Advice on zero turns

[arlen4720]

have you looked at the John Deere 997? They are fast, powerful, durable, simple, and very economical. The diesel engine and 7 iron deck is hard to beat.
I'm on the second season with mine, and I never realized how much fun mowing could be.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I have a Gravely ZT/HD 60" mower with the Kawasaki engine and I love it, I to used to mow with my tractor and I can promise you that you will not regret going with a zero turn mower, when you see how much time it saves you, you will wonder why you waited so long to get one. When I bought mine I didn't have the kind of budget that you have to work with, but if I would have I probably would have went with the top of the line Scag. Good luck.

 

[RoyJackson]

I was mowing with my Deere 4400 and a 72" RFM...like the OP, it was a pretty time consuming operation. Since my weekends were pretty much mowing the lawn and field (definitely cutting into my beer time!), I went for a Zero Turn. I would have loved a Deere 997 but found a decent deal on a Z925A (60" mower with a Kawasaki engine). Although I would have preferred a diesel engine, I have few complaints with what I have. My one complaint is the z925A is pretty rough riding. I'll end up with a suspension seat sooner or later and, if you buy new (mine is a used machine), I do recommend getting a suspension seat...no matter which brand you buy.

BTW, I still use the 4400 and RFM for the field. Zero turns are great machines and commercial mowers are robust, but they aren't field mowing machines and that work will beat the crap out of them.

 

[lostcreekranch]

We bought a JD Z820A, with 60" 7 Iron Deck,back in mid 2007 because our place is covered with oak trees. We have a Kubota B2710 with mid mount mower but still had to do a lot of reversing to cut around trees. Local Multi store John Deere dealer does a very large business in commercial mowers and holds "field days" to demo mowing units to commercial mowers. Our Z820 was a demo with 65 hours so they gave us almost $2000 discount from their best price for a zero hour unit. They also gave a more than fair trade in value for our JD GT345 lawn tractor with about 450 hours.

I had never ever driven a ZT when wife and I went to look at it. I got on it at the dealer and tried to drive around their lot. After almost hitting a few stationary objects I got off and wasn't sure a ZT was for me. Unknown to me my bride had driven them before (were were newlyweds in 2007). She got on it a drove it like a pro. Thought to myself, if a girl can drive it, I can too. :-D

After we got it home I made up my my mind that I would figure this thing out and eventually did.

The Z820A has a ROPS but, it stays down because our place is pretty flat. Wifey was mowing with it one day near the shop and the ROPS we was still up. I was mowing open areas with the Kubota and just happened to look her way as she was approaching a very low limb on a very large live oak tree. She is always very careful, never going like a bat out of **** as I do. As she got close to the low limb, still over her head, the ROPS contacted the limb, raising the ZT front wheels off the ground. She stopped, backed up, then forward again, raising front wheels again. She looked in my direction, not understanding why I was almost falling off of the Kubota laughing my ***** off. I pointed to my head then pointed behind my head. She looked behind her and figured out what was going on. I still get to tease her about that day.

The JD has been a very trouble free mower with only normal maintenance. I can highly recommend the JD ZTs.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I keep reading in various places that the JD Z9** series are great ZTR mowers with the caveat to avoid the MOD (Much On Demand) deck and get the Pro deck instead. The Pro deck is supposed to be fantastic, while the MOD deck is not so great.

And while the JD decks are stamped, they are not stamped out of some flimsy metal. They are stamped from a single piece of 7 gauge steel, which is the same gauge that other manufacturers use on their high end commercial decks.

 

[whistlepig]

For seven years we mowed 7 acres of lawn and about 3 acres of horse paddocks with a 72" Woods RFM and a Gravely 54" riding tractor. Several hundred trees. Me running the RFM and the wife trimming and mowing the paddocks with the rider. We bought our first zero turn this spring. I would estimate it reduces our mowing time by 4 hours each week. We bought a 54" Ferris IS700Z. The zero turn is quicker and the suspension on the Ferris allows her to mow hours longer without fatigue. She mows a lot more and I mow a lot less now. She likes running the zero turn.

