John Deere 997 Z-Trac

[chowl]

Does anyone have a opinion or coments on this unit?

I use the 997 to mow 2 to 3 acre or larger pastures in my stable business.

Thanks
Les

 

[Tonyau]

G'Day,

I bought a new 997 last Friday, 60'' rear discharge deck, for doing rough work, parks, ressie acreages etc.

The prime mover side of things so far is excellent, much better than my Toro. better built too.

The rear discharge cutter.....only neat in dry grass, the lusher the grass the messier it gets, then requires the higher deck setting double pass to tidy up.

So far...so good.

How long has the 997 been out in America?

Mine was in the 1st box over....so new many dealers haven't heard of them yet.

Do any of you blokes on this forum run rear discharge decks?

Thanks,

Tony

 

[Spiffy]

I don't know a thing about the 997s, but seeing your location couldn't resist being the first to say "Welcome" [or perhaps "G'Day"] from this side of the world. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

BTW Great job filling out your profile, hope that means you'll hang around here some....it can be addictive. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jcmseven]

I do not have experience with specifically to rear discharge deck on this machine, but my findings in general have been favorable on larger RFM rd decks for tractors (I have one now) but less favorable on the lawn and garden size machines. The differences to me are as follows: first with a tractor mounted unit the RFM can disperse clippings across the entire width of the deck, which lays them more smoothly. With a mid mount deck, most have a chute or direct the clippings centrally for discharge out the back. They have to do this because one would not want clippings spread over the inner workings of the rear of the power unit. Also, most lawn and garden mid mount decks, including those on ZTR machines, have the benefit of more engine power relative to the size of the machine. This intuitively would benefit a side discharge deck more than a rear, as the machine could generate enough flow through the deck to disperse clippings more effectively out the side. In short, the smaller discharge "chute" surface area creates a situation of inevitable clumping when the grass is wet in these smaller machines. I do not know if the dealer would be willing to swap to SD for those who may wish to switch, or if that would be an option.

John M

 

[Tonyau]

G'Day Spiffy!

Thanks mate for the welcome!


G'day John,

the 997 ztr is a bit different.....the rear of the deck is open, under the mower from the deck to the back is a rubber mat protecting the prime mover.

What I'm working on is blade combos to reduce clipping size so placement is more uniform in lush grasses, where this deck windrows.

Also, just occured to me last night, as the blads spin clockwise, and the deck is open at the rear....the natural flow tends to land more clippings on the left side of the cut....
The middle blade mainly....

So, to even out the mat of clippings, I'm going to make a rubber baffle/deflector and try and be lucky enough to put it in just the right spot where it deflects down before the clippings start 'swirling' to the left.

In theory is sounds ok....but that ain't always gunna work!

I'm doing this tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm still getting the feel for this board, coming from lawnsite.com, can I post pics in threads?

pics say a thousand words, would save me rambling on lol.

 

[Spiffy]

Attachments like you posted are quite usefull and very encouraged. You don't have to [or want to] size them down, but may want to compress them a bit if you take extremely high resolution pictures. Somebody will correct me here, but I think 100K or less is the magic number.

A significant number of TBN users don't have access to broadband internet service, so unless they are really small files, in-line pictures are discouraged so everybody has smooth reading [with attachments you can open only the pictures you need to].

I thought the 997 was slightly less "streamlined" looking. I must be thinking of an older model....pictures are 1000 words... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Tonyau]

Yeah Chad,

it gots the looks, very well designed, very tough.

The only yuck thing j.d did was put those stupid over height ROPS on.....that tall the airport diverts jets around me ha ha ha.

I'm going to get them 'modified' to something practical, even if it does cancel their warrantee etc, just get rid of that forward facing bit.

Been having some luck with the rear discharge deck today, running 2 blades per spindle, doing an initial cut, then a 2nd pass with the deck raised 1'' higher to mulch/disperse the clippings....seems the only way to do neat mowing with these decks.

certainly has a learning curve to it!

 

[chowl]

Tony

If you modifled the ROPS as I did to add a canopy. I don't
JD will have a problem with this.

The canopy that I added is made call TuffTop and is removable. I welded a upside down "U" to the lower cross
piece on the ROPS so the canopy would sit level.

The ROPS is still as is ,and will still give the protection it should.

Thanks
Les

 

[Tonyau]

I'm going to remove the baffle fin in the attached pic, this should enable a wider 'swirl, a wider dispersal of clippings, I think this falle chokes the 'swirl' and aims it torward the inside of the rear drive tyre, even has a protector plate there....

maybe this will sort out my windrow issues... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Spiffy]

I'd say it's worth a try!

That should be the "7 iron" deck, so I don't think you'll hurt the rigidity any. I use side discharge though, so don't trust my advice.

I think once you get the bugs worked out, you'll be real happy with the rear discharge. I know if l let things get too tall, the side discharge leaves a nasty windrow with every mower I've used.

Good Luck! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif