Which oil should I use.... in a Z-Turn?

[wswartzwel]

I am an authorized Hydroguard repair center.. At the last Hydroguard training event I was at, the topic of oil came up. Most of the dealers there used the Rotella rather than Hydroguards branded oil.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

I am an authorized Hydroguard repair center.. At the last Hydroguard training event I was at, the topic of oil came up. Most of the dealers there used the Rotella rather than Hydroguards branded oil.

I hope you have zero experience with the HG 3100s !

They are entry level commercial/homeowner ... not like the REAL commercial hydros... much more robust I'm sure.

What weight... 20W50?

[pavulon]

Mobil 1 20-50 V-twin in my Walker Kohler Ti25 engine and Mobil SHC 630 in the hydrostatic pumps. It's a 5 year old, low-hour, summer only rig and probably over-maintained but so far, no problems. I'm religious about starting it only at idled throttle and when cold letting it run a minute or more before taking it to operating RPM. I'd rather not fix things that were ruined by being stupid.

[wswartzwel]

Originally Posted by KC911

I hope you have zero experience with the HG 3100s !

They are entry level commercial/homeowner ... not like the REAL commercial hydros... much more robust I'm sure.

What weight... 20W50?

20/50 is fine. The failure rate is pretty low if you just change the oil per recommended intervals, using whatever flavor oil you like. Most failures are from people using them to pull a trailer, or never changing the fluid.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

yer in big trouble mister! I'm telling the guys in the 911 tech section oil thread what you said. Yer callin down the thunder!! :d

ROFLMAO!

You can't handle the truth!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by KC911

That's what I thought too ...

According to my "new" dealer ... regular auto oils (new formulas over the last decade or so) ... are just "no bueno"... either in the motor or trannys these days.

Earl is cheap

Interesting. I'd love to know why.

Still possible to find "SAE 30" which was the mower recommendation WAY back in the day.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

I have the flex forks on my machine and my dad had them on his machine. I'm honestly not sure just how much they really improve the ride. What tire pressure are you running on your mower? I think my Hustler runs 10 in the front and 8 in the rear but I could have that reversed. I think air pressure would probably help as much as the flex forks. I can put a caliper on the outer tube that holds the forks and measure the length of the tube. Those two measurements might help determine if what you've got is similar.

I disagree that the flex forks help more than the seats with shocks or springs. My mower has flex forks and adjustable suspension seat (standard style not like pictured above). At full speed I can still bounce myself pretty good.

My next mower, if the Hustler ever decides to go, will probably be a Ferris with full suspension. Everyone I talk to about them says they're the smoothest ride going for a mower.

I think my ZT calls for more pressure in the front than the rear, so that would make sense for yours. I suspect they are all pretty similar with the most weight and biggest tires in the rear.

My wife would love something with better suspension, but I suspect she wouldn't like the bill to get it.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by masraum

Interesting. I'd love to know why.

Still possible to find "SAE 30" which was the mower recommendation WAY back in the day.

Yep ... that's what used for years. Per him ... the zinc & phosphorus were reduced in auto oils some years back. Like the 911s .... I still use Brad Penn, but have bottles of ZDDP from years ago too .

Seems to know his stuff ... Toro dealer for years .... I just discovered him.

"BT South" is his biz..... good web site that he did ....

He's a Toro man

His display cases full of Benchmades behind the counter don't have prices on them ....

I probably shouldn't go back

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Mobil 1 20-50 V-twin in my Walker Kohler Ti25 engine and Mobil SHC 630 in the hydrostatic pumps. It's a 5 year old, low-hour, summer only rig and probably over-maintained but so far, no problems. I'm religious about starting it only at idled throttle and when cold letting it run a minute or more before taking it to operating RPM. I'd rather not fix things that were ruined by being stupid.

I like this "rabbit hole" I seem to have fallen into

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

I think my ZT calls for more pressure in the front than the rear, so that would make sense for yours. I suspect they are all pretty similar with the most weight and biggest tires in the rear.

