Zero Turn Mower: Advice Welcome

[911SauCy]

Tossing this to the brain trust...

At the new Saucy Residence, we've a much larger piece of the American dream that requires frequent trimming and care. About 1.5 acres of nice, dark green, ground fuzz that grows like mad.

I grew up using a myriad of machines from:

TO

TO


Here's the shift, I've no need for a tractor. I want to cut the nice flat yard, with ease and make it look like the neighbor's...who pay $125/wk...silly neighbors.

I was first leaning toward a walk behind XMark 36-48" cut, hydro drive (Kawi powered (of course))

But recently got a high recommendation toward a Hustler Raptor, ride-on Zero turn, residential model, 52" cut, Kawi power, 3-yr warranty, $3G...

Any suggestions for or against, experiences with this type equipment, preferences?

[stomachmonkey]

All I know is the zero turns can beat the snot out of your lawn, especially when it's wet or the soil is saturated.

[bpu699]

I looked at them... They were $4000-$6000.

A John Deere wide track riding mower from Home Depot was $1800.

We bought the latter, and have beat the snot out of it for 3 years. Works like a champ. I even mow brush fields with it, and cut down small trees.

I didn't think I needed to haul or pull stuff either, but soon found that it helps. Its nice to be able to pull a lawn sprayer, cart, add a snow blower, tiller attachement, etc...

With a zero turn, you can't pull anything...

Bo

[Rot 911]

What bpu said. I have around 1.8 acres to mow. But I also have lots of trees to go around. The newer riding mowers make some pretty tight turns.

[rfuerst911sc]

In my opinion hard to beat a good older model Cub Cadet or John Deere garden tractor. They are built like tanks and will run forever with just general maintenance. I recently purchased a 317 JD with a 46 " deck it mows my 3/4 acre like it's not even there. Look around you can generally find a nice machine for 800.00 - 1400.00 as an example. I've never used a zero turn so can't give any feedback in that arena. Good luck with whatever you end up with.

[Porchdog]

I got a used (11 hours) Ariens two years ago for my 2 acres. Very similar specifications and a Kawa motor. I got a 42" as I have some steep parts and some tight spaces.

I really like it - it saves at least an hour of mowing time over my old Cub Cadet tractor. There are very few spots left to be cleaned up with the hand mower - I usually just finish the tight spots with he weed-eater.

You do need to be a bit careful on the steep spots when it's wet - you can easily spin a wheel.

There's a bolt on hitch available for mine. The only real disadvantage I've seen is that I can't put a snowblower on it.

The kids and wife don't complain about mowing any more.

[Rusty Heap]

I have 1.5 acres to mow the house lawn (Kubota is for the other rough llama pasture 3.5 acre)


Cub Cadet several years ago had a sweet zero turn, but stnd riding lawn tractor. The I-series.

I've got one and I love it, heavy duty, outlasts anything from sears 3x over.

standard steering wheel, with twin rear hydrostatic transmissions, and front wheel are gear driven to turn past 90-95 degrees from steering wheel linkage.

sweet set-up.

Cub Cadet - Zero Turn Riding Mowers - iSeries Tractors


I've got the largest of the series with triple blades, makes for a nice smooth cut............I need to mow it anyways, so I'll give you a before and after cut pics.

https://www.cubcadet.com/wcsstore/ManagedContent/CubCadet/en_US/media/ZZ010_iSeries_SellSheet.pdf


here is a fast time-lapse video of a 1/4 of my lawn area showing off my I-series.......note middle of video my tight pivot on one rear wheel spins....



I simply didn't like the twin hockey stick zero turn mowers with the passive little shopping cart wheels up front. So I went with that I-series Cub Cadet. Held up great the last 4.5 years of use, and it has zerk fittings everywhere......

[VincentVega]

walk behind XMark 36-48" cut

This is the route I took but a gravely. I've spent tons of time behind an Exmark and with a sulky you can really move. Not quite as fast as a zero turn but close from experience. 48" is a good compromise unless you need to get through gates. Bigger will always be faster so measure your area if you have to.

I found a nearly new used unit and cant be happier with it. The riding mower idea is nice but much slower if time is important.

[gamin]

I have approx 1,5 ac of yard to mow. Been using a Toro time cutter 50" with mulching kit for the last 4 years. New $2800. Trouble free so far with really good results. Fun to operate too. 24 hp Kawasaki will tear up the turf if not careful. After using a zero turn I will never go back to a lawn tractor. Like I said, fun to operate.

