Zero turn mower??

[Giles]

I bought a New Kubota ZD221 mower. I only kept it one season and just sold it. Other people don't seem to have the problem I did with lawn damage. Skid of spin marks everywhere I turned. I tried every technique to prevent this damage and finally went back to my 26 year old WheelHorse mower. No more damage:thumbsup:
I realley liked the speed of the zero turn, it cut my mowing time in half.
NOW MY QUESTION----I considered ALL brands of zero turn mowers before purchasing the Kubota. One of these, that I really liked, was the Walker Mower.
Could I expect the same lawn damage with a Walker?
Please don't suggest that I didn't know how to use the Kubota.

 

[Jim Thompson]

I don't have any personal experience with the Walker but there are several of them in use around here and they seem to do a fine job. I currently use an Exmark and a Grasshopper both 60 inch cut mid mounts. I had a Grazer front mount 52 inch back in the 90s and it was far easier on the turf than the larger, heavier mowers. I think, generally, that the front mount mowers have less weight over the drive wheels, less traction and less tenancy to tear/rip the turf. I also think that mowers with smaller drive wheels would be less inclined to cause damage. The last factor that you might consider is the sensitivity and responsiveness of the hydros and controls. My Grasshopper causes less turf damage than my Exmark. They have exactly the same size tires, but the Grasshopper's controls are just a little less sensitive.

Also, you can't do a true zero radius turn with most of these mowers - both drive wheels must be moving when you turn and I pretty much stop before turning, especially if I am mowing a turf grass like St Augustine. Bahia in an open field - I let her rip.:thumbsup:

Jim

 

[rswyan]

Other people don't seem to have the problem I did with lawn damage.

..... wonder why that is ?

Skid of spin marks everywhere I turned. I tried every technique to prevent this damage .....

But apparently not the technique being used by those "other people" who don't seem to have the problem ...

FWIW, I have a ZTR ... an older one: Simplicity CFC 18 Commercial Front Cut .....

I can turn it on a dime ..... and tear the grass up in doing so.....

Or drive it in a manner where I don't cause it to do that ....

Could I expect the same lawn damage with a Walker?

Probably ....

Please don't suggest that I didn't know how to use the Kubota.

Ok, I won't ..... .... but just in case you haven't figured it out yet, it's not the equipment .....

 

[Ken45101]

rswyan,

You seem to be big on accessing blame to the operator, but offer no positive suggestions as to what he is doing wrong. Could you possibly be helpful instead of just sarcastic?

Waiting to hear the answers....

Ken

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

I can tear up the grass pretty good with my JD F620.
Here are a couple of "positive" suggestions that may help, based on my experience.

1 - Don't zero turn! Is there ever any need to, really? In soft, shady areas around trees where the grass is prone to getting chewed up, I do little 3 point turns so that I'm not pivoting on the inside drive wheel on the spot.

If you must do a true zero turn, you actually need to reverse the inside drive wheel so the machine can rotate about its centerline.

 

[om21braz]

Giles, the simple answer is yes. The Walker is capable of tearing up the ground also. The trick is either making sure that while turning, both rear tires continue to rotate (inside tire not just pivoting) or learning to move the sticks simultaneously so each tire is rotating, albeit in different directions. That said, using the second method requires a bit of practice and controls that operate perfectly/smoothly - along the lines of what Jim T. mentioned. The easier of the two is to just make small radius turns. If you actually do what I would consider a "zero-radius turn" you are 180 degrees from where you started and setting in the same line you just mowed.

 

[sweettractors]

My yard is mowed by a "Dixon" ZTR for many years and I have never seen the lawn messed up on the turns/corners. Ken Sweet

 

[rswyan]

You seem to be big on accessing blame to the operator,

Yup - I guess I'm just personally not much of a fan of blaming inanimate, material objects for things that I cause to happen .....

but offer no positive suggestions as to what he is doing wrong.

It was largely covered in the post prior to mine by by Jim Thompson - and subsequently by others:

You can't avoid tearing up the grass if you lock up a wheel to zero turn - you must keep both wheels moving.

I suppose I could have "ditto'ed" that .... but I wonder whether that would make any difference ......

Could you possibly be helpful instead of just sarcastic?

Perhaps I was being helpful ....... by intentionally being sarcastic ......

The OP stated that he didn't want to hear any suggestion that he didn't know how to use the Kubota .... methinks, in this instance, that might just be a tad unrealistic .....

Generally, in my life, I found it to be true that the first barrier I encounter to learning anything, is the assumption on my part that I already know ....

Once I figure out that I don't, I often discover that there is actually something there to be known ..... and usually the learning process goes much easier from there on ... (YMMV)

However, up until that time, any effort to impart valid, usable data to me is utterly pointless and a total waste ..... since the receiver ain't turned on ......

Waiting to hear the answers....

Well, I dunno if any of the above are the answers you are looking for .... but the above is position on the matter.

 

[Giles]

Giles, the simple answer is yes. The Walker is capable of tearing up the ground also. The trick is either making sure that while turning, both rear tires continue to rotate (inside tire not just pivoting) or learning to move the sticks simultaneously so each tire is rotating, albeit in different directions. That said, using the second method requires a bit of practice and controls that operate perfectly/smoothly - along the lines of what Jim T. mentioned. The easier of the two is to just make small radius turns. If you actually do what I would consider a "zero-radius turn" you are 180 degrees from where you started and setting in the same line you just mowed.

THANKS for a "useful" reply:thumbsup:
I am 64 years old and I have cut acres and acres of lawns and even run a small neighboorhood lawn service for a few years. Never had a complaint for my work.
I am well aware of the fact that with one wheel not rotating and the other one rotating will cause damage.
The problem with the Kubota may be of machine design. The tires are wider then most other mowers I looked at.
I have a lot of ornamental trees that are about twenty foot tall and I would just slowly glide around them, in an almost straight line with deck app. 6" from trunk. I would then push mow or string trim next to tree.
After the first five or six mowings, My wife and I noticed "distinct" travel marks left by both rear tires. I started using my regular WheelHorse mower and the grass returned.
It may be that I am different then most people in that just because I own one doesn't mean it is the best.
All machines have their good and bad points---IMO a perfect machine that satisfies everyone, and their needs, cannot be produced.
The Walker mower, as some are aware, is constructed differently then the mid mount machines and I was just wondering if it would be better suited for my needs.
I guess I can have one of the local dealers demonstrate their operation.

 

[om21braz]

Giles, without looking up specs on your Kubota - if it is similiar to a ZD21, part of the problem is the fact of just how much it weighs. If the listed specs on the ZD21 are correct, by the time it is full of fuel and me on it, total weight is close to 2000 lbs. Mine can and does leave tracks in a soft yard while going in a straight line. My son makes sure to mow in different patterns on his customer's yard so to minimize the effect. On the ZD21, the 60" deck sticks out enough past the rear tires to allow for minimal trimming on all but the tightest radiuses. IMHO, the Kubota's strong suits are sturdy build, fuel-efficient(diesel), and ability to quickly mow with a good cut. The Walker, again IMHO, is a different animal - it's strong points are it's ability to deliver a manicured-cut, reducing trimming to absolute minimum, removal of clippings/leaves, and it's lighter weight reduces the impact on turf.
P.S. (1) I agree completely that there is'nt one machine that is best for all mowing jobs and (2) a demo with a Walker sounds like a good idea