Time for a Zero Turn

[RalphVa]

So this is just one of the steep hills I cut with my ZT (ZD331). I used to mow across it, but found it was much better going up and down.
Pictures dont do it justice, but it’s pretty steep. Lose control and you go for a swim with the snapping turtles.
I have never felt like I couldn’t stop, under control going straight down at the pond. Going uphill, it’s easy as a walk in the park.

Gives me some encouragement. The tractor's right rear wheel kept spinning on me this afternoon with the bush hog. Then I realized they'd thrown it out of 4wd. Not very safe to go down our hill behind the house down to the creek out of 4wd.

 

[RalphVa]

Did the "blueberry" patch this afternoon and trails on our own property. Doing the patch with the bush hog is about like doing carpentry with a sledge hammer or sewing with a log for a needle. Used to do it with one of the walkbehind mowers when I had the fence in there. Fence is out but still too many things to drive/mow around. Will be looking forward to the Ryobi in June.

 

[RalphVa]

The Ryobi ZT480e arrived today about lunch time. Uncrated it and put seat and handles on, attached the battery cables. Backed it off the shipment enforcement metal and pallet. Took one turn around the front lawn and then to basement of the carriage house where I parked it on the charger. Says not to use it until charged overnight even though the battery showed 100%.

Gonna take a little while to get the hang of it. The basement of the carriage house doors have some bash marks on them from when I was learning to "drive" the 4010 and finding out how fast the steering worked in a doorway. Old JD 14SB is sold, as are the Kobalt mower and grass whip. Have Ryobi 40v mower and grass whip now. Gotta sell the Honda mower soon as I'm happy with the Ryobi ZT. The 40v stuff has gaslike performance. Hopefully, the ZT will, too.

Ralph

 

[Oaktree]

Think the Ryobi is the winner with price, mulching closure and less expensive batteries. Don't need the extra capability of the EGO but may miss the more comfortable seat.

Can you easily remove the batteries for recharging, or do you need to plug it in? The shed I keep my mower in is a couple hundred feet from the nearest outlet.

 

[RalphVa]

If you want removable batteries, get the EGO, a similar ZT. You only remove the 4 lead acid batteries on this one when one or more need replacement.

Now that I have the thing, it has quit raining. Grass isn't growing.

 

[MoKelly]

Now that I have the thing, it has quit raining. Grass isn't growing.

Ha. The definition of irony.

It’ll rain again.

MoKelly

 

[RalphVa]

Did the 2 back yard pieces this afternoon. The left side one is a challenge because of the slope up to the swimming pool deck level. Best is to go up the slope and then shimmy over and back down for another 42 inch swipe.

It's like a billy goat going directly uphill or backing down a slope, but go sideways on the smallest slope and the uphill tire will spin. Thinking I may want to go to a bar type tire. They may actually mark up the grass less than these turf tires. Saw one video where they showed just that.

No problems with the cut at all on the little bit of grass above the 3 3/4 inch set point. Think it doesn't work as well in very dense, tall grass where I skidded to on the neighbor's property and at one point near the top of the hill on mine.

 

[stevem5215]

Ralph, what is the weight of that machine ? And what size tires are on it ? Both affect the stability on slopes.

 

[RalphVa]

It's near 600 #.

 

[RalphVa]

Did the 3 parts of the lawn yesterday. Used 15% of the battery power.

Trimmed with the Ryobi crosscut.

 

[rcio7684]

You may want to check the Carlisle Versa Turf as tires. I have them on my SCUT and mow steep hills, they have great traction and don't tear up the lawn.

 

[sklunk]

You may want to check the Carlisle Versa Turf as tires. I have them on my SCUT and mow steep hills, they have great traction and don't tear up the lawn.

I put these on my Deere Z960 recently. I only mowed with them 3 times so far but LOVE them!
Yes they are a little more aggressive than turfs when you turn so you need to be careful. But since they get better traction they don't spin as much which is where I was tearing my lawn up. Also they are radials so you can run the pressure lower and you get a smooth ride (they list 20 psi max but mine are running around 10 psi without any problems).

Versa Turf Tire

Versa Turf Tire is a radial construction for improved flotation, maximizing traction, superior mud-shedding performance. The tire to have in snow and ice.

www.carlislebrandtires.com

 

[m7040]

On the ZD 331 I installed rear cast iron suitcase weights. Helps with traction

 

[RalphVa]

Mowed the grass yesterday with the Ryobi ZT. First time to mow with much grass growth. Have had a lot of rain recently. Did good.

Mowed one area that I normally only mow once/yr. Had to go over spots with tall grass a 2nd and sometimes 3rd time to get it all. Typical.

 

[Hamlin6]

I can't speak to your brand comparison questions but I can speak to buying a zero turn. Less than a month ago I made the switch. I had a very trusty but very tired Craftsman YT3000. I've had it for years. Where I lived previously it was fine. But now I have much more lawn to mow and the terrain can be rough. I wanted a commercial grade for those two reasons. I wound up going with a Scag. My mowing life has changed dramatically for the better. I initially wanted a different brand and model but to supply chain issues what I wanted wasn't available and no word on when it would be. So I opted for what I wound up buying. My only regret was not doing it sooner. My weekly cutting time went from 3.5+ hours to less than 1.5. I don't have hills but I do have slopes on my property and it handles it no problem at all.

 

[fried1765]

I can't speak to your brand comparison questions but I can speak to buying a zero turn. Less than a month ago I made the switch. I had a very trusty but very tired Craftsman YT3000. I've had it for years. Where I lived previously it was fine. But now I have much more lawn to mow and the terrain can be rough. I wanted a commercial grade for those two reasons. I wound up going with a Scag. My mowing life has changed dramatically for the better. I initially wanted a different brand and model but to supply chain issues what I wanted wasn't available and no word on when it would be. So I opted for what I wound up buying. My only regret was not doing it sooner. My weekly cutting time went from 3.5+ hours to less than 1.5. I don't have hills but I do have slopes on my property and it handles it no problem at all.

It is hard to not love a Scag!

 

[tradosaurus]

Mowed the grass yesterday with the Ryobi ZT. First time to mow with much grass growth. Have had a lot of rain recently. Did good.

Mowed one area that I normally only mow once/yr. Had to go over spots with tall grass a 2nd and sometimes 3rd time to get it all. Typical.

So how many acres are you mowing with a battery powered ZT?