wHAT ABOUT DIXON O TURNS

[Eddy g]

I recently looked at a Dixon ultra 52 o turn .Surprised to fined out there owned by Husqvarna . More surprised that they no longer make them. My dealer has several of them knew still in crates .He says parts will be no problem' They look like a real good mower ' I never had a o turn he wants 4800 dollors for it . Good deal or not?

 

[Sprinklerman]

I have NEVER seen a commercial operator use one .

 

[Gem99ultra]

I have NEVER seen a commercial operator use one .

Me either. But I have seen a LOT of them in junk piles. My only hope is that Husqvarna doesn't drop their standards to the Dixon level. My advice to Eddy g is to go around to a few quality ZTR shops and learn what qualities make a good ZTR.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My neighbor has one that was given to her. The deck wont raise more than about 2" max which is strange but I was with her at the dealer one day (carb worked on) and he said that was normal for those mowers. They have some cast aluminum parts where the steering controls attach which broke on hers. Other than that, they seem to mow quite well.

 

[K man]

They look like a nice machine love the blue color lol. I do not like the foot lever on the floor deck it takes too much room and would make it a ***** to get on and off the machine. I think I will stick with my Husqvarna RZ 24 48 of which I find very dependable, easy to use and does a great job.

 

[4570Man]

I have seen some on the dealers lot and IMO they are cheaply made. I'd say $4800 is no deal.

 

[K man]

4800 sounds pretty steep to me too. My Husqvarna is 48 deck and 24 Kawasaki motor and I paid about 3200 for it and this is in Canada.

 

[Walt 2002]

I was disappointed to see Husqvarna lower the Dixon quality to Husqvarna's. Not only did Husqvarna lower quality, they doubled or nearly doubled prices of parts, shut down the complete factor laying everyone off including the engineers. The ones you see in junk piles are the cone drive ones which unfortunately few people including dealers took the time to understand. We are running a 22 year old cone drive and a 19 year old hydro. Dixon was slow to go to hydros which was their big down fall. We sold a 28 year old cone drive year before last which was still going strong on its' 3rd engine. All 5 of the Dixon Dealers in a 50 mile radius quit when Husqvarna bought Dixon because of bad experiences with Husqvarna. We have run Dixons for 36 years and I was a Certified Dixon Service Tech.

I would stay away from Dixon because of Husqvarna and they discontinued them. I would also stay away from Husqvarna.

By the way, our Dixons adjust from about 1" to about 4", IF a dealer says only adjusting to 2" is normal it is another example of not knowing what he is doing.

Walt Conner

 

[the old grind]

Had my '96 4221's cone drive biz refreshed a few yrs ago but BIL ran it a bit hard since (~2 1/2 ac, for two yrs) and apparently glazed the new cones. Neighbor just repowered a '97 3662 and its drive b is working a bit better, so far. We like our 'classics' and use them. :thumbsup:

IIRC, a Dixon's nicer seat, tires, color, ... meant another $4-500 in the big homeowner models in recent years. I'm quite happy with my '13 Husky MZ-6128, but confess that I had my choice narrowed down to the two brands by then (vs Bad Boy, Hustler, and other 'betters' or another CC.) So ... one man's soup may be another's 'emetic'. (ie: ipecac)

Walt, I hear you loud and clear, and it's kind of a shame when a 'bigger' company doesn't care to uphold traditional quality standards. The 'cheapening' of a lot of our tool/equip lines continues, including within the last decade the near disappearance of pivoting front axles on homeowner (read 'affordable') ZT's. Now we are assured of at best 'full-time one-wheel drive' and for many a slightly rougher ride.

Eddy g, I'd likely buy either brand again, and IMO they are competitive with others of similar quality/features lately. A wise friend once said, "If you're going to spend the money you might as well get you want." Just be sure of what that is, and to 'KISS' that I'd only add, 'You only pay once, but you live with the cutting width for a long time." (I'd trade you colors in a minute. )

 

[Walt 2002]

"BIL ran it a bit hard since (~2 1/2 ac, for two yrs) and apparently glazed the new cones. "

That is a condition I have not experienced. I MIGHT be able to help you with that IF you like.Contact me at address below, put in proper format and remind me what your problem is. Now the 3662 is another thing. Bad decision on changes in drive. 96 4221 is an excellent machine, only thing better in cone drive is a 4224, (Kohler engine)

Walt Conner
wconner5 at frontier dot com

 

[the old grind]

Thanks, Walt! Seems your generosity is exceeded only by your credentials.

For any that wonder about this tidbit the cone drive is a friction-contact V-S drive system, with friction mat'l 'cones' moving in CI 'cups'. What I mean about 'hard' is horsing (rushing thru') typical wye 180-turns at the end of a pass, so the cones are glossy vs the 'rougher' look of a similar brake lining on caliper pad or shoe and it always feels like something's slipping. No way it'd push the factory snow plow this way even with chains & wheel wts vs 'as new'.

