Mowers: Front vs Z Fastest?

[9973720wb19]

Given the same size deck, which mower do you think is faster. a front mower say a JD 72" or a JD Z mower??

 

[tractorski]

The z mower will be much faster. Not because of speed, because it can turn around faster, is more manuverable, and would do less damage to the lawn.

 

[OKnewguy]

I think it will depend on the terrain. I had a gravely z and now a grasshopper front mount. The grasshopper works better for my application. I can get the front mount under trees (less weed wacking), plus the longer wheel base equals a smother ride, so you can go faster. Another benefit is the pucker factor is much less with a front mount on hills, so I can mow more of the hill and weed wack less.
Now if you had a smooth soccer field or football field with no hills or trees to get under, the z might be faster.
Dave

 

[6thgpSF]

Dave, is your 720 diesel? if so how do you like it?if my thinking is correct it's a kubota engine. russ

 

[FlaDon]

My ZTR is an outfront. Gravely Rapid XZ with a 60" deck.

 

[OKnewguy]

No, it is not a diesel. I wish I had the diesel, but the kohler seems to work pretty well. I LOVE the mower. When I was shopping for the grasshopper, I did check out a couple of used diesels (my price range was 5k or less). I this price range, the diesel units all had 1500 to 2500 hours, I have no doubt that the diesel motor was fine, but I was worried about the rest of the unit. I purchased my mower for $3500 maybe $3800, it is a 52" with the powervac hopper. It had about 350 hours on it, was used for residential use and not commercial.
I really believe that if you do not have to transport your mower everywhere, a front mount has many advantages, but the pro's do not like them because they do take up more room on the trailer.
Dave

 

[OKnewguy]

Btw, even if your mower has a great ride, you might think about one of these seats:
Michigan Seat Highback Suspension Seat, Model# V-5300 | Seats | Northern Tool + Equipment
These michigan seats are great, my wife bought me one for my b-day and it really helped. I mow around 4 acres and have taken out numerous trees (which I stump ground). The stump grinding, is quick and easy, but leaves me having to fill in low spots as the stumps rot. Every year spring I fill in the low spots, but by the end of mowing season they start to get pretty bad again, and this seats helps a lot.
The michigan seats, I believe are used on some makes from the factory, it was supper easy to install, no drilling, all the holes lined up, and there is the safety switch built into the seat.
Dave

 

[FlaDon]

Btw, even if your mower has a great ride, you might think about one of these seats:
Michigan Seat Highback Suspension Seat, Model# V-5300 | Seats | Northern Tool + Equipment
These michigan seats are great, my wife bought me one for my b-day and it really helped. I mow around 4 acres and have taken out numerous trees (which I stump ground). The stump grinding, is quick and easy, but leaves me having to fill in low spots as the stumps rot. Every year spring I fill in the low spots, but by the end of mowing season they start to get pretty bad again, and this seats helps a lot.
The michigan seats, I believe are used on some makes from the factory, it was supper easy to install, no drilling, all the holes lined up, and there is the safety switch built into the seat.
Dave

Gravely uses them on their commercial line of equipment. Only thing that could ride better is an air ride seat from Bolstrom.

 

[zzvyb6]

I think it depends on your landscaping. I have a z turn and a front mower. With a Z turn I find myself turning around a lot and that means going over grass that's already been cut. With my front mower, its always moving in a pattern that goes over uncut grass. For me, the front mower is faster and the ride is better. Front is a diesel and the z-turn is gas. 2:1 fuel reduction (gallons) with the front mower for the same job (both 22 hp).

 

[LBrown59]

Isn't it still a ZTR even with a front mower.
I thought ZTRs came with your chioce of either a front or mid mount mower.

 

[wushaw]

Isn't it still a ZTR even with a front mower.
I thought ZTRs came with your chioce of either a front or mid mount mower.

ZTRs are just like tractors, they have options too.

 

[Wesdor]

Typically, the ZTR will give you a lot less time with a better cut.
I have a ZTR and a garden tractor. The ZTR saves me at least 50% of time in the flat areas. I do have some pretty steep hills and find it best to go up with the ZTR, going down a steep hill can get pretty exciting!

In my situation I find it best to have both types of mowers, but really love the ZTR for a majority of my mowing.

I do about 3 acres of actual mowing and use the ZTR for at least 90% of it.

 

[FlaDon]

Isn't it still a ZTR even with a front mower.
I thought ZTRs came with your chioce of either a front or mid mount mower.

A front mount normally has 5 or 6 wheels. They dont't have to be a ZTR. Example would be our Gravely with either a 30", 40", or 50" front mounted deck on a 4 wheel tractor.

 

[sklunk]

A front mount normally has 5 or 6 wheels. They dont't have to be a ZTR.

A couple of other points:

- Most ZTR's have large rear driving wheels, the deck mounted under the middle, and large industrial caster wheels on the front while many front mounts have large front driving wheels (kind of like a combine).
- Steering on ZTR's is done similar to a dozer where each rear wheel turns independent of the other so you can actually "spin" by having one rear wheel turn forward while the other turns backward. Front mounts usually have standard steering but it's on the rear axle instead of the front (again like a combine).
- Most Zero-turns use joysticks or handles for steering, not a steering wheel, because of the point above (each stick varies the hydraulic flow to the transaxle).

Notice I said "Most" for those points. There are obviously some exceptions. For example, Deere experimented with a residential-grade zero-turn tractor in the late '90s (the "SST") but it didn't sell very well.