Buying Advice I need a new mower!

[Sun Treader]

The worse I have been able to do is bog the tractor down to stalling. My property next door had not been mowed in 8 years or so. Running the FEL over it low to catch the big stuff while mowing high the first time.

I think you're speakin' my language there. Wide cut, no clogging, can run off a B, sounds good.

I tried out the BX and the B at the dealer and they were both great little machines. The only reason I'm leaning toward the B is its just got so much more capacity for tractor type things and could handle a few of the implements from the Case and handle mowing duties.

 

[CreekyB]

I think you're speakin' my language there. Wide cut, no clogging, can run off a B, sounds good.

I tried out the BX and the B at the dealer and they were both great little machines. The only reason I'm leaning toward the B is its just got so much more capacity for tractor type things and could handle a few of the implements from the Case and handle mowing duties.

The reason I was leaning more towards a B as opposed to a BX is true Cat 1, seems like the BX series is almost Cat 1. I had completely made my mind up that if Kubota then B2650. Like I said, package deal on the L2501 made my mind up for me.
L2501 + FEL + BH77 Backhoe + 60" Rear Finish + 6-" Boxblade was cheaper by a good few thousand than the B2650. Which was interesting there considering that the only differences were the tractors and FELs all else was the same. I know I gave up some "creature comforts" in that the B had more premium perks, but honestly, when it is 100 degrees and 90% humidity I really do not care if there is a floormat under my feet or that the tractor has a 12v socket and tilt steering.

I looked at getting the MMM instead of rear finish mower quoted with the B2650 but I am not getting any younger and standing up to attach the mower appeals to me more than laying down. Also I think the 3pt finish mower was a bit cheaper than the MMM.

If you do go with the B series 2650 or above you would have less a problem than I do with bogging the FDR1660 down in tall grass. I think the B2650 has more HP at the PTO than the L2501 does, certainly the 3350 does as well.

Another thing that sold me on the L2501 is that the engine is Tier IV with just direct injection. No EGR, no DEF and no DPF. Not even any new fangle vortex flux capacitor thingies

Clarification: By bogging down, I mean stalling the tractor in 3 feet of years old grass, brush poison ivy, virginia creeper and cat briar, with a finish mower.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

May want to givw Ventrac a look, tad expensive but I like it. Easy flip front mower,, am using Gator blades. Never a clog.

When I posted, I forgot about the Ventrac. If I had steep hills to deal with, that's the machine I'd have. Yes, they are expensive, but the pucker factor on one of them HAS to be much lower than it would be on a tractor or zero turn.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Very few grasshoppers around here. Dealer support is not great but the design IMHO is superior. The only disadvantage I can see other than overall length is that in dry dusty conditions you may get more exposure versus a side discharge mid mount.

I am a big fan of rear mount finish mowers. I've owned two in over 20 years. Land Pride and Woods. The just don't break. Replaced a couple belts and a couple wheels. That's it. If your yard is open enough and you don't have lots of obstacles they are a great option.

I have no experience with Ventrac but I am confident they are a fine machine.

 

[stevem5215]

I have a Steiner 420 and if you want something for use on a hills that are scary with any other machine this is it.

Steve

 

[woolyAcres]

I have a Steiner 420 and if you want something for use on a hills that are scary with any other machine this is it.

Steve

@stevem5215- This is a front mount mower but not zero-turn, correct? Can you tell us how well/tightly it turns. I'm very interested in a Steiner or Ventrac for use as a general mower and lots of other stuff that a zero turn just won't do: snow plow/blower, brush hog, stump grinder, etc. But the majority of it's responsibilities would be mowing so it needs to do that well. I'd only occasionally rent other attachments.

Can you compare this to a zero-turn mower?

