Lawn Tractor vs Zero Turn

[jyoutz]

A big motor working easy is better than a little motor working hard.

Someone said the other day their shop said they never had parts for Kawasaki and didn't even know how to work on them - because they never HAD to work on them.

The Grasshopper mowers are known as excellent mowers and their Vanguard engines are well regarded. I follow a Grasshopper owners group because I've been considering a Grasshopper and don't see complaints about the Briggs Vanguard over there. But lack of having the choice has given me some pause about buying a Grasshopper. I had made the dealer an offer on a Grasshopper Stand On mower with the Vanguard and he came down a good bit. We were only $500 apart. I was surprised he could get that close but there was a couple new Stihl Z turns sitting there too. And when I found out Stihl was coming out with a Stand On with a Kawasaki I hesitated. I'm between a JD and a Grasshopper now.

Mine has the Vanguard motor. If you are going to be mowing rough ground, the 4 wheel suspension is a much appreciated feature on the Stihl.

 

[two_bit_score]

Mine has the Vanguard motor. If you are going to be mowing rough ground, the 4 wheel suspension is a much appreciated feature on the Stihl.

Do you have he RZ261? Or what model do you have?

 

[jyoutz]

Do you have he RZ261? Or what model do you have?

Yes that model

 

[Camofurever1]

Get the best of both worlds: Buy a cheaper ZTR and put a aftermarket suspension seat on it. My Deere 930M has a adjustable suspension seat on it. Love that seat.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Stihl mower is a Ferris

 

[drumminj]

Get the best of both worlds: Buy a cheaper ZTR and put a aftermarket suspension seat on it. My Deere 930M has a adjustable suspension seat on it. Love that seat.

Sounds good in theory, but suspension seats (if just buying the parts) seem to be $1k+. At least that was the answer I got (actually $1200) for the Cub Cadet I bought.

 

[DK35vince]

Stihl mower is a Ferris

I thought Stihl bought the rights to Simplicity

 

[Carl_NH]

Ferris was owned by B&S, then was sold to a venture cap firm and they make all the mowers Simplicity-Ferris-Stihl mowers.

Bottom line the basic machines are good ZT - $4-7K for residential units, but to get the best of the suspension system the commercial units are the one to buy, and those will be $7-15K range.

 

[jyoutz]

Stihl mower is a Ferris

Yes it is. But parts and service are widely available through Stihl dealers.

 

[two_bit_score]

Yes that model

Great! Maybe you would start a thread with a detailed review of the RZ261?