero turn?

[RjCorazza]

I have a ZD331 and have been real happy. My seat suspension could use a little work though.

I think the new 1200 / 1500 series have optional air ride seats. I have been tempted to sell my 2 mowers and get a new ZD1211-72".
The current seat is good enough for me though.

 

[Hay Dude]

I think the new 1200 / 1500 series have optional air ride seats. I have been tempted to sell my 2 mowers and get a new ZD1211-72".
The current seat is good enough for me though.

I’m tempted to retrofit an air ride seat into mine. First I want to try my “rubber bushing” installation between the seat brackets and the seat mounting studs. 1800 commercial hours on mine.

 

[RoyJackson]

I've got a Deere Z920 (2007 model, I think) I bought used for $7500...4 years back. It had about 200 hours or so...now around 400 hours. I mow 2.5 acres of lawn (my lawn) and also use it to tow a lawn roller (48" wide) and a core aerator (also 48"). It's been a great mower...fast. No suspension seat and it's pretty rough, even on a fairly smooth lawn. I should add a suspension seat, but I keep thinking about trading for a mower with a bit more horsepower.
My neighbor also runs a Deere ZTR...a 930. He mows his field (mostly lawn now, but didn't start out that way) which has got to be a real challenge even for a commercial mower (both the 920 and 930 are commercial mowers).
So far, both mowers run great. The weak point on the Deere ZTRs is the PTO switch. I've replaced mine twice...neighbor, about the same.
Anyway, a solid recommendation for the Deere commercial grade mowers...

 

[zilla24]

I am partial to Kubota zero turns with a ZD326 and 331. I was going to comment on diesel vs gas, but I assume your use and needs are more slanted towards gas.
Anyway, what I will say is that perhaps with a 60" deck is 30hp required? Some of the machines listed seem unnecessarily over powered to me. More is not always better and I would not want to fuel one of those large gas engines.

Happy shopping.

I’m coming off a 997 diesel with a bunch of hours on it. It had some electrical gremlins and I couldn’t trust it. More importantly it had a 72” deck which was too big around the buildings and house. The power of that machine was great which is why I’m in the 30hp range. A gas mower for me is easier to work on, also gas is easier sourced in my area than diesel.

 

[zilla24]

Also in the mix for me is a Hustler X-one with a 60” deck and 27hp Kawi. Dealer has priced it to sell, very tempting but I don’t want to under buy and regret my decision.

Really between the X-one, Kubota Z726 and maybe a Scag. Have to look at Deere a little more, maybe throw a 950M in the mix.

Ah too many to choose from!

 

[DK35vince]

I have a 2013 Hustler Super Z with 35 hp Kawasaki and 72" deck since new.
A very well built mower, not a single issue so far (has around 335 hours)

 

[Hay Dude]

Also in the mix for me is a Hustler X-one with a 60” deck and 27hp Kawi. Dealer has priced it to sell, very tempting but I don’t want to under buy and regret my decision.

Really between the X-one, Kubota Z726 and maybe a Scag. Have to look at Deere a little more, maybe throw a 950M in the mix.

Ah too many to choose from!

When you are at that point where theyre all in a 3-way tie, look at the dealer who is selling it to you and let that be your decision. I have an excellent Kubota dealer, so it was easy for me. Also, haggle with those dealers-see if you can get one to throw in some free maintenance or a servicing. You will be surprised what a salesman will throw in when you simply ask.

 

[zilla24]

Vince - How is the cut quality on your SZ? I hear mixed reviews on the VX4 deck for clumping issues.

Haydude - I like the way you think. The Hustler dealer has priced the X-one almost 1k below others and has thrown in a suspension seat. For another few hundred and or a striping kit he might have me.

 

[DK35vince]

Vince - How is the cut quality on your SZ? I hear mixed reviews on the VX4 deck for clumping issues.

I never noticed any clumping issues with my 72" deck. The 72" deck does scalp easier on the outside edges on uneven ground.
How fast I mow does seem sensitive to mow speed. If I set the deck height at around 2 1/2"- 2 3/4" I can mow at or near full speed and get a decent cut.
If I raise the deck higher I need to slow down some so it doesn't miss any grass (don't ask me why, raising/lowering the front deck baffle may help there, never tried)
I have my deck set at 2 1/2" so I can mow at full speed. Cut quality looks fine to me, but I haven't compared it to other commercial Z machines.

 

[Hay Dude]

Vince - How is the cut quality on your SZ? I hear mixed reviews on the VX4 deck for clumping issues.

Haydude - I like the way you think. The Hustler dealer has priced the X-one almost 1k below others and has thrown in a suspension seat. For another few hundred and or a striping kit he might have me.

You have to protect your money! That 1k buys a lot of fuel or a moderate repair or a used single axle trailer for hauling it.
Sounds like the Hustler dealer wants your business a little more than the others.
But before you sign, go to the other 2 dealers and tell them what the Hustler dealer is offering, may be hard to believe, but they just might one-up the Hustler dealer!!

 

[LD1]

If I was buy a new mower, if it wasnt going to be a diesel, it would have the highest HP NON-efi kawasaki engine on it.

Nothing against kohler, but they are thirstier, and the kawasaki's just seem to run smoother.

Everything else is looks and ergonomics for the most part. The engine is the heart of the beast. Most of the mowers at these levels use the same pumps and motors.

Sure, decks are different. Some cut better than others in different conditions, but they can easily be modified to cut it just takes time. Different blades, different baffle settings, etc. Stuff that most people are too afraid to mess with.

