Advice on zero turns

[tcartwri]

My concern is cutting tall grass; the old garden tractor that I sometimes use can only handle grass up to a certain level and then the front "wall" of the deck holds it down below the blades and nothing gets cut. I had to buy a tractor & rotary cutter for when the grass gets that high. I should mention that this is wild grass and some sprouting stumps, along with a few rocks, but no real heavy brush (not any more.)

I have trimmed a bit off that wall on the garden tractor deck, and may trim a bit more, but I don't want to cut steel off the deck of a new or "newer" machine.

Sort of like this...

 

[Navasot]

Looks like pretty clean grass. I was thinking more like pasture thick.. weeds, vines, goat weed, maybe a tree sapling here and there

 

[lutt]

This is what my Kubota will do, don't hardly hook up the bushog and If you zoom in on the pic, you can see saplings and heavy weeds. Also notice how steep the hill is, I mow a deep steep ditch in front of my house also, it low center of gravity, wide tires on the rear keeps it on the ground. Seatbelt and ROPS used. She will slide before it turns over though. I've tried several z turns and this is my second Kubota. We mow over ten acres of cemeteries, 16 acres of pasture and woods at my personal residence, 4 acres at the rent house, acre at moms, and 3 acres at the family cemetery. This was at a friends warehouse at his furniture store. I used to hook up the bushog I mow this twice a year. They are pricey, but worth every penny if now heavy. My first was a ZG 20, owned it 6 years, blades, general maintainence, and one battery was it. Under these same mowing conditions! LUTT

 

[MinnesotaEric]

"..Toro time cutter ..."



It is my understanding that these machines, as well as many other "lower-end" zero-turns, use the Hydro Gear EZT drives. A little internet searching shows that the EZT drives do not have a stellar reputation. In fact, one can find several stories of failures, usually the left side drive.

If I were going to buy such a machine, I would not want one with this particular drive.

You can replace the drives with pro-level drives for little money. Hydro-Gear Hydrostatic Drives Transmissions and Transaxles

 

[Capricious]

This is what my Kubota will do, don't hardly hook up the bushog and If you zoom in on the pic, you can see saplings and heavy weeds. Also notice how steep the hill is, I mow a deep steep ditch in front of my house also, it low center of gravity, wide tires on the rear keeps it on the ground. Seatbelt and ROPS used. She will slide before it turns over though. I've tried several z turns and this is my second Kubota. We mow over ten acres of cemeteries, 16 acres of pasture and woods at my personal residence, 4 acres at the rent house, acre at moms, and 3 acres at the family cemetery. This was at a friends warehouse at his furniture store. I used to hook up the bushog I mow this twice a year. They are pricey, but worth every penny if now heavy. My first was a ZG 20, owned it 6 years, blades, general maintainence, and one battery was it. Under these same mowing conditions! LUTT

And there is no issue with the deck holding the tall stuff down under the level of the blades? No damage to the deck?

By the way, I thought EVERYONE in Pocahontas, AR, worked on towboats.

Thanks for the photos.

 

[TSO]

I use my hustler for brush hogging as well, works really well.

 

[lutt]

And there is no issue with the deck holding the tall stuff down under the level of the blades? No damage to the deck? By the way, I thought EVERYONE in Pocahontas, AR, worked on towboats. Thanks for the photos.

Your welcome for the pics! Not to bad, the deck on my 48" weighs close to 500 pounds, sometimes I have to back up to get things. It's not a bush hog, but I sure use I as one am works well. You won't damage the deck, I've tried. My yard is full if rocks, I live west of town in the foothills. Kubota Z turns in the commercial variety are built like a tank. Oh yeah, not everyone but dang near! Lol LUTT

 

[CharlieKtractor]

still looking for a 4 wheel drive Kubota F series

 

[TSO]

still looking for a 4 wheel drive Kubota F series

Or look for an older Ford CM274