 

[Sawmilllawyer]

I bought a Scag with the Kawasaki engine four years ago and do not regret it. It cut my mowing time for the 1.5 acres down from 3-4 hours to 45 minutes or 1 hour. Mower works great around trees and shrubs. Only regret is that in the open field part of the yard I have a 48" cut and would like a 60" cut. That said around the trees, shrubs and between the fence and other objects it works great. I would look at the other brands such as Bad Boy and Ferris. Raising the mower deck with your leg is handy when you ride it up over short stumps, which my yard has several because I do not own a stump grinder. Check out several drive them and get the one that fits you best. Good information here from the others.

 

[tom4018]

I went the ZTR way this year. I bought a Husqvarna MZT 52. It was a learning curve on slopes, if it is damp late in the day be careful with it. I have watched some guys mow slopes with the bigger JD's and all I can say is they are braver than me. Some dealers have demo's you may asked around. For me I think what I bought the the best deal for my use, only got about 25 hours on it so far. It cut my mowing time by a third or more.

 

[lutt]

Here is my latest Kubota. ZG 222, The first was a ZG 20 we run for 6 years and the new owner is still using it. We mow, 5 or so acres at our home, 5 acres at the rent house. A acre at moms house, 3 acres at our family cemetery, and help my father n law mow 10 acres of cemetery's. The reason for the 48 inch deck. The first Kubota mowed all that with only a battery replacement, no belts, regular blade changes of course. No bearing replacements either. Just regular maintence. It had a stamped deck. This one is welded and has a serpentine belt for the blades, the mower gearbox is pto driven. I expect just as many trouble free years out of this one. I don't have any trouble mowing slopes. LUTT

 

[RoyJackson]

I went the ZTR way this year. I bought a Husqvarna MZT 52. It was a learning curve on slopes, if it is damp late in the day be careful with it. I have watched some guys mow slopes with the bigger JD's and all I can say is they are braver than me.

Yeah....they can be a bit slick on slopes...both traversing across or going up and down.
I use my ROPS (and seat belt) religiously...the only time it's lowered is under a few trees with low hanging branches.

BTW, I erred in my earlier posts...I have a z920A, not a z925A...same mower, the 925 has 2-3 more horsepower.

 

[628pm]

I have the ZD326P (diesel) Kubota zero turn. Had it for several years, mows slopes real good when dry. I stay out of ditches when wet, if the wheels start spinning you could be sitting there. If I had it to do over I would buy the F series Kubota with 4 wheel drive. F series Steering wheel would be nice also. Wife complains about "straight lines" every once in a while with the zero turn.

 

[Topher265]

When doing my comparisons, I went with an older JD F935 diesel front mount mower. I wanted to get a MidMount ZTR, but after doing my research this FrontMount has worked out just fine. I lose a little on the top-speed but I gained the ability to also use this machine to move snow in the winter, which I plan to do with the 48" 2-stage blower that came with it. So I can consolidate machines in my garage/shed. My driveway is around 350', and would have taken entirely too long with my 26" walk-behind blower. Plus mine has a heated cab with a wiper...none of which can be done on a MM. The cab is awesome just for mowing too...no ducking/moving for branches...and the offset deck is easier to get close to the trees and as other said easily slips under fences. And though some reviews complained about cut quality, I have no such complaints. I can stripe if I want, and my rear-discharge deck doesn't windrow unless it's overgrown...like any would do. I bought used to save cash, and I saved big time. I have to invest a little to update all the maintenance but that's no problem to me.

Good luck in your search!

 

[RoyJackson]

When doing my comparisons, I went with an older JD F935 diesel front mount mower. I wanted to get a MidMount ZTR, but after doing my research this FrontMount has worked out just fine. I lose a little on the top-speed but I gained the ability to also use this machine to move snow in the winter, which I plan to do with the 48" 2-stage blower that came with it. So I can consolidate machines in my garage/shed. My driveway is around 350', and would have taken entirely too long with my 26" walk-behind blower. Plus mine has a heated cab with a wiper...none of which can be done on a MM. The cab is awesome just for mowing too...no ducking/moving for branches...and the offset deck is easier to get close to the trees and as other said easily slips under fences. And though some reviews complained about cut quality, I have no such complaints. I can stripe if I want, and my rear-discharge deck doesn't windrow unless it's overgrown...like any would do. I bought used to save cash, and I saved big time. I have to invest a little to update all the maintenance but that's no problem to me.

Good luck in your search!

