Dixon ZTR 60" Kodiak mower from TSC

[packetshark]

I bought a Dixon ZTR 60" mower from TSC in 2007. I have recently had to replace the pulley's from the mower deck. When I went to look up the parts I used the model and engine (26HP B&S) to find my mower. When my parts arrived they were not the same as the parts I had removed. I then went to a Dixon dealership and explained my situation. They looked up the mower and told me that since it was built for TSC that the standard part diagram for that mower type wouldn't work. We worked for about an hour looking for the correct size parts. When I went back to TSC they told me they don't recognize that they sold the tractor. I was told that it was sold only one year in 2007 and they cannot get parts any longer.

My question, does anybody know where I can find a parts diagram for a 2007 Dixon mower from TSC? Or how I should go about finding parts in the future?

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[Sysop]

No clue on a diagram, nor any clue for a source, but in similar instances I've found myself in I've found removing the part in question and examining it sometimes yields a part number for the part itself. Look up that part number and you'll commonly find it's something they simply sourced from a different supplier than normal. Generally when companies make something for a retail outlet like TSC they're not going to produce a whole new part and only use it on that model, that would increase the cost of production dramatically.

 

[djdicetn]

I bought a Dixon ZTR 60" mower from TSC in 2007. I have recently had to replace the pulley's from the mower deck. When I went to look up the parts I used the model and engine (26HP B&S) to find my mower. When my parts arrived they were not the same as the parts I had removed. I then went to a Dixon dealership and explained my situation. They looked up the mower and told me that since it was built for TSC that the standard part diagram for that mower type wouldn't work. We worked for about an hour looking for the correct size parts. When I went back to TSC they told me they don't recognize that they sold the tractor. I was told that it was sold only one year in 2007 and they cannot get parts any longer.

My question, does anybody know where I can find a parts diagram for a 2007 Dixon mower from TSC? Or how I should go about finding parts in the future?

Thanks,
Aaron

I feel your pain!! I purchased a Lawn Chief lawn tractor at True Value hardware in 1993. Fantastic 46" lawn mower with a 16HP Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine with a frame built by Power Equipment Company(builds several brand's backhoes and other heavy duty equipment). Several years later Ace Hardware bought out True Value and discontinued ALL of the "True Value products"(even the B & S engine had a label that said "designed and built for True Value"). Luckily, I found a local(mom & pop) hardware store that had a really good parts department and any time I needed any part(like idler pulleys, belts, blades, engine filters, etc.) they had a distributor that bought out all of the "True Value OEM parts" and even the belts I ordered over the years had "True Value" stamped on them. This little mower never missed a beat for 13 years with minor repairs and regular maintenance, but in 2006 it finally had a spindle bearing go out. By then, unfortunately, the local hardware store was no longer able to get those replacement parts for that 13-yr-old lawn tractor. Well......I couldn't complain about not gettin my money's worth now could I so I "parked it" and bought a 2006 54" Craftsman lawn tractor with a 24hp B & S Intek engine........even though the "tractor" was very nice(built by Husqvarna for Sears), the Intek engine didn't hold a candle(even "power/torque" wise) to that old 16hp Vanguard. A year later(2007), my father-in-law ran across a replacement spindle(new) online that was a match for the old Lawn Chief and my son had just gotten married and bought a home, so we repaired the Lawn Chief and it fired right up and ran like the day I bought it which made my son very happy!! After 6 years the B & S in my Craftsman was pretty well shot so I bought my new Gravely ZTR and gave the Craftsman to my son. Believe it or not he was STILL using that old Lawn Chief(now 19 years old) but the deck was rusting out and falling apart. That ole 16hp Vanguard STILL didn't use a drop of oil between seasonal oil changes.