My wife would love something with better suspension, but I suspect she wouldn't like the bill to get it.

Keep your eyes open for a homeowner owned mower. Sometimes they'll post on Marketplace trying to sell for a bit more or the same as trade in. I'd stay away from the mowing company owned machines. The farmer owned mower is a good one to get as well. They'll buy them and write them off as a farm expense then sell them every few years.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

Keep your eyes open for a homeowner owned mower. Sometimes they'll post on Marketplace trying to sell for a bit more or the same as trade in. I'd stay away from the mowing company owned machines. The farmer owned mower is a good one to get as well. They'll buy them and write them off as a farm expense then sell them every few years.

My buddy with the SuperZ .... purchased his from Kyle Petty's Victory Junction property with only 40 hours on it after some event years ago... got a deal. They had a few....

edited: How come my posts got funny looking fonts now.... what did I do ?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by KC911

Yep ... that's what used for years. Per him ... the zinc & phosphorus were reduced in auto oils some years back. Like the 911s .... I still use Brad Penn, but have bottles of ZDDP from years ago too .

Seems to know his stuff ... Toro dealer for years .... I just discovered him.

"BT South" is his biz..... good web site that he did ....

He's a Toro man

His display cases full of Benchmades behind the counter don't have prices on them ....

I probably shouldn't go back

He's clearly a man of wealth and taste!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

Keep your eyes open for a homeowner owned mower. Sometimes they'll post on Marketplace trying to sell for a bit more or the same as trade in. I'd stay away from the mowing company owned machines. The farmer owned mower is a good one to get as well. They'll buy them and write them off as a farm expense then sell them every few years.

I've seen a few nicer mowers being sold by private sellers and thought, "we should upgrade."

Good to know about the company mowers. I'm assuming they get rode hard and put away wet? Kind of like buying an ex-rental car?

[cabmandone]

There are deals to be had if you watch out for them. My dad snagged his Super Z for 10K brand new buying a dealer hold over from the previous year.

[speeder]

I had no idea what this thread was about from the title and I have to say, after reading the OP and subsequent posts, I still don't. Lawnmowers?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by speeder

I had no idea what this thread was about from the title and I have to say, after reading the OP and subsequent posts, I still don't. Lawnmowers?

Ride on, Zero Turn lawn mowers which are, IMO, the super cars of the lawn mower world. And like many/most riding lawn mowers, are a not inconsiderable investment. So you want to protect/maintain your investment.

[speeder]

Got it. I haven't been in a lawn mowing lifestyle since I moved to SoCal 42 years ago...no one here mows their own lawn, (or has one). I actually miss it from my youth.

I'm watching "Tulsa King" on streaming right now and Stallone plays a Brooklyn mobster who was just in prison for 25 years. He sees someone mowing their lawn and wistfully observes that he's never operated a lawn mower. Something tells me that if I keep up with the show, he will wind up doing it.

[masraum]

Zero turn mowers.
Huge rear tires, and so awesome they've got to have roll bars!

[M.D. Holloway]

Use what the OEM says to use.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

Use what the OEM says to use.

That doesn't sound like the Mike I know .... you musta seen the sock thread

What if there are better options ....

I have what the dealer recommended, but for those hydros, I want the absolute best.... or better.

After break-in (100 or 50?) the 2 qts each will be in there a long time... I don't think I can go wrong with Mobil1 20W50 V-Twin .... motor (instead of Kawi branded) and the hydros get hot... so in them too

Fwiw .... I have a 5gal jug of Castrol GTX 20W50 for my first Scag with HG Hydros from 16 years ago. That was what HG used and recommended back then...

I don't have 'em here .... I'll get the specs. The HG China filters (same age) .... at least they aren't new China .... look dinky, but I will use them !

Thanks Mike!

Hey Denis....

1970 Beetle ---> 2024 911
1070 John Deere ---> 2024 Z-Turn

Hoot