With a hydro, such use only seems to heat up the oil, and I've seen but one drive motor give out from 'hard' use on a mid-'90s Country Clipper 60" (25hp 'Klr') from trying to drive out of a wet ditch, so more weight can help or hurt. That said, we speak of power and cut but rarely discuss o'all weight when shopping for ZTs. Power-tilt decks, ROPS, 'pro' features and such can add quite a bit to that.

btw, Digressing then just a bit from Dixon/Husky, a friend lamented buying a 54" Gravely (Kaw power) vs a 60" something for his ~2 1/2 ac to mow. What I noticed right away was how light it looks and specs, that the deck isn't so much wider than o'all stance. What he admitted was that he's in and out of his ditches with a better cut and less rutting than the guy next door's fancier (heavier) 60". (I complimented the 'lemonade' he's been making. ) This goes back to being sure that a selection considers every detail of routine cutting.

Eddy g, if you are particular about engine (brand) choice I urge you not to compromise. Some of us won't have Kohler, thinking that dropping in a new B&S is perhaps as affordable, but much faster, than rebuilding the Kohler. (Diff'rent strokes, right or wrong) No exp here yet with Kaw, but the comments I hear from 'pros' gassing their fleets at the pumps has always been positive. If we don't help you choose which brand to buy we'll sure be here to help you keep 'er going, esp if you do your own maint/service.

Walt, thanks again. I'll be in touch if I ever catch my tail. :laughing:

 

[Walt 2002]

"Some of us won't have Kohler,"

Kohler Courage - NO, Kohler Command will wear out 2 -3 B&S and I am B&S man mainly because of simplicity, interchangeability, ease of getting parts and price.

"What I mean about 'hard' is horsing (rushing thru') typical wye 180-turns at the end of a pass, so the cones are glossy vs the 'rougher' look of a similar brake lining on caliper pad or shoe and it always feels like something's slipping. No way it'd push the factory snow plow this way even with chains & wheel wts vs 'as new'."

I think you problem is something other than "glazed cones".

Walt Conner

 

[Walt 2002]

"No way it'd push the factory snow plow this way even with chains & wheel wts vs 'as new"

Should have included that I used to put the front wheels against the front steps and slip the rear tire one side at a time on the dry concrete to check adjustment. I said used to because wife doesn't like black marks on the new concrete driveway. So again I say, I think your problem is something other than glazed cones.

Walt Conner

 

[the old grind]

Expect the CI 'cups' to be smooth as if polished, but when replaced cones were new (and on the 36") some water would stick to them at cleanup time. (I clean, they don't) On the 42" cones look/feel like they were given two coats of clear lacquer, very hard now-pitless & glossy surface that water beads up on and rolls off of differently.

Reminds of new brake shoes/pads not seated well or driven carefully for a few to seat/break in and not getting grip on drum/disk. Feel when operating is somewhat like driving the smaller one with a wrong belt that wouldn't tighten, and already-slow stick response lagging worse. (Just that much more different response than w/hydro drives.)

I doubt (so far) that any lube or other contaminant is a factor. Reliable dealer/serviceman asked if I mowed in a hurry and agreed with likely cause, advised 'scuffing' them like a reinstalled shoe, pad, or clutch lining (not much access, .. and while running ) Decades of mill, lathe, and grinder work here and still have all ten thumbs :laughing: so not skeered to go there if need be.

Walt, lets go to PM/email and hope the thread steers back to current models for those interested. I'm sure you have much to offer, and will look for ways to return any .. 'favors'. jon

 

[PJSprog]

My wife bought a Dixon SpeedZTR42 about 4 or 5 years ago, before we were married. I'd never heard of them before, but the Husqy dealer she bought her Husqy rider from sold her on one. Yeah, they're not the best quality on the planet, but they do work. She's broken those cast aluminum connectors on a few occasions catching the handles on peach tree limbs. Dealer told here they were designed to break in just such a scenario. She keeps a couple spares on hand now. Over time, though, we've come to find that they're really not well-suited to heavier use. We mow about 2-1/2 acres every week (around lots of trees), and it does OK with everything except the denser or wetter stuff. It also doesn't care for taller stuff, and clogs easily. We have to use the Husqy for that.

A couple of weeks ago, the blades shut off while I was mowing. After it cooled, they worked again for awhile, but kept shutting off again. Checked connections, and they seem fine. So, I'm guessing either the switch or a solenoid is heating up and failing. Haven't dug that far into it yet. We've talked about trading up, so I may not bother.

I think they would be fine for the average homeowner who doesn't mow a lot of property and doesn't let anything get too tall. With our experience, though, I wouldn't consider them really "farm-worthy."

 

[Walt 2002]

You are unfortunate enough to have a Husqvarna/Dixon with Husqvarna quality. Two blade deck I expect.

Walt Conner

 

[PJSprog]

Surprisingly, it's a 3-blade.
(edit - check that ... it's a 2-blade, the Husqy is a 3-blade)

We've never had any issues with our Husqy stuff. We're on the second tractor only because she wanted to upgrade about two years ago. Husqy trimmer still fires right up every time, too.