Nice story, huh, but back to your dilemma......I learned this go-around(especialy when it comes to ZTR mowers)......NEVER buy one from a big box retailer(like Lowes, Home Depot, TSC, etc.) and I'm sure you can vouch for and justify why it's a bad idea. Users on the forum don't understand why I give that advice.....but for sure you understand.....right???? I'm really sorry to hear about your problem and I wish i had a solution for you. Don't shoot the messenger......but if the Dixon dealer can't help you I think you better consider buying a new ZTR(BTW, since you bought that Dixon ZTR, Dixon was bought out by Husqvarna and that doesn't help any either). Wish I had better news and hope maybe someone else has another recommendation:0(

 

[packetshark]

I feel your pain!! I purchased a Lawn Chief lawn tractor at True Value hardware in 1993. Fantastic 46" lawn mower with a 16HP Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine with a frame built by Power Equipment Company(builds several brand's backhoes and other heavy duty equipment). Several years later Ace Hardware bought out True Value and discontinued ALL of the "True Value products"(even the B & S engine had a label that said "designed and built for True Value"). Luckily, I found a local(mom & pop) hardware store that had a really good parts department and any time I needed any part(like idler pulleys, belts, blades, engine filters, etc.) they had a distributor that bought out all of the "True Value OEM parts" and even the belts I ordered over the years had "True Value" stamped on them. This little mower never missed a beat for 13 years with minor repairs and regular maintenance, but in 2006 it finally had a spindle bearing go out. By then, unfortunately, the local hardware store was no longer able to get those replacement parts for that 13-yr-old lawn tractor. Well......I couldn't complain about not gettin my money's worth now could I so I "parked it" and bought a 2006 54" Craftsman lawn tractor with a 24hp B & S Intek engine........even though the "tractor" was very nice(built by Husqvarna for Sears), the Intek engine didn't hold a candle(even "power/torque" wise) to that old 16hp Vanguard. A year later(2007), my father-in-law ran across a replacement spindle(new) online that was a match for the old Lawn Chief and my son had just gotten married and bought a home, so we repaired the Lawn Chief and it fired right up and ran like the day I bought it which made my son very happy!! After 6 years the B & S in my Craftsman was pretty well shot so I bought my new Gravely ZTR and gave the Craftsman to my son. Believe it or not he was STILL using that old Lawn Chief(now 19 years old) but the deck was rusting out and falling apart. That ole 16hp Vanguard STILL didn't use a drop of oil between seasonal oil changes.

Nice story, huh, but back to your dilemma......I learned this go-around(especialy when it comes to ZTR mowers)......NEVER buy one from a big box retailer(like Lowes, Home Depot, TSC, etc.) and I'm sure you can vouch for and justify why it's a bad idea. Users on the forum don't understand why I give that advice.....but for sure you understand.....right???? I'm really sorry to hear about your problem and I wish i had a solution for you. Don't shoot the messenger......but if the Dixon dealer can't help you I think you better consider buying a new ZTR(BTW, since you bought that Dixon ZTR, Dixon was bought out by Husqvarna and that doesn't help any either). Wish I had better news and hope maybe someone else has another recommendation:0(

Your advise is heard loud and clear, and I can assure you I will pass this along. Like you I am very happy with the mower, but my lesson has been learned. I have found the parts and it is running like a champ, I think my next step might be to buy a new mower if this guy wears out again. I'm not sure I can go through the two week process of finding the parts again.

 

[packetshark]

No clue on a diagram, nor any clue for a source, but in similar instances I've found myself in I've found removing the part in question and examining it sometimes yields a part number for the part itself. Look up that part number and you'll commonly find it's something they simply sourced from a different supplier than normal. Generally when companies make something for a retail outlet like TSC they're not going to produce a whole new part and only use it on that model, that would increase the cost of production dramatically.

I was able to find the parts, but no part numbers where located on the gear. I used old fashion carry the old parts into stores and find a matching item. It was long and painful, but I finally got it done.

 

[djdicetn]

That's great news!!!!!!! Maybe if you stay on top of maintenance you will get several more good years of service and realize a decent return on your investment. FYI, when I was shopping last fall, I almost pulled a string on a Dixon DX100 commercial ZTR(even though they are now manufactured by Husqvarna they still are high quality ZTR's because Husky not only kept a lot of the design & components...they are now selling "orange Dixons" in their Husky line...the MZ ZT 52 introduced just this year is basically a Dixon Ultra/Dixon DX100 "hybrid" and VERY GOOD bang-for-the-buck when compared to other high-end residential units). Dixons(and based upon your comments about the one you bought at TSC) have always been very good machines!!!!
If the Gravely dealer hadn't accepted my out-the-door offer(around $1,000 less than MSRP plus taxes), I would probably own a Dixon or Toro. I love my gravely, though. and have never looked back. Again, glad you were determined enough to find a replacement part!!!