[porsche4life]

Zero turn is much quicker. We had a Kubuta commercial lawn tractor with a 48" deck. Switching to Cub commercial 48" ZTR cut a few hours off our mowing time at home. We mowed about 5 acres. Dad recently traded the cub for a 60" Toro commercial ZTR. Pretty sure a Boxster would have been cheaper, but the commercial stuff is the only thing that will hold up on their rough ground.

Remember, that the mowers you get at the home improvement stores aren't the same as you get at a tractor dealer. The green stuff at Home Depot is not made by JD for example.

[rusnak]

ooh I like the Kubota with deck mower. But as others have said, I use a plain lil ol garden tractor mower because the big heavy mowers tear the crap out of the lawn. Bad enough I drive the forklift on my lawn to occasionally load stuff on the trailer.

[flipper35]

If you don't have a lot of stuff to cut around i don't see the advantage of a zero turn.

Oh, I cut close to 1 1/2 acres with a Cub LT1050 that we bough new from an implement dealer in 2007. Some of the trees I have to back up and cut tight to a couple times but anything over about 24" radius I can cut tight to.

[Instrument 41]

Got a Toro 50" deck. As with any riding mower, the difference is in how well the belly mower holds up. I got the 50" welded deck, not a stamped deck. I cut 6 acres with it, after 3 years just replaced the blades. What ever you get keep the top side of the deck clean and NEVER wash out the bottom of the deck when everything is still hot. Hot bearings on the blade shafts will suck up all the dirt and fail prematurely.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Remember, that the mowers you get at the home improvement stores aren't the same as you get at a tractor dealer. The green stuff at Home Depot is not made by JD for example.

I am well aware and never shop big box stores for long-term/high $ purchases like this.

[Seahawk]

I don't even know if they make a belt driven zero turn mower, just make sure you don't buy the last one

I'm about two years out from buying a commercial grade ZTR so I've started the search. I may need to sell a kidney.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I don't even know if they make a belt driven zero turn mower, just make sure you don't buy the last one

I'm about two years out from buying a commercial grade ZTR so I've started the search. I may need to sell a kidney.

What the heck. You have two.

I like this bad boy:
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/943435492260182757?q=ztr+mower&client=safari&rls=en&biw=1440&bih=696&bav=on.2,or.&bvm=bv.93990622,d.cGU&tch=1&ech=1&psi=RYNnVdbkOI_boATch4DoBA.1432847174567.3&prds=paur:ClkAsKraX3_k3GxxSfQ9W7LBaYDRPKqoC6oIsgMW dWjwqEm3oRJimOS95X8OX3MYBVfTar4_fUF29pFTs6KSbgvkuC h0vafy3ZcjdB7FRNTX8fTkuAmdNdJvPBIZAFPVH71iICR6ur_g q5bPlHPu4Atzk6cfeA&ved=0CCgQpis&ei=TINnVYL0C4_ioATWl4HwBA

[74-911]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I'm about two years out from buying a commercial grade ZTR so I've started the search. I may need to sell a kidney.

Previous neighbor had contracts to mow several graveyards and open spaces around some refineries. He had 3 of these and they were built like tanks:

Silver Eagle | Dixie Chopper

[intakexhaust]

Not sure if Dixon still makes them, but the cone / clutch drive is ingenious. So simple, no hydraulics. They offered them on the smaller units / lower HP but they surely were reliable and a time saver. Funny thing is hydro drives rob horsepower big time. Not the situation with the cone / clutch. Though one neg is not being as friendly on slopes, where as a hydro is more controlling.

stock photos:




Also, most ZTR ride rough so consider the wheel / diam. package, seat.

[wdfifteen]

I've been extremely happy with my Grasshoppers for 18 years. My mower was going strong - ZERO problems - when I wore the B&S motor out at 2000 hrs. I found a low-hours chassis of the next size up for less than the price of a new engine and put my deck on it.

The best feature of the Grasshopper (and I assume it is available on other brands) is the front-mounted deck. You can run it right up under shrubs and trim in places you can't get to with any mid-mount mower.
As has been said, you can spin the tires and tear the heck out of a lawn if you aren't careful, but once I learned to be patient I've had no problem.

[Bill Douglas]

Whatever you buy, you could mow the neighbour's lawn for $100/pw and have your lawnmower purchase money back in no time