looking for the right Zero Turn

[MESSMAKER]

I mow building lots and mostly I use a rotary mower to do the job. About 25 percent could be done with a strong zero turn. That would save wear and tear on truck, trailer and save gas pulling that heavy tractor around. I would also be able to get rid of my home mower and be able to move the new mower to my business. I have a Cub Cadet 2544 that will not work for what I need since it will not mow tall grass at all. What is the right machine? Cut quality and speed are not very important. Rugged build,traction and the ability to handle taller grass will be the issue. I will only be using it 1 or 2 days a week for a total of 6-10 hours a week. If it does not work as well as expected, or it is a wet year, it could be less. I don't want to under buy, but it will not make much either. What would you guys recommend. I have ,Grasshopper,Husky,Snapper,Hustler,Dixon, Dixie Chopper,Toro,J.D.,Kubota and Bad Boy in my area. Cub Cadet and Gravely are off the table.

 

[LD1]

All of the pro models are good from the companies you mention. But pro quality is usually in the $7k and up range for a good one.

But just how tall is the grass you will be mowing. Commercial ZTR's arent really designed to cut stuff any different than a homeowner model. They are just made to do it faster and last longer. But they are still a belt driven finish mower with light blades. Anything over 5-6" in height, I still think you are better off with the rotary mower

 

[Blaneypark]

I would go with a Wright Stander 52 or 61. I use the Wright 52 and a Grasshopper 60" mowing 65 lawns. Would take the Wright any day

 

[Corey MARSHALL MACHINERY]

I mow building lots and mostly I use a rotary mower to do the job. About 25 percent could be done with a strong zero turn. That would save wear and tear on truck, trailer and save gas pulling that heavy tractor around. I would also be able to get rid of my home mower and be able to move the new mower to my business. I have a Cub Cadet 2544 that will not work for what I need since it will not mow tall grass at all. What is the right machine? Cut quality and speed are not very important. Rugged build,traction and the ability to handle taller grass will be the issue. I will only be using it 1 or 2 days a week for a total of 6-10 hours a week. If it does not work as well as expected, or it is a wet year, it could be less. I don't want to under buy, but it will not make much either. What would you guys recommend. I have ,Grasshopper,Husky,Snapper,Hustler,Dixon, Dixie Chopper,Toro,J.D.,Kubota and Bad Boy in my area. Cub Cadet and Gravely are off the table.

Kubota just came out with a cost effective commercial Zeroturn that has a great price.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I would go with a Wright Stander 52 or 61. I use the Wright 52 and a Grasshopper 60" mowing 65 lawns. Would take the Wright any day

Only Wright dealer is a bit on the independent side. I think that brand is off the table. Wright is front mount or standers I think. They look great. $$$$$

 

[MESSMAKER]

All of the pro models are good from the companies you mention. But pro quality is usually in the $7k and up range for a good one.

But just how tall is the grass you will be mowing. Commercial ZTR's arent really designed to cut stuff any different than a homeowner model. They are just made to do it faster and last longer. But they are still a belt driven finish mower with light blades. Anything over 5-6" in height, I still think you are better off with the rotary mower

That is the problem. Grass will be anywhere from 10 to 18 inches most of the time. Some of the mowers will cut at 5-7 inches so I would only be cutting the top 3-10 inches so I thought that might be within limits. The Bad Boy dealer told me with the 7 gauge deck and the right blades and enough motor, it would be piece of cake. That is a salesman, though.

 

[MoKelly]

That is the problem. Grass will be anywhere from 10 to 18 inches most of the time. Some of the mowers will cut at 5-7 inches so I would only be cutting the top 3-10 inches so I thought that might be within limits. The Bad Boy dealer told me with the 7 gauge deck and the right blades and enough motor, it would be piece of cake. That is a salesman, though.

Yikes --- the grass may be over a foot high! I have a Bad Boy mower with the 7 guage deck and 32hp. It is a beast and cuts strong, but I have my doubts how long it would work in foot high plus grass. Of course, the density of the grass will also be important. Also, if that grass is at all wet it will be even more difficult on the mower and engine. I tend to think if the grass wil be that tall and dense, I'd stick with the rotary cutter.

MoKelly

 

[Tompet]

I would think a pto shaft driven deck would be best no matter the brand. With most zero turns and grass that high you would have to go over it twice, once with deck all the way up. Depends on what your finish height requirement ends up.
When all is said and done you may come out better with less cost getting a scut tractor with a MMM. It will be pto driven deck and strong. I see you are in Kentucky, go to Barlow equipment's website and look at the list of their used equipment...great folks to deal with.

 

[LD1]

Most ZTR's are made to cut grass from ~6" down to ~3", so you are only removing 3" of grass.

Might be okay with a 10" field cutting to 7", but trying to cut 18" down to 7"......thats almost 4x's normal. It will be hard on the motor, and VERY slow going trying to expel that grass. What you could do with a rotary @ 5 mph and light load, would likely slow you to a crawl on a ZTR.

Dont listen to a salesman.

My best advise would be to try it before you buy it. Either borrow or rent a ZTR and test in conditions you plan on using it in. And see how it acts.

I would consider this spring when cutting time comes around, go back to that Bad Boy dealer and tell him to put his money where his mouth is.....

Sure, I dont think you are going to hurt the mower. Its belt drive. And the deck is a beast. But I think it is just going to be so slow, and really bogging the motor, that you wont like it. But I could be wrong too...

IF you do decide it, I know they make some mower blades that are kinda like a rotarty mower blade that may be worth a try. Its like a round disc with 4 short blades attached on each spindle...

 

[IXLR8]

I bought my JD 727 Z-turn used from a guy who did exactly what you are talking about with the mower. The mower had about 400 hrs on it when I got it. It has a 54" deck with a 23hp Kawasaki engine, which I feel is slightly underpowered for anything but level lawn mowing. It was obvious that it had been worked hard, but it has worked fine for me for the last 5 years. The seller replaced the JD with a Kubota diesel Z-turn and he said it worked much better. He said the Kubota with the diesel doesn't bog down at all and I think he said it was shaft drive to the deck. But now you are talking about a $14+K machine.