Buying Advice Buying a Zero-Turn Mower

[hawkeye08]

TPJ89, how's the new mower working? I think the last I read you were getting a Gravely ZT HD 60".

 

[TJP89]

TPJ89, how's the new mower working? I think the last I read you were getting a Gravely ZT HD 60".

Yes, that's what I got. Haven't actually mowed with it yet, so no real thoughts.

 

[hawkeye08]

I read online that Gravely ZT 60HD has the 3100 hydro units, do they have filters (the 3400 on the Ferris is700z does have filters)?

 

[DK35vince]

I read online that Gravely ZT 60HD has the 3100 hydro units, do they have filters (the 3400 on the Ferris is700z does have filters)?

Yes.
Far as I know the ZT 2800 and up has filters.

 

[TJP89]

I read online that Gravely ZT 60HD has the 3100 hydro units, do they have filters (the 3400 on the Ferris is700z does have filters)?

Yes, two filters both from hydrogear. Actually no Gravely maintenance parts, they're all either Kohler or HydroGear.

 

[hawkeye08]

We went and test drove a Gravely ZT 60HD last Saturday. It was a fairly smooth paved parking lot (no grass to try out the mower part). It was a bit rough. We went for a long drive yesterday to the nearest Ferris dealer with mowers in stock and test drove a IS700Z. Wow, what a difference in how the Ferris smoothed things out. Yes, I know, the real test is mowing, but my lawn is rougher than the parking lots. Well, we brought the Ferris home yesterday and I went out this morning a mowed the front lawn. My very first time on zero turn, it didn't take very long to get the hang of it. Our lawn is rough (it smooths out quite a bit after the spring) and I have to say, I really like the Ferris. The dealer was very nice and made us a great deal. It was a very long day of driving, but we have a mower that will last us the rest of lawn mowing days.

 

[TJP89]

Interesting. The thing that really impressed me about the Gravely was how smooth and quiet it was when I tested it out. We'll see.

 

[Gary Fowler]

We went and test drove a Gravely ZT 60HD last Saturday. It was a fairly smooth paved parking lot (no grass to try out the mower part). It was a bit rough. We went for a long drive yesterday to the nearest Ferris dealer with mowers in stock and test drove a IS700Z. Wow, what a difference in how the Ferris smoothed things out. Yes, I know, the real test is mowing, but my lawn is rougher than the parking lots. Well, we brought the Ferris home yesterday and I went out this morning a mowed the front lawn. My very first time on zero turn, it didn't take very long to get the hang of it. Our lawn is rough (it smooths out quite a bit after the spring) and I have to say, I really like the Ferris. The dealer was very nice and made us a great deal. It was a very long day of driving, but we have a mower that will last us the rest of lawn mowing days.

Which engine did you get. I absolutely love my Ferris IS700Z with the 23 HP Kawasaki engine. It is a miser on gas and seems to have more power than my 26 HP B&S engine on my Craftsman mower. It cuts faster and burns less gas per acre than my old ZTR Craftsman 6000 and is SOOOOO much smoother to ride.
The only thing I have to grip about is deck belt replacement. So far I have had to replace the belt every season (about 50 hours each season). The OEM belt lasted 50 hours and the generic Gates brand replacement the same to the tune of $76 each time which is almost half the price of an OEM. I cut about 6 acres of my own yard and occasionally some of my neighbors.

 

[hawkeye08]

Which engine did you get. I absolutely love my Ferris IS700Z with the 23 HP Kawasaki engine. It is a miser on gas and seems to have more power than my 26 HP B&S engine on my Craftsman mower. It cuts faster and burns less gas per acre than my old ZTR Craftsman 6000 and is SOOOOO much smoother to ride.
The only thing I have to grip about is deck belt replacement. So far I have had to replace the belt every season (about 50 hours each season). The OEM belt lasted 50 hours and the generic Gates brand replacement the same to the tune of $76 each time which is almost half the price of an OEM. I cut about 6 acres of my own yard and occasionally some of my neighbors.

Briggs 27hp Commercial turf series. Based on your and others comments, I bought new drive and deck belt with the mower so I did not have to wait for parts if I had an issue with one. I wonder if the PTO engagement is what is eating your belt. I read or was told to engage the blade at the lowest speed you can without killing the engine. Do you have a bagger attachment? That also would put extra load on...

I mowed the back yard during lunch... this mower is going to be just plain fun.

 

[hawkeye08]

Interesting. The thing that really impressed me about the Gravely was how smooth and quiet it was when I tested it out. We'll see.

