Best commercial zero turn?

[Steppenwolfe]

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.

I paid 12K for mine with 65 hours, and it came with a canopy. I love it!

 

[Bocephous]

Just bought one. Thanks, buddy!

:thumbsup:

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

My new neighbor has an older ZD331 on loan from his FIL. It runs hot real easily. Anyone have any idea why? It's not mine to tear into, but if there's an easy fix, I'll tell him about it. I believe the screen is clean/blown out.

 

[Hay Dude]

My new neighbor has an older ZD331 on loan from his FIL. It runs hot real easily. Anyone have any idea why? It's not mine to tear into, but if there's an easy fix, I'll tell him about it. I believe the screen is clean/blown out.

Take a garden hose to the radiator and flush it for like an hour. Eventually even blowing them out with compressed air doesnt do much. The fins get too clogged.
Dirty water will flow out like chocolate milk.
It also may need a flush and new AF.
Also check thermostat

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Take a garden hose to the radiator and flush it for like an hour. Eventually even blowing them out with compressed air doesnt do much. The fins get too clogged.
Dirty water will flow out like chocolate milk.
It also may need a flush and new AF.
Also check thermostat

Thanks!

 

[Hay Dude]

Thanks!

:thumbsup:
Just don’t make the spray so hard that you bend the little fins.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

My new neighbor has an older ZD331 on loan from his FIL. It runs hot real easily. Anyone have any idea why? It's not mine to tear into, but if there's an easy fix, I'll tell him about it. I believe the screen is clean/blown out.

Ah... it's 120 degrees in Texas??? Never had any issues with mine.

 

[searcyfarms]

older front mount grasshoppers are hard to beat if you mow under a lot of trees etc.....

 

[droptop]

The importance of the seat!

After upgrading my tractor to a 35 hp Massey with a cab, I came to realize it was too heavy to mow with in the spring. Going from a 6 ft 3pt mower to a 5 ft zero turn, my mowing time was cut in half. I purchased a used Commercial Scag Wildcat with 1000 hrs for 5k and a year later, added a Milsco V5400 air ride seat. It was the BEST investment in my back ever! The rough ground no longer bounced me around and after mowing a couple of hours, my back no longer was a knot of discomfort:dance1:.

Whatever zero turn anyone buys, get the best seat offered. Or go into it planning on upgrading to a air ride seat. Your back will thank you.

 

[Hay Dude]

The importance of the seat!

After upgrading my tractor to a 35 hp Massey with a cab, I came to realize it was too heavy to mow with in the spring. Going from a 6 ft 3pt mower to a 5 ft zero turn, my mowing time was cut in half. I purchased a used Commercial Scag Wildcat with 1000 hrs for 5k and a year later, added a Milsco V5400 air ride seat. It was the BEST investment in my back ever! The rough ground no longer bounced me around and after mowing a couple of hours, my back no longer was a knot of discomfort:dance1:.

Whatever zero turn anyone buys, get the best seat offered. Or go into it planning on upgrading to a air ride seat. Your back will thank you.

Did you see the thread I started yesterday about the rubber seat mount cushions? I agree with you about air ride seats-have me on all my farm tractors and they are great, but I found a low cost ($25) partial solution that takes a lot of the “shock” out of bad bumps on zero turns. Mowed 3 acres with mine after I added them and it made a noticeable difference.
If I get some extra money, I may purchase an air seat kit later, but for now, this helps a bit.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/423296-25-zero-turn-seat-mod.html

 

[droptop]

Did you see the thread I started yesterday about the rubber seat mount cushions? I agree with you about air ride seats-have me on all my farm tractors and they are great, but I found a low cost ($25) partial solution that takes a lot of the 都hock out of bad bumps on zero turns. Mowed 3 acres with mine after I added them and it made a noticeable difference.
If I get some extra money, I may purchase an air seat kit later, but for now, this helps a bit.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/423296-25-zero-turn-seat-mod.html

The original seat on my Scag had a nice spring seat cushion, but the rough terrain would cause me to bottom out the seat. I thought about the spring seat base that was previously suggested, but I didn't want to spend that much and find I still needed more cushion. I made the decision to use a big hammer on the problem and go for the air ride, the spring version of the seat may have also worked, but I hadn't seen anyone's review of the spring seat compared to the air ride.