Example, my scag has the advantage deck. I hear its great for southern grasses, but the velocity deck much better up north here. But through trial and error, I found a great combo. The spacer between the deck and blades I shortened by 1/2". An I run a super high lift blade on the far left, standard lift in the middle, and a gator on the right.

I would go all super-high lifts, as that moves so much air that clipping distribution and deck plugging are never a problem. But 3 of them with 27hp on a 61" deck dont do well going up hill. The blades rob too much power.

Back to the motors. Im not sold on the EFI's. Too many issues I have heard of with them not running right. Maybe they are better now. But I'd stick with the tried and true

 

[Hay Dude]

Not trying to start a D v G war, but I hear that big Vanguard gasser is a beast and a diesel killer, too. I think its 39HP?
I bet its thirsty, but if you need the power.....WOW
I'm all diesel-everything from several trucks, to farm tractors, zero turns....
I'm sticking with diesel for convenience, fuel savings and longevity

 

[shovelmike]

Hustler Super Z here, 52" deck, 25hp Kawasaki powered. Bought it new in '04 and mowed commercially for three years all over the Kansas City area, recent years it has been used to mow one acre lawn. The thing is built like a tank and has been trouble free with just routine oil and filter changes, greasing the dozen or so grease fittings. The spindles are equipped with zerks as opposed to some brands using non-greasable sealed bearings.

 

[Maxify55]

Not trying to start a D v G war, but I hear that big Vanguard gasser is a beast and a diesel killer, too. I think its 39HP?
I bet its thirsty, but if you need the power.....WOW
I'm all diesel-everything from several trucks, to farm tractors, zero turns....
I'm sticking with diesel for convenience, fuel savings and longevity

We came to the same conclusion with uniformity in fuel use but chose owner/operator comfort as paramount concern {Right behind cut quality}.
Ferris {IS2600Z} with Yanmar diesel was chosen for our farm use.
It's so nice that I didnt use the 3-point 72" finish mower at all last year.
What a sweet ride!

 

[Bocephous]

I知 tempted to retrofit an air ride seat into mine. First I want to try my 途ubber bushing installation between the seat brackets and the seat mounting studs. 1800 commercial hours on mine.

I purchased and installed one of these on my Hustler Fastrak: SEAT SUSPENSION EXMARK, KUBOTA, JOHN DEERE Z TRAK, TORO, HUSTLER ZTR LAWN MOWERS #EP - Seat Warehouse

It was worth every penny. It's adjustable for weight, and the ride it provides is much less jarring than before.

 

[Hay Dude]

I purchased and installed one of these on my Hustler Fastrak: SEAT SUSPENSION EXMARK, KUBOTA, JOHN DEERE Z TRAK, TORO, HUSTLER ZTR LAWN MOWERS #EP - Seat Warehouse

It was worth every penny. It's adjustable for weight, and the ride it provides is much less jarring than before.

I have some suspension to my seat. I think its a lot like that base you posted a link to (thank you). I want to either improve mine with rubber bushings, or dust off my credit card and buy an air suspension base.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I'm in the market for a 60" zero turn in the 30HP range, considering the following:

Scag Tiger Cat - 61" 32hp vanguard
Scag Turf Tiger - 61" 35hp vanguard
Hustler Super Z - 60" 27hp Kawi
Hustler Super Z Hyper - 60" 37hp vanguard EFI
Exmark e series - 60" 25hp kawi
Kubota 700 series - 60" 30hp kawi

From what I've gathered in research:

Scag - great deck, good engine choices, more expensive, some electrical issues
Hustler - well made machine, VX4 deck does not cut well in northern grass (I live in PA), expensive
Exmark - Used to be a staple of the commercial ZTR world, quality has slipped in recent years? Decks clump when cutting wet grass?
Kubota - relatively unknown here, decent price for features offered, not sure about longevity or cut quality?

My mind is about blown reading and comparing, interested if any of you agree/disagree with what I've found. Will need to buy something in the next few weeks as I just recently sold my old machine.

I was lucky enough to score a very low hour Kubota ZD 331 three years ago. Perhaps look around on the equipment sale websites, that machine is a beast. Kubota stopped making them because of tier iv I believe.

 

[Hay Dude]

I was lucky enough to score a very low hour Kubota ZD 331 three years ago. Perhaps look around on the equipment sale websites, that machine is a beast. Kubota stopped making them because of tier iv I believe.

We may have already exchanged this information, but thats exactly what I did. I waited for a good price on a ZD331 and pounced for $7500. Sad to say, there were 2 of them on the dealer lot, both traded in by same ball field maintenance company at the same time. Should have bought both. Almost identical condition and hours.
There was also an excellent, low hour F3680 with 72" deck that I refuse to stop kicking myself for not buying for $8,000.
I firmly believe I could have bought all 3 machines, used each one, decided on 2 and sold the 3rd at a tidy profit.
But the ZD331 IS a DIESEL BEAST and no regrets.

 

[RjCorazza]

I believe I got an average deal on my ZD331 with 400h at $9000.
No regrets though... Over the past 3 years I've put an additional 1200 hours on it saving about 60 hours of seat time per season over my ZD326 60" backup mower.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I purchased and installed one of these on my Hustler Fastrak: SEAT SUSPENSION EXMARK, KUBOTA, JOHN DEERE Z TRAK, TORO, HUSTLER ZTR LAWN MOWERS #EP - Seat Warehouse

It was worth every penny. It's adjustable for weight, and the ride it provides is much less jarring than before.

Just bought one. Thanks, buddy!