Cadillac of Zero Turn Mowers (ZTR)?

[Gale Hawkins]

I would trade out 60" for a 48 or 52" deck. I never knew how while 60" can be.

We mow a lot of open space too.

 

[Jim Thompson]

One brand that I haven't seen mentioned that might be worth considering is a Gravely. They're a quality machine and last I checked, they also used the Cat diesel as does Hustler.
Time now for a lot of fun, testing and comparing.

Jim

 

[Carl_NH]

The Cadillac of ZTR's is regional to a degree. Here in NH Scag, Exmark, Ferris, Kubota, seem to be the most prevalent. Very few Grasshopper, Hustler, Bad Boy, Dixie Choppers.

In another discussion on TBN, someone mentioned the non suspension units used by commercial lawn services rarely have the owner in the seat, so comfort is not as critical, whereas TBN members spend time in the seat.

If you have a nice machine/dozer graded lawn with few inclusions any ZTR is great, but for the most part TBN members tend to have tractors, some acreage and probably rough areas, so in my (baised) opinion a suspension system (4 wheel or suspension seat) for comfort and ride along with a sturdy construction is the "Cadillac's" foundation.

Then as others have said, diesel, for longevity, fuel efficiency however the ROI is low for us non commercial users doing 4-12 hours per month. I really wanted a diesel but $3K difference buys 800 gal of gas so 15-16 yrs in my case.

Back to the Ferris vs Simplicity, the Simplicity series is entry commercial level, and their units map to the Ferris IS500 and IS1500 series. Ferris IS2000-5000 series do not have an equivalent in the Simplicity line up.

If money were no object, I like the Ferris IS2500 with the Yanmar diesel, or the Kubota ZD series, due to the high Kubota content (drives/engines) and quality of materials.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Michigan Seat Highback Suspension Seat, Model# V-5300 | Suspension Seats | Northern Tool + Equipment

Best Chevy to Cadillac converter my butt has felt.:thumbsup:

It is the optional seat for many higher end mowers. As noted most fleet owners do not go to the expense because they do not mow with themselves.

 

[tc40da-rg]

I purchased a new Scag Freedom Z, 52" deck, late last year and have already mowed the equivalent of aproximately 25 acres with it. I owned a Troy-Bilt (yes, the "cheap" Lowes favorite) previously, and surprisingly, it held up to "my" very harsh standards for several seasons (and can still cut grass fairly well). I tried an Ariens before buying the Scag, but it "just didn't feel right." And, I found that the 54" deck was just wide enough a difference to cause a lot of uneven, unsightly grass cutting, ground scalping and "re-mowing." I probably would enjoy a mower with a suspension system (or 2!) since we have a total of more than 175 acres that ranges from flat, to terraced, to down-right non-accessable; but, the Scag is turning out to be one tough little mower. BTW: the Freedom Z is kind of the top-end of their residential line and has a lower profile than the larger commercial Scags (even though it comes with a non-hinged ROPs :confused2 if you happen to have a lot of low limbs and branches as we do. I will likely be a Scag customer for a long time. :thumbsup: Just my two cents worth.

 

[nomad289]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlL View Post
Basically, you won't find all of these in any one ZTR.
Dang.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlL View Post
Then there is the question of size of mower 48", 60", 72"? There is also the issue of what the land and type of grass you are cutting.
60"

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlL View Post
I tried a Kubota ZTR on my very bumpy property, after being told I could cut my mowing time in half compared to my old B7100 with 60" MMM. ZTRs list very high mowing speeds. If I hadn't had my seat belt fastened, I would have been thrown off the one I tried, a number of times.

For cut, I would go with Scag or Exmark. For ride, I would go with Ferris or the try the new Scag Cheetah, with its fully suspended operators section. For engines, of course the Kubotas or the Cat diesels. However, be aware that the big diesels weigh a lot and can be a problem when the ground is not dry.
Very good info. Thank you. Thanks everybody for all the opinions & info.


CarlL's advice summarizes all that I concluded when researching ZTR's. I bought the "cadillac" Ferris 4500 diesel with 60" deck. Pro's: Ride (suspension), power, construction. Con's: diesel weight when ground is saturated, wide 60" deck scalps sharp hill crests when set to 3" or lower mowing heights. Perhaps a lighter gas engine Ferris 3000 series with 54" deck would have been optimum for my application. YMMV.

 

[beppington]

I just discovered that New Holland makes ZTRs. I've never even seen one before.

Nobody mentioned New Holland on here ... Do they suck? Are they too new?

 

[bigsnowdog]

Ferris is my answer. The 3100.

I love Kubota machinery, and first thought I would like a Kubota zero turn. I operated every brand there was to be found within 150 miles. I think the only brand I did not operate was Bad Boy.

The great majority of them are all the same parts, meaning engine, pumps, wheel motors, valving, on the particular brand's frame. Where Kubota differs is in their transmission. They have one pump in a transmission that is inside a bit, aluminum casting. The casting has a drive shaft leaving it to operate the deck. One criticism of that is that if the assembly starts to fail, under certain mode of failure circumstances the shaft orbits and destroys the casting. Very. Expensive.

On the others, you have two separate control circuits. Two pumps connected to two wheel motors, each controlled by their own valving. Simple.

The Kubota effectively splits the output of the pump to direct it to the two wheel motor circuits.

The Kubota makes that lovely diesel sound, but I discovered its steering control is noticeably less precise then the others. It feels like there is play in the steering linkage. I decided I did not like it. Try operating one of their machines in the same lot as another brand with conventional hydraulics.

I don't have experience with the smaller Ferris machines, but the 3100 is an incredible machine. I have the 37 hp Kawasaki.

 

[Torque454]

I say by far Dixie Chopper is the best. I like Grasshopper and Scag also tho. Dixie Chopper has nice mower with a 36hp cat diesel available, in both 66" cut and 72" decks. Cost $18,000. Heck of a nice mower tho.

 

[mcconoughey]

Seeing "CAT" diesel mentioned quite often, I am wondering? Did CAT buy Perkins? If so, no issue there as Perkins has always made a good engine from what I know. But, I wonder how much more the yellow paint increases the cost?

Caterpillar bought Perkins. Perkins, and now Caterpillar, both bought/buy engines from the Japanese company Shibaura, makers of various engines and tractors. The Shibaura is an excellent engine, but I've heard nothing by which to compare reliability, good or bad, with Yanmar and Kubota.