BUying advice - Zero Turn? Good, Bad, what to look for and avoid? Prefer Used?

[4570Man]

I’d take used commercial over new homeowner line any day. “People don’t sell good mowers” just isn’t true. Most commercial fleets trade them off pretty often.

 

[robbyr]

The wife and I just paid off our Scag Cheetah 52” commercial grade mower we bought in 2013. You can definitely “see” the difference between it and the residential models. It was pricey at 9k but we’re very happy with it. We mow 2-3 acres. Had to replace a spring and it’s on its second set of blades. Still the original belts. Step dad had a Gravely for 20 years and got a Ferris two years ago. They are all nice machines. I wanted to buy new mostly because I’m not the best mechanic or fixer upper. My guess is you’ll need to find a good used one for the budget. Even most of the residentials I've seen were 4-5k. Good luck.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Look around at what everybody else in your area are using. In my county most run Bad Boy. In the next county over (where oldest daughter lives) everybody uses Gravely. It all depends on the local dealer who sells the most. THAT dealer will have the reputation for the best deals and the best service.

Unless somebody has just bought a new home with a huge yard or they have decided to mow commercially most people will not get a new mower unless they are having trouble with the old one. People don't just go out one day and say, "I think I will drop a bundle on a new mower to cut my grass!" They wait until their old one is not doing the job. Mowers are one thing I will not buy used. Some people have good luck. Others buy used and spend enough getting things right that they could have bought new.

It your ground is rough do not get the widest deck available for a particular model. You will end up scalping the ground all the time.

Father in law has a Cub Cadet zero turn that is fourteen years old. He had to have the blade clutch replaced this spring. Other than that he has done nothing but routine maintenance and new belts/blades. It is not a commercial unit but a light duty residential. I don't particularly like Cub Cadets but he has had good luck with his and he mows three to four acres a week.

I highly recommend buying new for ZTRs. A Kawasaki engine in something else I would look for. Mine takes less fuel with my 24-hp/54" than it did with my Kohler 17-hp/40". Also big rear tires are a must, have had one with little tires and it just wasn't any fun.

If it works out for you like it has for me I seldom get to mow unless I trailer the mower somewhere else. If I say the yard needs mowing my wife will be in the shed and on the mower before I can get out the door. Especially since we got the bigger Bad Boy. She loves mowing yards.

Good luck with your choice. You don't have to spent $7000 and get a high grade commercial mower. You will probably have to spend $3500-$5000. But if you take good care of it with regular oil/filter and AIR FILTER changes the mower will last you for many years.

RSKY

The wife and I just paid off our Scag Cheetah 52” commercial grade mower we bought in 2013. You can definitely “see” the difference between it and the residential models. It was pricey at 9k but we’re very happy with it. We mow 2-3 acres. Had to replace a spring and it’s on its second set of blades. Still the original belts. Step dad had a Gravely for 20 years and got a Ferris two years ago. They are all nice machines. I wanted to buy new mostly because I’m not the best mechanic or fixer upper. My guess is you’ll need to find a good used one for the budget. Even most of the residentials I've seen were 4-5k. Good luck.

Thanks guys. solid advice both of you. I did not consider the scalping...

Be well,
David

 

[RSKY]

Thanks guys. solid advice both of you. I did not consider the scalping...

Be well,
David

When I ordered my Bad Boy I originally specified the Kohler engine and a 60" deck. After the shop owner walked away his daughter came up to me. She is the same age as my youngest and has probably spent the night at our house with her. A very nice looking 26 year old (at the time) young lady. She waited until her dad was talking to somebody else then told me to get the narrower 54" deck because everybody with the 60" complained about the mower scalping or hitting the ground when going over rough ground. The extra three inches on each side sticking out past the front wheels caused this. She also told me to use the money saved on the deck to get the Kawasaki engine. She said she had never driven one but sat in her office and heard all the talk from the customers, salesmen, and mechanics. So I followed her advice and have been very satisfied with the results.

The Gravely that I had before was a cheaper model that gave good service except for one thing. It had the Kohler Courage engine. I had read that this was a "500-hour" engine and sure enough, at 502 hours it self destructed.

Oldest daughters father-in-law bought a used diesel commercial mower. He is proud of it but admits he has spent enough on it over the past two years that he could have bought a cheaper residential unit. Some of the 'repairs' he has made have been bypassing some of the wiring to keep from buying very expensive parts. It will now start with the deck engaged and just about all the other safeties are bypassed. But it still mows.

RSKY

 

[4570Man]

I mow a lot with a 72” deck. It definitely scalps worse than my other mowers. I don’t notice much difference in the cut if my 60” and 50” mowers.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I'm currently running a 42" deck on the John Deere LX266, there is a 54" deck which is only slightly more cost... the wheels should prevent most of the scalping, right? The deck kinda floats underneath, and I'm cutting field grass so I cut it pretty short... Like 1.5"

Might be the cheapest alternative for me...

Be well,
David

 

[ktm250rider]

Not the mowers fault if scalping over rough terrain. You have a 6 foot straight edge that can't flex. Only the wheels keep it from scalping, if they hit a high spot.
I got lucky and found a used Bad Boy a few years ago before they were even sold up here. 27hp Kawi, 60" deck and power bagger. Thing is a tank. The deck is 1/4 inch steel. Parts are easy to get. Paid 3grand and cant justify getting new.

 

[Bigfoot62]

David,
Hope all is well with you and yours.

I would recommend that you look hard at Bad Boy. As has already been said, they're built like a tank. 3/16" welded deck on homeowner models, and 1/4" welded deck on commercial models. If you hit a stump with the deck, it may throw you over the handlebars, but it won't break the deck!

I have one of each. Bought both used. Paid $1800 for the 2011 MZ Magnum four years ago, and last week I got a 2016 Outlaw XP.
The MZ Magnum sells new for $3500 at TSC. Mine is the 48" cut, with a B&S 27HP. Great little mower. Other than one belt and blades, the only repair has been a carb.
Bought the Outlaw XP last week at auction. Paid $3200. ($8900 for a new one) It's a beast. 61" cut, Kawasaki 852cc engine, 1230# weight. I can mow my 3 acre yard in an hour. It had 734 hours on it. I figure that it was used commercially, to put that many hours on it in just two seasons. I did a complete filter and fluid change, replaced two deck wheels, and replaced the arm rests. That's it.

There are plenty of other mowers out there that will serve you well. Exmark and Dixie Chopper commercial mowers are built similar. The Kubota commercial mower is a good machine, but a lot of the parts are proprietary. A good friend of mine got a quote for a replacement engine at $3800. You can't just bolt a new B&S on the Kubota. JD makes a good machine, but even their commercial models have a stamped sheet metal deck. My mother has one, and I've already had to weld it back together.

Be patient and keep looking.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Opinions on the Hustler Fastrak 54" rear discharge with 23 HP Kaw? Would the 48 inch be better for not scalping, or would it make much difference? The only humps I have in the yard are molehills that pop up ..

 

[riptides]

Opinions on the Hustler Fastrak 54" rear discharge with 23 HP Kaw? Would the 48 inch be better for not scalping, or would it make much difference? The only humps I have in the yard are molehills that pop up ..

Go big. Change your mowing pattern to avoid scalping.