The rubber mounts will give a little, but I don't think it would have helped my back, but they aren't $600 either. I looked at it as a long term investment, if I ever have to replace my mower, the old seat goes on it before I trade and the air ride would go on the new mower.

 

[Hay Dude]

The original seat on my Scag had a nice spring seat cushion, but the rough terrain would cause me to bottom out the seat. I thought about the spring seat base that was previously suggested, but I didn't want to spend that much and find I still needed more cushion. I made the decision to use a big hammer on the problem and go for the air ride, the spring version of the seat may have also worked, but I hadn't seen anyone's review of the spring seat compared to the air ride.

The rubber mounts will give a little, but I don't think it would have helped my back, but they aren't $600 either. I looked at it as a long term investment, if I ever have to replace my mower, the old seat goes on it before I trade and the air ride would go on the new mower.

I think you made a great choice. When I was younger I’d literally sit on a 5 gallon bucket as a seat. Now that I’m older and in some degree of discomfort, I should have placed more value on proper seating to elongate the amount of time I can continue to work.

 

[droptop]

I think you made a great choice. When I was younger I壇 literally sit on a 5 gallon bucket as a seat. Now that I知 older and in some degree of discomfort, I should have placed more value on proper seating to elongate the amount of time I can continue to work.

I think we all can look back with 20-20 vision and wish we had done some things differently. I know a few friends that wish they had been better to their bodies when they were younger, and not tried to keep proving themselves to be as tough as the "kids" by playing :baseball: softball into their 40's Those aches and pains only get worse with every year....

Hopefully the seat will help push off some aches for many years.:drink:

 

[Hay Dude]

I think we all can look back with 20-20 vision and wish we had done some things differently. I know a few friends that wish they had been better to their bodies when they were younger, and not tried to keep proving themselves to be as tough as the "kids" by playing :baseball: softball into their 40's Those aches and pains only get worse with every year....

Hopefully the seat will help push off some aches for many years.:drink:

Ayyyupp. I played lacrosse way too long.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I think you made a great choice. When I was younger I’d literally sit on a 5 gallon bucket as a seat. Now that I’m older and in some degree of discomfort, I should have placed more value on proper seating to elongate the amount of time I can continue to work.

HA! We had an old, Farmall Cub we used for cultivating... One row at a time. I might have well been riding a rock; My God, I hated that tractor.

 

[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稚 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!

Went and looked at the Deere, specifically a Z960M. It has a fancy suspension seat with a 31hp Kawasaki gas engine and is growing on me considerably. Dealer has priced it very attractively as well. Any bad vibes on a Deere I should know of?

 

[RoyJackson]

Went and looked at the Deere, specifically a Z960M. It has a fancy suspension seat with a 31hp Kawasaki gas engine and is growing on me considerably. Dealer has priced it very attractively as well. Any bad vibes on a Deere I should know of?

I think you'll find it a great mower, especially with the suspension seat. My Z920 doesn't have a suspension seat and my back pays for it. Only problem I've ever with mine is the PTO switch...I've repalced it twice in the 5 years I've owned the mower.

 

[zilla24]

Thanks Roy, good to hear you've had good luck with yours. I noticed on the 960M the PTO switch is different from years past, its a toggle design now vs a pull knob.

 

[aspg4]

Anyone tried the Michelin X tweel? You tube reviews say it is really softer ride. Very pricey.

 

[zilla24]

Anyone tried the Michelin X tweel? You tube reviews say it is really softer ride. Very pricey.

The dealer had a mower on the lot with them and I took it for a test drive. I couldn't tell any difference honestly in their lot and field between it and the pneumatic tires. They claim the Tweels work better in steep hill traction but I can't comment there. It is a $975 option. I think I'd take them if they came on the mower, I certainly wouldn't pay extra for them.