Buying Advice Buying a Zero-Turn Mower

[Kimber1911]

I have a John Deere z655 I bought about 4 years ago. It has been a very reliable machine. It has a 54" deck but I believe they make one with a 60". I paid about $5700 new if I remember correctly. It is something of a mix between homeowner and commercial, that is the level of machine I would be looking at.

 

[TJP89]

Thanks guys, this is more of what I'm looking for. As you might see, I'm not a name brand guy, I have a Kioti tractor. In addition, I don't even know what name brand is in ZTRNs (what is the "official" abbreviation for them anyway?). You guys have given me a lot of info to digest. I agree that lower level commercial is the way to go, or high level mid-grade. I will stay away from box store models. I want to stay new, but used may have to be an option.

If I'm right, the big thing with zero turns is the maneuverability, the speed and width are good, but the tight turns are what really speed up the mowing. So getting the fastest mower out there isn't necessarily a must, correct? I have another question. Do I need a 60" deck, or can I go down to 54"? I don't want to go any bigger than 60". The reason is my trailer is 5ft, with plywood sides on the inside, so to haul this I need a deck less than 60", or the deck will have to come off. Not a big deal, I'm not going to cause problems just so I can maybe haul the thing. But will a 54" significantly increase mowing time?

 

[4570Man]

Thanks guys, this is more of what I'm looking for. As you might see, I'm not a name brand guy, I have a Kioti tractor. In addition, I don't even know what name brand is in ZTRNs (what is the "official" abbreviation for them anyway?). You guys have given me a lot of info to digest. I agree that lower level commercial is the way to go, or high level mid-grade. I will stay away from box store models. I want to stay new, but used may have to be an option. If I'm right, the big thing with zero turns is the maneuverability, the speed and width are good, but the tight turns are what really speed up the mowing. So getting the fastest mower out there isn't necessarily a must, correct? I have another question. Do I need a 60" deck, or can I go down to 54"? I don't want to go any bigger than 60". The reason is my trailer is 5ft, with plywood sides on the inside, so to haul this I need a deck less than 60", or the deck will have to come off. Not a big deal, I'm not going to cause problems just so I can maybe haul the thing. But will a 54" significantly increase mowing time?

You better make sure that a 60" deck will fit on a 60" trailer. I honestly don't think there would be much difference in mowing time with a 54" vs 60" deck.

 

[TSO]

Thanks guys, this is more of what I'm looking for. As you might see, I'm not a name brand guy, I have a Kioti tractor. In addition, I don't even know what name brand is in ZTRNs (what is the "official" abbreviation for them anyway?). You guys have given me a lot of info to digest. I agree that lower level commercial is the way to go, or high level mid-grade. I will stay away from box store models. I want to stay new, but used may have to be an option.

If I'm right, the big thing with zero turns is the maneuverability, the speed and width are good, but the tight turns are what really speed up the mowing. So getting the fastest mower out there isn't necessarily a must, correct? I have another question. Do I need a 60" deck, or can I go down to 54"? I don't want to go any bigger than 60". The reason is my trailer is 5ft, with plywood sides on the inside, so to haul this I need a deck less than 60", or the deck will have to come off. Not a big deal, I'm not going to cause problems just so I can maybe haul the thing. But will a 54" significantly increase mowing time?

You likely won't be able to fit a 60" on a 60" wide trailer... Make sure you measure first.
Regarding speed, in order to go full speed, you'll need smooth ground. I think my ZTR will cut at up to 11 mph, but in reality there's only about 20% of my own yard where I can do full speed. There is a long, narrow spot of grass about 500' long X 60' wide (probably just under an acre) that I can cut at full speed. It takes me about 10 mins to cut. It's really a treat to mow that spot! The rest of the yard I'm probably averaging 7 mph. If I cut all of my grass at once (including around the house, by the street, around the trail, around the crop patches, etc... Totals about 6 acres) I can do it in about 2.5 hrs.

 

[TJP89]

You likely won't be able to fit a 60" on a 60" wide trailer... Make sure you measure first.
Regarding speed, in order to go full speed, you'll need smooth ground. I think my ZTR will cut at up to 11 mph, but in reality there's only about 20% of my own yard where I can do full speed. There is a long, narrow spot of grass about 500' long X 60' wide (probably just under an acre) that I can cut at full speed. It takes me about 10 mins to cut. It's really a treat to mow that spot! The rest of the yard I'm probably averaging 7 mph. If I cut all of my grass at once (including around the house, by the street, around the trail, around the crop patches, etc... Totals about 6 acres) I can do it in about 2.5 hrs.

I know for a fact that the inside of the trailer is less than 60' now. That's partly why I want to look into a 54" deck (the other reason in better maneuverability) Not a big deal, just another piece of info.

 

[davesl708]

I know for a fact that the inside of the trailer is less than 60' now. That's partly why I want to look into a 54" deck (the other reason in better maneuverability) Not a big deal, just another piece of info.

Most manufacturer spec sheets will give the overall dimensions of the deck and length of the mower.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'd MUCH rather have a wider deck and go slower than a narrower deck and go fast...

I do not find my 61" decks to be too wide for "some what" rough ground, my lawn sure isn't perfect, and I mow my lanes and around my orchard tree's with mine.

I LOVE my Grasshopper 61" front deck, the Kubota diesel, uses less fuel and will easily out last any gas motor...

SR

 

[4570Man]

I'd MUCH rather have a wider deck and go slower than a narrower deck and go fast... I do not find my 61" decks to be too wide for "some what" rough ground, my lawn sure isn't perfect, and I mow my lanes and around my orchard tree's with mine. I LOVE my Grasshopper 61" front deck, the Kubota diesel, uses less fuel and will easily out last any gas motor... SR

And those little diesels aren't very thirsty. My F-series will mow forever on a tank of fuel. These gassers are pretty thirsty. My F-series has a 60" deck and unless your yard looks like the side of the mountain it will be fine.

 

[ch1ch2]

I own and use a Troy Bilt, 52" deck, 22HP Kohler engine. I bought it a Lowes for $1700, 8 years ago.
I mow 2.5 acres around 40 times a year. It takes 4 hours to mow the full 2.5 acres, sometimes I just do about half of it.
The cut is great with new blades. As the lift on the blades wears down it does not throw the clipping as good and I have to mow slower.

It cuts as good or better than my NH33D with 6ft belly mower, and the blades are a lot cheaper.
I went through 4 other riding mowers before the ZTR.
In 8 years I have gone through 1 battery and 3 sets of blades. NO other issues!
I love it! I think a commercial unit would drive faster, and cut wider. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ShowroomShine]

At the end of the day, a 60" deck vs a 52/54" deck would only save you less than a dozen extra passes off your time. I did the math on my 3 acres, a 54" deck vs a 60" deck I'd have to do 8 extra passes at an average of 45seconds a pass.

52/54" wont scalp as bad.