Do I wait???

[shooterdon]

Ordered a Bad Boy ZT Elite a few weeks ago. Got a call from the dealer and they got a shipment in yesterday. But they only engine available was the Kohler and I ordered a Kawasaki. Seems Kawasaki is backed up and no idea when I can get one.

I have a mower I can use so no urgency. It is sold to a buddy and he can wait for it.

If I take the Kohler engine option, I can get the ZT now and save $350. But that seems like a pittance on a $5k purchase. I am leaning to waiting. Any thoughts on how much better the Kawasaki FR730 is than the Kohler 7000?

 

[Locoweed]

I would wait

 

[RjCorazza]

I have had very good service from Kawasaki engines.

 

[Rich B1]

I would wait. Less than thrilled with Koehler head gaskets

 

[MoKelly]

My thoughts are if the Kawa engine is in such high demand - it probably is better than what is readily available.

MoKelly

 

[stevewarner1957]

Wait on the Kawasaki

 

[shooterdon]

Got an update from the dealer. He found another dealer that has an Elite with a 60" deck who will put on a 54" deck but wants $500 more than the originally quoted price. That will bring me to over $6k for a lawn mower to cut 2 acres of grass.

Starting to think I may be better off with a residential model model that is almost half the price. Family Farm and Home have a 54" Husqvarna with Kawasaki engine advertised for $3k.

I cut grass or mulch leaves about 20 times a year. With my 48" rider it takes 1 hr and 45 minutes. With the 54" ZT it should take about an hour. So 20 hours a year. I am 70 so the cheap POS model might still last me my lifetime anyway.

BTW, my rider is a Husqvarna with Kohler engine bought from Lowes in 2012 for $1800 and still runs great. My buddy will give me $1000 for it. I have spent $100 on it in repairs so cannot complain.

There is a Husky dealer in town so I may see what they have.

 

[5030]

There are a pile of them (used) on Tractor House, any brand you want.

 

[fried1765]

Got an update from the dealer. He found another dealer that has an Elite with a 60" deck who will put on a 54" deck but wants $500 more than the originally quoted price. That will bring me to over $6k for a lawn mower to cut 2 acres of grass.

Starting to think I may be better off with a residential model model that is almost half the price. Family Farm and Home have a 54" Husqvarna with Kawasaki engine advertised for $3k.

I cut grass or mulch leaves about 20 times a year. With my 48" rider it takes 1 hr and 45 minutes. With the 54" ZT it should take about an hour. So 20 hours a year. I am 70 so the cheap POS model might still last me my lifetime anyway.

BTW, my rider is a Husqvarna with Kohler engine bought from Lowes in 2012 for $1800 and still runs great. My buddy will give me $1000 for it. I have spent $100 on it in repairs so cannot complain.

There is a Husky dealer in town so I may see what they have.

You might want to look at the SCAG Liberty Z.....maybe even a used one.
A great Kawasaki powered machine with a sturdy fabricated deck.

 

[5030]

With ANY zero turn mower, I'd be cognizant about what transmission they have. Myself, I prefer Hydro Gear because they can be serviced easily. Tuff Torque transmissions are hard to service and noted for failures and the transmissions are super expensive to replace.

 

[Rdrcr]

If you’re not in a hurry, I’d wait. The overall quality of the BB ZTR w/ Kawasaki engine is worth the premium. And, if you’re spending that much, get what you want.

I’ve personally never been happy with the big box store options.

Mike

 

[rgr33]

The crap I have put my 2006 Exmark/23hp Kawasaki through is shameful.
I doubt a box store unit could survive the experience.
Hurts to spend that much money on a Lawnmower, but I think you’ll be happier if you wait.

 

[shooterdon]

The crap I have put my 2006 Exmark/23hp Kawasaki through is shameful.
I doubt a box store unit could survive the experience.
Hurts to spend that much money on a Lawnmower, but I think you’ll be happier if you wait.

I have an Exmark dealer 12 miles away but their designs seem less maintenance friendly. As to longevity, I added the specifics of my situation to illustrate I have little "crap" to deal with. It would be easier for me to justify a $6k machine if I had 5 acres to cut, rough terrain or used it more than 20-30 hours a year; or even the chance of living and cutting grass for more than 20 years...LOL

I expect that the Bad Boy will be my last mower if I hold out for it. Plus I have a very good dealer to support it (same dealer as my LS). I was going to get a Country Clipper but it is a less robust build than the BB for only a few hundred difference.

Reading some of the reviews of machines from big box stores has me leaning strongly to getting a machine from a dealer. Both the Kubota and Deere dealers are not that great or I would have them on the list.

 

[oosik]

My JD X570 has a Kawasaki engine. Starts easy - runs strong. As has been said - if you are going to spend that much money - wait and get what you want. I wanted a 48" deck. They had to get the deck from another dealer. The dealer offer to give me the unit with a 54" deck for the same price. For what I paid - "get me the 48" deck or forget the sale". It was an easy decision for the dealer.

 

[3Ts]

Tuff Torque transmissions are hard to service and noted for failures and the transmissions are super expensive to replace.

Agreed. I bought a ZT and just beyond the warranty period one of the drives broke. $1300 for a new drive, but relatively easy to replace. Shortly after that the other drive broke. It was cheaper, only $900. This was on a $4k machine so if one breaks again, it's off to the scrap yard and I'll replace it with something else.

Note: What I found in all this is that the ZT was originally built with a "mod A" drive, then there was a "mod B" and shortly after that a "mod C" came out. Unfortunately the one I bought was a mod B, but the new drives are mod C so hopefully they'll last a long time. They seem to be a disposable item, no core returns, but remove the belt, covers, and a few bolts and they drop right out.