 

[stevem5215]

Steiner (and Ventrac) are front mount attachments yes. I have a 48" mower deck for the Steiner. You can get them in 60" and 72". Mine came with a 48" or I'd have gotten the 60" to do the cutting faster. The balloon tires make for a nice (but bouncy if driving it fast) ride. And Zero turn effect of a center pivoting machine is everything a zero turn is IMO. (I bought a Simplicity ZT-2500 this year for a deal $2600) The comparisons between the two are. Both will Zero turn (mostly) around trees. The Simplicity is faster overall but the Steiner is more "powerful" with more uses (I have a blower, mower deck, 50" rotating brush for snow, and a vertical lift loader (the big one). But for just cutting grass the Simplicity is easier to use and of course it's newer as my Steiner is a 1994 model. IMO both have advantages and disadvantages. The Onan engine uses a lot of fuel. The electronic injection system of the newer 25hp Simplicity is easier on gas. I can cut the whole yard (about 4 acres) with 3.5 gallons that the simplicity holds. That's pretty good compared to the Steiner which would use about 5 gallons. But, the Ford 1900 diesel will only use 2.5 (or so) for the whole thing too. Just depends on your needs. I've had the Steiner the longest of all my machines. About 10 years now. It was a good purchase out of the gate and I just added to the inventory when I moved to a new house with a bigger yard. My wife runs the Craftsman for the most part (this year she's been using the ZTR a lot more) and I run the others. Of all of them though the Steiner is the most versatile due to the attachments and size. And one good thing about it is that the 4wd system is one of the greatest ones in use. Never will you deform the grass. On sheer ice the 4wd system will move right along. Even better than walking on it. It's truly an amazing system on it. I've actually plowed snow on driveways with it that I couldn't move a car or walk on due to the icy nature of it underneath. I can't say enough about the 4wd capabilities of the Steiner. It's that good. And I have the Ford 1900 with 4 wheel assist to compare as I used it with a 73" Allied snowblower for a few years (sold it eventually as the Steiner could do everything it could easier). So there you have it.

Steve (Steinering the snow) Look it up on youtube.
Moving snow with a Steiner - YouTube

 

[bspeedy]

I have a Steiner 420 and if you want something for use on a hills that are scary with any other machine this is it.

Steve

I would only recommend the Steiner if you absolutely must have the hill / slope stability. My father just spent 25 grand (!!!) on a Steiner 440 with Kubota diesel and 6' finish mower. I helped him do the 50 hour service two weeks ago. The oil change was fairly simple but different from the simple oil change on a regular tractor. Same with hydro filter change. When doing the checkout on it after the service I noticed a squealing noise when turning and moving. After investigation, I realized that the belt-driven hydraulic pump had a loose belt. Access to the belt adjustment was very difficult and the adjustment took 30 minutes or more. If the pump fails, I don't know how the heck it would come out of it's buried location. Perhaps the tractor halves would have to be separated? Steiner mechanics have my respect after that. Also noticed that it has some sort of phantom hydraulic leak that we could not figure out. Additionally, the coolant overflow line is chafing on the sheet metal due to the haphazard way it is mounted. It is 20% worn through already. Seems like an afterthought. Probably on it's way back to the dealership. This will be the second trip to the dealer in 50 hours. In my opinion, these machines are worth about 10 grand new. How they get 25K is a mystery to me. I don't like the way they are engineered or built, except for the mower deck which is super stout. For the money he spent on this hunk of metal, he could have bought a cabbed B-series with a MMM. And, as a bonus, I would know a helluva lot more about it when and if he has trouble with it.
I know some of you guys love these machines. I've spent some seat time on his 420 when he had it. Just wasn't that impressed. I'm a regular tractor guy, I guess.

 

[stevem5215]

As for maintenance, I do all of it myself other than the hydro fluid in the drive system. (my hydro system is drive drive. No belts) My dealer (Hartman Enterprises in Hanover Pa) has a flushing machine that he uses that makes that service worth it. Otherwise I just check and add fluid a little when needed. I have never had a major breakdown with it. I've had some electric parts go bad and have replaced spark plugs, wires and the coils due to a misfire. Which really turned out to be due to a electrical connector that had some corrosion in it. Otherwise it's been a trouble free machine for me. If I were buying new though, I would not buy the diesel engine. Like the poster above I've read some horror stories about them. Mostly on the older ones but I guess they are still a pia after reading his story above.

Steve

 

[woolyAcres]

@stevem5215-

Thanks for your comments. It seems rare that someone can directly compare a small articulating tractor (Ventrac or Steiner) to a zero turn on the same property and the same jobs. I appreciate all you've written. I think I've got the same 20HP Onan in my Wheel Horse 520. Not easy on gas, but it does provide pretty good power.

@bspeedy- Thanks for your comments as well. I had no idea these were so expensive new. I've only been watching the (well) used prices. It's helpful to have a view from both sides. Thanks.