Comparison Zero Turn Mower Shopping

astrohip · Apr 30, 2016

I have a Bad Boy. It's about 6-8 years old, 52" deck I think, Kawasaki 31HP gas engine.

This thing is built like a tank. I'm pretty hard on my equipment, mowing areas that probably should be shredded with a tractor. Rough terrain, heavy brush, the occasional big branch (yikes!). And this thing just keeps on ticking.

Only a couple of repairs needed, other than routine maintenance. Drive belt broke once (it was getting worn anyway), and a bolt sheared on one of the blades. Again, I'm really hard on this mower, so that's actually a pretty good record!

I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

astrohip · Apr 30, 2016

One of your deciding factors should be the dealer. Whatever you buy should have a dealer in the area, that sells that brand on a regular basis. And preferably for some time, so they have a track record with it.

Bad Boy has a large dealer here in my area, so if/when I have issues, they can handle it. But if they didn't, I would look at another brand. I want a repair shop that knows what to do with something I buy.

coralhead · Apr 30, 2016

5030 said:
I have neither. I own a Cub Cadet 60" Tank. What I looked for was how many grease fittings all the machines I looked at has, especially on the spindles.

I had the same requirement when I bought the JD 190 lawn tractor. Spindle bearings still went bad. When I took it apart to rebuild the bearings, they were sealed bearings and the grease I was pumping into them could not get into the bearings. When I put new bearings in I removed the seal on the bearings that are towards the inside and have not had any trouble since. I ended up doing all three spindles that way.

batwing · May 1, 2016

I also have a Kawasaki engine in my old Deere lawn tractor and has been great but have heard the new ones run to hot and are not lasting if you are mowing a lot in a warm climate.
Ron

man00 · May 1, 2016

Take a look at Spartan Mowers, the same guy that started bad boy mowers now owns this company. Right now their prices are pretty good, I guess they trying to get the market going. I do believe that Kawasaki recommends 20w-50w oil in all their mower engines.
Spartan SRT Series Mower - Spartan Mowers - Zero Turn Mowers

MESSMAKER · May 1, 2016

man00 said:
Take a look at Spartan Mowers, the same guy that started bad boy mowers now owns this company. Right now their prices are pretty good, I guess they trying to get the market going. I do believe that Kawasaki recommends 20w-50w oil in all their mower engines.
Spartan SRT Series Mower - Spartan Mowers - Zero Turn Mowers

They do look interesting.

5030 · May 7, 2016

batwing said:
I also have a Kawasaki engine in my old Deere lawn tractor and has been great but have heard the new ones run to hot and are not lasting if you are mowing a lot in a warm climate.
Ron

Interestingly, you can increase your oil capacity by a full pint by using the Generac Extended life oil filter (the orange one). It not only fits Generac standby genset engines, it fits the Kawasaki V twin as well.

5030 · May 7, 2016

man00 said:
Take a look at Spartan Mowers, the same guy that started bad boy mowers now owns this company. Right now their prices are pretty good, I guess they trying to get the market going. I do believe that Kawasaki recommends 20w-50w oil in all their mower engines.
Spartan SRT Series Mower - Spartan Mowers - Zero Turn Mowers

tell you what, I don't care for the front spindle to wheel arrangement at all. Looks flimsy. More than once I've gotten up against a fence post or tree with the front wheels of my M60 tank and I was glad the front spindles were stout. I've even rolled a front tire off the rim with no damage. Those spindles don't look to me like they would take much of an impact. Neat looking....you bet. Stout, I don't believe so. The other thing I don't care for are the aluminum 'mag' rear wheels. I've learned over the years that grass cuttings are acidic. That aluminum will go to heck real quick. I'll take my low maintenance steel rears anyday.

Cub Cadet sells a pile of Professional Lawn Care Zero Turn mowers for a good reason, they last and are easily serviceable. Mine is over 5 years old, mowing 7 plus acres every summer with only minor repairs and new Gator Mulcher Blades every year. The Tank ain't cheap (depending on power options with the Kubota Diesel being the expensive option), but my Kawasaki has been bulletproof though it's not miserly on gas.

BTW, I run Shell Rotella 5-40 Synthetic in my Kawasaki and always have. Last time I checked, the hour meter was showing just under 700 hours.

MESSMAKER · May 8, 2016

5030 said:
tell you what, I don't care for the front spindle to wheel arrangement at all. Looks flimsy. More than once I've gotten up against a fence post or tree with the front wheels of my M60 tank and I was glad the front spindles were stout. I've even rolled a front tire off the rim with no damage. Those spindles don't look to me like they would take much of an impact. Neat looking....you bet. Stout, I don't believe so. The other thing I don't care for are the aluminum 'mag' rear wheels. I've learned over the years that grass cuttings are acidic. That aluminum will go to heck real quick. I'll take my low maintenance steel rears anyday.

Cub Cadet sells a pile of Professional Lawn Care Zero Turn mowers for a good reason, they last and are easily serviceable. Mine is over 5 years old, mowing 7 plus acres every summer with only minor repairs and new Gator Mulcher Blades every year. The Tank ain't cheap (depending on power options with the Kubota Diesel being the expensive option), but my Kawasaki has been bulletproof though it's not miserly on gas.

BTW, I run Shell Rotella 5-40 Synthetic in my Kawasaki and always have. Last time I checked, the hour meter was showing just under 700 hours.

We have a great Cub cadet dealer near. He also sells Grasshopper. None of the commercial guys buy Cub Cadet. They all buy Grasshopper, even though the former are cheaper. You got to wonder why.