When I was at the dealer checking out the Z920A, there was an F1145...just the mower deck, no snow blower. It did have a partial cab...ROPS, roof and front supports. However, in my situation, that cab would have been a problem due to branches (which I did not want to trim).
Nice machine...and I do like those Yanmar diesels!

The picture is not the machine I wrote about, but it's almost identical...

 

[TSO]

When I was at the dealer checking out the Z920A, there was an F1145...just the mower deck, no snow blower. It did have a partial cab...ROPS, roof and front supports. However, in my situation, that cab would have been a problem due to branches (which I did not want to trim).
Nice machine...and I do like those Yanmar diesels!

The picture is not the machine I wrote about, but it's almost identical...

I had the Ford version of this ... Ford/NH CM272, 27 HP diesel, 72" deck. It was nice.

But, I got rid of it and now mow with a zero turn. The ZTR cuts faster, maneuvers better, turns better (much much better), sits lower, easier adjustments (cut height, etc), is lighter, takes up less space, etc. The only PRO of that front mower was that you could mow under branches better.

The ZTR is a better all around unit, hands down

 

[Green Power]

You should take a strong look at Dixons we have a commercial one on the farm with a 52" deck.

 

[arlen4720]

I had the Ford version of this ... Ford/NH CM272, 27 HP diesel, 72" deck. It was nice.

But, I got rid of it and now mow with a zero turn. The ZTR cuts faster, maneuvers better, turns better (much much better), sits lower, easier adjustments (cut height, etc), is lighter, takes up less space, etc. The only PRO of that front mower was that you could mow under branches better.

The ZTR is a better all around unit, hands down

Unless you want to put a snowblower on them. Front mounts are a little nicer for deck maintenance also.

 

[bigdogmax1]

Thanks so much for the replies. I have decided 100% to go with a zero turn mower. After MUCH research (still have some to do) I have narrowed my choices down some. I want to buy local for service and warranty reasons, so my brand choices are Hustler or Scag (Sold at the same dealer AND offered at great promotional prices), ExMark (Not so great pricing), and Dixie Chopper (Fair priced but not the greatest shop). Scratch off John Deere because of price (and no negotiation at the dealer), and Bad Boy because I just would feel more comfortable buying from a well established dealership and company. My price range is 8500-9000. For Exmark, the Lazer Z E-Series is the only commercial mower with a 60 inch deck at this price. Not as wide as a wheel base or as powerful as a motor as others. I could upgrade for the S-Series, but they run out of my price range. Scag and Hustler, both sold at the same dealership, both look to be excellent. The Scag Tiger Cat is offered right in my price range, and the Hustler XOne (not XOne I) was just on promo for 8500 down from 10000! Zero percent financing on Scag, Hustlers, and ExMarks. Honestly, I don't like the idea of ExMarks non greasable parts. Everything is sealed. Vs. Scag and Hustlers that have alemites. I can say that because of dealer reputation, mower quality, and negotiable pricing I will probably go with the Hustler XOne or Scag Tiger Cat or Turf Tiger (if the pricing is around 8500.) Hustler has a killer 5 year warranty also. Nobody demo's anything in this town lol, so I guess I'll have to just test drive one in the lot. I also like the independent wheel motors on the Hustlers and Scags. All models come standard with suspension seats and ROPS system.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I currently own 5 Scags. I think they are well built machines and you will be happy with one.

I have owned John Deere and Exmark mowers, and I think the Scag is better built than those 2. However, as I think I mentioned before, you should buy from the dealer you are most comfortable with.

I am pricing 4 new mowers right now, and probably won't go with Scag again, simply because the closest dealer (where my wife works) has lost the Scag dealership, and now I'll have to travel a good bit to get parts and service if I go with Scag again.

 

[PoorMansCat]

Any of the better zero turns will probably fit your needs well. The Ferris line is a BEAST. You can get one thats 72" cut with a Cat diesel engine. They are very well built machines.
I know of one person who has a SCAG commercial for his home use, its a beast as well.
Ive had a Toro Titan for about 6-7 years now and have done nothing but add fuel and change blades. We cut approx 2.5 acres of bahaia grass and can mow at full speed without leaving a blade standing.

 

[DK35vince]

I have had my Hustler Super Z ( 35 HP Kawasaki w/72" deck) for around a year now.
The speed it will mow at still impresses me every time I use it.
Awesome mower.