Mow with my bx24 or buy a zero turn mower?

[aczlan]

From what I've gathered, the Troy Bilt has a maximum forward speed of 6 MPH....also, I goofed, I think it's actually a 50" cut.
I'm guessing mowing time of the BX vs. the TB will probably be a wash. That's good! How fast do you guys with the BX MMM mow? Full speed, half speed, low range, high range????

Full speed high range with the throttle wide open. The B7500 still outmows it in short to medium grass (higher top speed) but the BX does pretty well

Aaron Z

 

[harleyguy302]

Ok, I finally made it to the dealer. I have narrowed it down to the bad boy ZT or CZT. The ZT is a awesome looking machine and the CZT is the commerical version of the ZT and is about $1k more. The dealer told me both are excellent machines. He said the motor on the ZT has an expected life span of 1500 hrs and CZT is 2500 hrs. He said I couldn't really go wrong either way. The CZT has taller rear tires, adjustable levers, bigger hydrolic pumps. He didn't have the CZT at the dealership but had the ZT. He will be placing his next order April 1 so I need to decide between the two in the next week or so........The thing I am unable to decide is whether or not I want a bagger or not. I have always bagged my yard close to the house. Everytime I have tried to mulch it seems to rain alot and the grass gets really tall between mowings and I end up with piles of grass in the yard. This drives me nuts. If I buy the ZT I can afford the bagger. If I buy the CZT I can not (right now). Do these mowers cut/mulch better than what I am used to??

 

[Unregistered2013]

Ok, I finally made it to the dealer. I have narrowed it down to the bad boy ZT or CZT. The ZT is a awesome looking machine and the CZT is the commerical version of the ZT and is about $1k more. The dealer told me both are excellent machines. He said the motor on the ZT has an expected life span of 1500 hrs and CZT is 2500 hrs. He said I couldn't really go wrong either way. The CZT has taller rear tires, adjustable levers, bigger hydrolic pumps. He didn't have the CZT at the dealership but had the ZT. He will be placing his next order April 1 so I need to decide between the two in the next week or so........The thing I am unable to decide is whether or not I want a bagger or not. I have always bagged my yard close to the house. Everytime I have tried to mulch it seems to rain alot and the grass gets really tall between mowings and I end up with piles of grass in the yard. This drives me nuts. If I buy the ZT I can afford the bagger. If I buy the CZT I can not (right now). Do these mowers cut/mulch better than what I am used to??

i would stretch and go with the kubota diesel -- it's a totally different league, and you won't be dealing with a kohler engine rebuild in 5 years --

 

[radioman]

Anyone had any problems with the weight of the BX on the yard? I have R4's and if it is at all wet it really seems to tear up the yard (of course I usually have the loader and shredder on).

It only takes a moment (less then 2 mins) to take loader off. As for the shredder - are you saying it stays on all year around? I tend to take my implements off when mowing.

The BX 2660 has a top speed of 8.1MPH, your BX25 is probably the same. Check to see what your ZTR's top speed is.

Aaron Z

the BX does have a top speed to 8 mph, but that is in high range/WOT and HST pedal to metal. I don't mow like that. I doubt anyone does unless their lawn is super smooth and not too high.

harleyguy302- I see your mind is made up, but is the extra half hour to hour saving for each mowing time really worth the extra mowing to plunk down for a separate machine to maintain? For some people it is worth every penny, others is a either a tossup or no biggie.

It's a bummer you cant borrow a mowing deck for the BX so you can make up your mind first and see if it fits you or not. If you were near me- I'd let you borrow mine for a day.

 

[harleyguy302]

I haven't totally decided against the mower on the BX since this was the plan when I initially bought it and that is how I justified the reasoning on buying it in the first place. With the BX I could get the deck and bagger and still be well under 5K.


I usually leave the loader/shredder on most of the summer. I have never had the need to take them off.

 

[Popster]

Remember, the deck is the most important thing. Avoid a stamped deck. Get a heavy deck!

 

[DK35vince]

harleyguy302- I see your mind is made up, but is the extra half hour to hour saving for each mowing time really worth the extra mowing to plunk down for a separate machine to maintain?

For mowing 2 acres of lawn I bet he wouldn't save more than 10 to 20 minutes per mowing with a zero turn over the BX.

 

[harleyguy302]

For mowing 2 acres of lawn I bet he wouldn't save more than 10 to 20 minutes per mowing with a zero turn over the BX.

That's exactly what I was wondering. What would be the real world time difference.......

 

[Pks]

The size of the mowed area and how many objects to mow around are where the differences really sit. Most ZTRs can do 1.2 acres per hour on flat ground w/o much trees. I mow over 7 acres and the time for mowing was killing me. Though I was using a 6ft deck, with all my trees and hills, the tractor set-up took me more than 90 minutes per acre (0.6 acres per hour). I have a lot of trees and small hills which are time killers.

Then I tried a Hustler dealer's ZTR demo at 66inches in width. Wow!!! :thumbsup::laughing: I shaved 60% off my time immediately. So I bought the mower and now I have both. Keep another relation in mind: the tractor can do about 8MPH max but it won't really cut. But the mower WILL cut at 8MPH and it will do it very well... Mine does. :thumbsup:

 

[wpabx2230]

I mow at top speed all the time with my bx2230. My property line is about 800 ft long and is a straight line. I have very few obstacles, but I can mow 3 1/2 acres in less than 1 hour 45 minutes with my 60" deck.