Small ztr traction on dry "level"

[frankr2994]

Hello all. I've researched this and I know it's been beaten but my issue is a little different. I just bought a husqvarna z242f. I only have a half acre so I don't need anything more or so I thought. My yard is pretty level. I have no wet spots and the only hill I have I've only done with a push mower. However I can't be on the slightest of grade with this husky and not slide or spin. Doing the long up and down runs in my yard the tractor wants to go to the left down hill. This is maybe 3 or 4 inches of slope per 4 foot. Hardly a hill. I find myself just skidding my right tire the whole way down the yard trying to go straight. Getting close to my pool made me question if I was going to drive it into the pool. Had to stop once and consider what direction I was going to try to make the front end not drop down and slam into the side of it. I also got stuck once trying to turn on complete flat ground. Wasn't trying to spin it just turn. Had to shut the deck off and back straight over my landscaping to get out of it. It's really unusable and I left ruts everywhere in my yard yesterday. Now this was my first time on it but I couldn't even practice doing a k turn or anything because it ending up taking 5 or more steps due to spinning to get pointed the right way. It has small 18x8.5-8 turfs on it. I thought that would be ok. The machine weighs just under 600lbs and I'm only 150lbs. Tires have 9 psi in them now. Any advice would be appreciated. I will never use this in the wet and I've kept my gt5000 to pull my cart and well do anything other than mow with.

 

[MoKelly]

Hello all. I've researched this and I know it's been beaten but my issue is a little different. I just bought a husqvarna z242f. I only have a half acre so I don't need anything more or so I thought. My yard is pretty level. I have no wet spots and the only hill I have I've only done with a push mower. However I can't be on the slightest of grade with this husky and not slide or spin. Doing the long up and down runs in my yard the tractor wants to go to the left down hill. This is maybe 3 or 4 inches of slope per 4 foot. Hardly a hill. I find myself just skidding my right tire the whole way down the yard trying to go straight. Getting close to my pool made me question if I was going to drive it into the pool. Had to stop once and consider what direction I was going to try to make the front end not drop down and slam into the side of it. I also got stuck once trying to turn on complete flat ground. Wasn't trying to spin it just turn. Had to shut the deck off and back straight over my landscaping to get out of it. It's really unusable and I left ruts everywhere in my yard yesterday. Now this was my first time on it but I couldn't even practice doing a k turn or anything because it ending up taking 5 or more steps due to spinning to get pointed the right way. It has small 18x8.5-8 turfs on it. I thought that would be ok. The machine weighs just under 600lbs and I'm only 150lbs. Tires have 9 psi in them now. Any advice would be appreciated. I will never use this in the wet and I've kept my gt5000 to pull my cart and well do anything other than mow with.

First - welcome to TBN from Missouri.

Wow. That does not sound right.

Was the yard wet after rain or early morning dew?

Z-turns can have issues on wet grass and turning can tear up the grass. You really should mow when it’s wet. But on dry grass what you describe should not happen.

MoKelly

 

[frankr2994]

Not wet at all. Now green as I'd call it yes. It is early spring and all the plants are wet inside. Just got off the phone with the husky dealer and they told me they haven't heard if this and that my grass must have been too wet. I'm not stupid and that was a little insulting. If I can't drive in a straight line it's more or less unacceptable.

 

[MoKelly]

Yep - if it’s dry then something is off.

On the steering maybe it’s just misaligned such that when you have the levels equal it’s pulling in one direction. That can be fixed.

But your lack of traction on flat ground and getting stuck turning is weird.

Do you know how much the unit weighs? Maybe it’s too light for the power to the rear wheels??

Sorry I can’t help. I’ve only gotten stuck in very wet areas - all due to operator error.

Good luck.

MoKelly

 

[frankr2994]

Yes in my OP I said the machine weighs just under 600lbs and I'm only 150lbs. I also don't run a bagger or anything so that's it. Has a 18hp kawi on the back and I've tried being very easy on the sticks to try not to break traction. As far as adjusting them equal I've checked that and know how to adjust. Center of my yard is as level as I got. I run run both sticks full forward and I go straight. Seems right to me. I'm considering stepping up on tires. I have found 18x9.5-8 , 19x9.5-8 and 20x9.5-8 treaded tires. Not bar lugs. I know the 19x9.5 tires fit as I've seen my tractor in one of the reviews for that tire. I wouldn't mind if I could put the 20's on to help out with speed a bit but I'm unsure on any of them having just ezt2200 hydros on it.

