Best commercial zero turn?

[LD1]

The best setup is a double belt on the deck and shaft drive to the deck. I think Kubota is the only one that does that. I tend to break a lot of the belts that go from the deck to the engine, but if you only cut yard grass it’s probably a non issue. My mom is a real estate agent and I do a lot of 1 time cuts on overgrown lawns before the closing. I burn probably 3-5 belts a year at $30 each so it’s not a huge problem. I’ve never broken a belt on my double belt Kubota. Btw, there’s at least two meanings of double belts used in this thread.

Without re-reading the entire thread....maybe I missed the second "meaning" of double belt?

 

[4570Man]

Without re-reading the entire thread....maybe I missed the second "meaning" of double belt?

Double belt like Kubota uses is a double v belt that’s about 2” wide. Someone referred to using a separate belt to drive the deck as a double belt.

 

[LD1]

Double belt like Kubota uses is a double v belt that’s about 2” wide. Someone referred to using a separate belt to drive the deck as a double belt.

Didnt see that.

I know I commented on a double pulley that one belt goes back to the clutch to drive the double pulley, and another comes off the double pulley and drives the deck spindles. 2- separate belts......and a third to drive the hydros.

My scag is a single B-series belt that goes from the clutch and around all spindles. And a single A-series belt for the hydros.

Not sure I would want a double. Sounds great and all, but I mow 4 acres, and maybe have to change a belt once every 3-4 years. It dont slip or squeal, or break. Double belts and double sheaves are alot more money.

But then again, Im only pushing 27HP and 61" deck. Some of these new 35+HP diesels and larger blades and 72+" decks....maybe the double is necessary

 

[kenmac]

Double belt like Kubota uses is a double v belt that’s about 2” wide. Someone referred to using a separate belt to drive the deck as a double belt.

yep, it's a very wide belt. I still refer to is as a single . When you replace it, you only purchase one belt

 

[daugen]

are there any maintenance differences on these mowers? I ask because when I used to own a full suspension Ferris, their design
was complicated enough to require four grease zerks on each of the IRS rear wheel suspensions, and one of the zerks required me to take the wheel off to get to it. They were hard enough to get to that the used unit I bought was all locked up due to lack of prior greasing. Still worth it for the ride but a lot of extra maintenance.

I can't use a zero turn any more but if I could I would want the most comfortable ride out there. Price, durability, mowing quality and comfort. Currently run a new F2690E Kubota whose 72 deck cut an hour off my mowing, and since it has a steering wheel with a knob, I can drive one handed.

I know it's a name one would think of last for commercial mowing but MTD is building some seriously heavy frame Cub Cadet zero turns, with steering wheels also. Just not a diesel engine, which I needed, 8 acres of lawn. Saw them at Kubota dealer recently.

My church has been running an Exmark for ten years and 1300 hours with zero problems. Kawasaki powered.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Gravely has zero zerks. No greasing needed. Personally I am not a fan. Old school. Toro Groundsmaster has grease fittings everywhere. Does have a single belt but it is a bugger to install from what I've heard.

 

[4570Man]

yep, it's a very wide belt. I still refer to is as a single . When you replace it, you only purchase one belt

The pulleys have 2 V groves in them. The belt is essentially 2 V belts molded together at the top. It’s definitely not the same thing all the other mowers run.

 

[Creamer]

Fail to plan is a plan to fail, get work first, buy used to start,make money(70% for you,30% for equipment)

I have to agree. The business comes first and make sure you are making money.

My choice would definitely be a Grasshopper front deck. The only negative is that they take up more room on a trailer due to the front deck.

The positives are:
With the shaft drive it is almost a trouble free machine - you should go years without needing a dealer except to buy filters and blades and such
The front deck minimizes trimming (virtually eliminates it) if you are mowing around bushes or trees
The pop up deck makes it easy and safe to change blades as you will be sharpening them regularly
The low Cg makes it very stable
Deck easily handles a high volumes of wet grass which sometimes happens to commercial guys
Easy off and on without trip hazards like Ferris or some other machines

Size of deck - depends on what you need
If you are doing a lot of suburban homeowner yards you may want a standup for the ability to get in tighter spaces.

I do not know what your plans are for the colder months of the year but a snow blower or sidewalk brush on Grasshopper can be very handy and a good money maker for sidewalks and driveways.

 

[D2Cat]

I know 4 people who own Bad Boy zero turns. They like them. They're a tough built machine and advertise a $5000 price. For the OP it might be worth a look.

Creamer spelled out the benefits of a Grasshopper, but many are not familiar with the machine. The further one gets from the mid-west the fewer are shipped.

What often happens with machinery and tools, it becomes a regional product because of various reasons. Could be location of manufacturer, or a major company uses the product so a supply line is set up for repairs and replacement. An example, if a RR uses a particular brand of cutting torches they become popular in the area.