The Gravely we tested seemed smooth, but it was only running partial throttle when we tested. If your lawn is mostly smooth, the Gravely will be a great mower (I have 3 Gravely riders, 2 two wheel walk behinds). Gravely is certainly well built and I'm sure you will like it. Be sure and let us know how it did after you mow with it.

Thanks for sharing your journey to getting a zero turn, wishing you many hours of happy mowing.

 

[2ndhalf]

Yeh, a ZTR will flat spoil you. I can't imagine going back to a rider. When we were kids we had those old JD Gear drives that had the turn radious of the queen mary. We are pampered now.

 

[TJP89]

Yeh, a ZTR will flat spoil you. I can't imagine going back to a rider. When we were kids we had those old JD Gear drives that had the turn radious of the queen mary. We are pampered now.

The H was the last main mower, no power steering, 10ft long. My arms were ready to fall off after mowing with that thing. Tricycle front end so decent turns, but if you used the brake to turn the lawn was going to be a bit torn up. I won't miss the constant stream of hot exhaust in the face either. That said, the deck cut beautifully, and to hear it throttle up to go through some thick grass...well no zero turn will quite be like that. On the whole, I think mowing will now be a whole different experience. Now if it only it would stop snowing

 

[man00]

One of the guys that started Bad Boy mowers sold his half of the company and has started his own. Spartan Mowers..they look really good and seem to be build great (time will tell on that) here is the link for info
Spartan SRT Series Mower - Spartan Mowers - Zero Turn Mowers
I don't work there or have anything to do with them

 

[Gary Fowler]

Briggs 27hp Commercial turf series. Based on your and others comments, I bought new drive and deck belt with the mower so I did not have to wait for parts if I had an issue with one. I wonder if the PTO engagement is what is eating your belt. I read or was told to engage the blade at the lowest speed you can without killing the engine. Do you have a bagger attachment? That also would put extra load on...

I mowed the back yard during lunch... this mower is going to be just plain fun.

I always engage at lowest RPM possible without stalling the engine (I still stall it occasionally). The mower gets heavy use with about 6 acres of my yard to mow and the occasional mow of neighbor yard when they have mower or health problems. It could be that the belt is running at an angle to the deck when mowing at my preferred height that is stressing the belts. They look like new except for the break of course so they aren't wearing down like my Craftsman was doing. The Craftsman belt would wear the V sides down from slipping a lot but not the Ferris. I still like it even if it is hard on belts.

 

[hawkeye08]

I always engage at lowest RPM possible without stalling the engine (I still stall it occasionally). The mower gets heavy use with about 6 acres of my yard to mow and the occasional mow of neighbor yard when they have mower or health problems. It could be that the belt is running at an angle to the deck when mowing at my preferred height that is stressing the belts. They look like new except for the break of course so they aren't wearing down like my Craftsman was doing. The Craftsman belt would wear the V sides down from slipping a lot but not the Ferris. I still like it even if it is hard on belts.

Someone said that there have been some different adjustment settings in the last few years... wonder if a tighter or looser adjustment would help? If it is a clean break, wouldn't that indicate that the shock load broke it? I should measure the adjustment springs on mine before I loose a belt to see what it is now brand new..

 

[Creamer]

There is just no way you should be going through belts like that. On my mower which I bought in 97 I just tightened the deck belt for the first time in 2014. I mow about 2.5 acres at my house but it also mowed some commercially and has had some rough duty when I wasn't driving it as well as some heavy duty when I was driving it.

 

[hawkeye08]

I think I have ~13 hours on the new Ferris and now that I am used to it, it seems rougher than it did when new. I wanted to do some dethatching so added dethatcher to lawn sweeper and hooked it to the old riding mower. The reason the Ferris seems rougher is that I am going probably 3 times as fast as on the old rider. I have been going faster as I got more comfortable with the ZTR. Some of the lawn has smoothed out now and it is a blast to mow that part on the new mower and the rougher part is not bad. I'm mowing now the whole yard in about 1 hour compared to 2.25hrs with old mower. The new mower uses less than 1/4 tank per mowing. I'm enjoying being able to alter the mowing direction each time. Doing that with the rider wore me out and took too long. No issues with new mower, loving it. Only complaint is I wish the seat back "tilt" was adjustable. My wife will likely make me a "wedge" to put on it so it tilts more forward.

 

[Creamer]

Now you know why us Zero Turn guys won't go back. Mowing is a joy and so quick because you spend the time mowing not turning.

 

[dragoneggs]

Now you know why us Zero Turn guys won't go back. Mowing is a joy and so quick because you spend the time mowing not turning.

Amen!

 

[hawkeye08]

The weather turned hot for a week or so and really slowed the lawn growth down. In the past, I would be thankful for not having to mow as often, now I find myself disappointed that I don't get to mow as often.