 

[frankr2994]

Would anyone have an opinion on running these on my machine. SunF 18x9.5-8 ATV Tires 18x9.5x8 Knobby Tubeless 6 PR A012 [Set of 2] | eBay

 

[4570Man]

I don’t know why you’re having so much trouble to start with. That doesn’t seem right but more aggressive tires would definitely help.

 

[frankr2994]

Well I just tried setting the tires at 2 psi and moved the seat the whole way back. It helped. Still multiple areas I cannot get it to turn that you wouldn't expect any trouble.

 

[lman]

It seems like those tires would tear up your lawn. I wouldn't put them on my mower.

 

[MoKelly]

Again, very strange. Just read a bunch of reviews on the machine and nothing like you describe.

2psi in the tires. Wow. I would be afraid they would come off the rims!!!

MoKelly

 

[LittleBill21]

honestly short of video, no one is going to really be able to tell whats going on. my non 0 turn can do 25% grades with turfs and not slip, cutting uphill. i don't think tires can be the issue on flat, i feel like something is hung up underneath. if you lift the mower deck off the ground, does the problem go away?

 

[frankr2994]

What I tried today I wasn't even mowing just driving around. Deck was up the whole way. My first tractor I had on this property was a craftsman lt2000 probably identical wheels and tires and I had no issue. Now I ended up chaining them and adding wheel weights because I ran my tractor down into the woods to dispose of clippings from the bagger. The main difference I see with this zero turn is how the drive wheels need to turn it. Obviously the front are just casters and all that leverage of the machine has to swing over. It's alot harder . Imagine putting casters on your non zero turn and grabbing the back of your seat and try to swing the front end side to side. Wouldn't be too easy. I just assumed with all the weight over the drive wheels it wouldn't present itself like this.

 

[frankr2994]

I'll see if I can get my wife to take a video of me trying to turn it this weekend.

 

[RalphVa]

I've wondered about ZTRs on a slope. Had to go with 4wd because the Gravely did not have enough traction to go up/down our back slope. Only 2wd. Wonder if they even make a 4wd.

 

[frankr2994]

I thought I seen something about a ztr awd. Probably stupid expensive. If anything about my yard made me question anything I wouldn't have bought one. I have an almost level yard. It has a gentle grade across the yard. Just got the ok from husqvarna to change the tires or run chains. I wanted something in print because I have a 3 year warranty on the machine. So I think I'm getting 19x9.50-8 tires no name brand and has sorta an itp holeshot tread. Inch taller and an inch wider and not crazy aggressive.

 

[frankr2994]

On the note of a 2wd non zero tractor my gt5000 has bar tires and wheels weights. When I mow fast with it going from reverse to 4th gear it lifts the front wheels. Almost flipped it over in the woods seeing if the tires would spin on a muddy hill.

 

[ZTMAN]

From your owner's manual trouble shooting section:

Mower moves slowly, unevenly, or not at all
Bypass linkages are engaged
Transmission drive belt is slack or off
Air trapped in the hydraulic system


Never had the issues which you describe with any of my ZTs. Take a look at the above.
I will say that if that little machine left ruts in your yard it is too wet. Grass may be dry, but the ground is wet.

 

[frankr2994]

Tried on asphalt to double check gearbox operation. No issue. If this level of moisture is too much that's still not acceptable to me. I never mow when I think it's wet. Makes too much of a mess on the tractor. I will say since you can't feel or hear the tires spinning I originally thought something was wrong with the hydros. Then I started watching my tires close. Seeing that I can't find anything wrong with the mower I can't believe more people don't have this complaint. Now granted if you have a perfect yard then I'm sure this mower would have no issue. And by chance have you had a zero turn this small? Anyone I personally know that has one bought a commercial one because I guess they could. My buddies exmark probably weighs twice mine and has told me there is no issue and his yard has weird hills all over it.

 

[frankr2994]

And if I said ruts I really meant it just left streaks where it tore the grass up. I didn't actually rut in anywhere. No sinking at all.

 

[ZTMAN]

If you hold back the sticks going down hill, the tires will tear up the grass.
All of my mowers are commercial, but if I am going to be going down a grade, I make sure I give it a little stick so you don't get , what I call, chatter grass.

One of my neighbors had a small Hustler and he looked like a sprint car driver trying to mow side hills. Could just be your driving technique if this is your first zt

Like others have said , post a video. We will be able to see what is going on .