 

[atomchaser]

From you description, it sounds like you are just going to dabble in commercial mowing and see how it goes. I'm not sure it makes sense from a business standpoint to drop $10K or more on a new mower if it's not going to produce significant revenue. I'd be looking a used commercial unit that has some good life left in it and has good local dealer support. My neighbor has a large commercial landscaping/lawncare company and seems to pretty much standardized on Wright Standers. They seem to do well on the hills around here and they really mow fast.

 

[screamin400]

Just test drove a Ferris 2100 with efi 61". Nice mower.

 

[Jam242ti]

I have a 21 year old Grasshopper with a Kubota gas engine water cooled (3,000) hours runs and cuts great. My 92 year old Father-In-Law thought he would buy me a new mower with more modern safety tech so he can continue to mow. After exhaustive research and test driving with a 93 year old we went with Ferris 2100 because of the suspension system. Nothing on the market rides as smooth as a Ferris with the system. Since Ferris is owned by B&S you get more features for your money if you go B&S so we ordered a 2100 with EFI and the Oil Guard system as upgrades. The external oil reservoir provides a cooling effect though not as much as water cooled and EFI has dropped my fuel usage by 30%. So far the Ferris has been an excellent machine with 120 hours. I still prefer the close cutting ability of the front mounted cutting deck of the Grasshopper and still running strong after 21 years and 3,000 hours.

 

[tradosaurus]

I'm not a commercial mower but I did buy a 60" Toro Titan HD to mow 2-3 acres. For the price I feel it is a good machine. I paid $7400 last fall.

If I was to mow commercial property for money I would have a 48" and a 60" zero turn.

https://www.toro.com/en/homeowner/riding-mowers/titan-hd-2000-74462

 

[4570Man]

I cut yards semi commercially. I have a 50” and a 72” cut zero turn. It’s usually faster to use the 72 and do a little more trim work but the 50” does a better job.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I mow about two acres with lots of obstacles on several sides of a 13 acre place. I hate turning to trim on only one side. Plus, hate getting grass all over me. When I mow with the chute into the wind, the grass blows back on me. Avoiding that by mowing in only one direction wastes gas and slows the process too much.

I want a rear discharge mower for my next machine, even if I have to pay a lot for it. Looking at the 54-inch cut Hustler X One with rear discharge.

I think a rear discharge RFM on my tractor would not do well in the yard or around the obstacles, and my rotary cutter cuts too rough and not low enough for bermudagrass.

 

[art]

So Art are you telling me that if that time comes I should go see the boys in Canastota. They always have a fine selection. Actually may take a look at the Empire Farm Days.

With the selection we have available it does make it hard not to shop us. It lets you see a lot of designs and styles in one place.

 

[screamin400]

I was there yesterday Art and saw Eric.

 

[screamin400]

Art, I purchased my new 2100 at your Canastota store today

 

[thorholt]

I am fortunate to have a very very large Ferris/Kubota dealer within my area. He is getting me a price on a Ferris 2100 and the equivalent Kubota. The Ferris will be priced with the Kaw engine. Does anyone have any experience with this setup?

I bought a new Ferris 2100 last year, I went with the Vanguard "Big Block" with efi and the 5 quart oil system, 61" deck, I mow about 5 Acres of grass and some of the ground is pretty rough, the suspension is really nice, It takes out the jarring you get on a normal mower.
I used to mow with a JD 425 AWS and this thing blows it away, It cut 2 hours off my mowing time as I have a couple hundred trees to go around also the cut is superior, The JD would leave a lot of clippings on the ground and if the grass was a little long I needed to bag it, The Ferris chops it up really good, No need for a bagger.

 

[Illini22]

We have no commercial experience but we have had five zero turn mowers now, including three commercial models. We have two now, a 50" Toro MX5060 (with a bagger) for home use and a 61" Wright Sport X that you can operating standing up on the platform in the rear or sitting on a simple seat in the rear. We had a 66" eXmark and a 61" Husquvarna, both commercial models that were used at our place in the country where we mow about two acres and now use the Wright. The Toro is a good mower and cost less than half of the Wright. I am very impressed with the quality of the Wright. It mows well and fast. Around here we see many Wright mowers used commercially, more I think than any other brand. The 52" Stander seems to be the most popular commercial mower. However, a new Wright mower might be more of an investment than makes sense unless you plan on doing a lot of mowing.

I致e had a wright stander since 2010 (it was 10 years old). It was an amazing machine, sold it for more than what I paid for it (to a landscaper) last month. I bought another wright stander x second generation 48 cut, the 52 was only $80. more. We also have a exmark lazer z commercial mower. It痴 also a quality product but the stander is much easier to cut with, safer if you are on slopes and you also get filthy on the exmark.