Why are there so few rear discharge F Kubota mowers around?

[sixdogs]

Wet or thick grass could also plug things up.

 

[ironpen]

My F2690 has the RD deck. For the life of me I don't know why dealers don't sell these as a vast majority of the decks other than sticking to an old unfounded tradition. My mower does not throw clippings up into the engine compartment. I have had to clean the little radiator screen once and now have a little over 100 hours on the machine. The "cleaning" was removing a little along the edge of the screen that covered maybe 2% of it's area. The radiator has never required any sort of air blowout at all. I check this every time I finish because my old New Holland MC35 ( exact same layout...deck out front does collect trash a little along and it has a radiator that got torn up a while back when the fan broke and slammed into the radiator so it really doesn't have any reserve cooling capacity. So I always check the oil and the screen as well as a couple of puffs of grease into the spindles before each use. My experience with SD mowers has been really bad with wind rows and clippings blowing all over me. I swore them off over a decade ago. I still have a New Holland....about an '85 model and the only good use I have for it is blowing the paved driveway clean by blowing the junk out into the yard! Trust me...RD is vastly superior and I have three that I currently use. Much nicer cuts and more user friendly.

 

[sixdogs]

irpnpen--that pretty much sums up the user experience with the RD. I'm on the lookout for a low hour used one.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I’ve recently been looking at the Kubota ZD1211 and ZD1511 Mower’s. I want Diesel, 72” deck, and rear discharge cause I’m tired of getting filthy as noted in several prior posts.

I tried out both at a dealer almost 100 miles away and both were 60” rear discharge.

I have John Deere Z820A with 60” side discharge. A 72” deck is my preference to cover more area in less time.

The difference in seats on the ZD1211 and ZD 1511 was significant IMHO. I was really impressed with the Air Ride seat on the ZD1511. The adjustable spring seat, on the ZD1211, was better than my John Deere seat but, nothing like the Air Ride seat.

I made a deal with my local dealer on a ZD1511 with 72” rear discharge so they contacted the Kubota Warehouse in Dallas and came up empty. Then they contacted Kubota plant and were advised that no more ZD1511s would be shipping until “sometime in 2018”. They (Kubota) gave no reason why?

My dealer is checking on a couple of units in dealer inventory, in Texas. I told them I will consider but, want to know how long they’ve in dealer inventory and how they’ve been stored, inside or outside.

These guys sure make you work to spend $20k with them.

 

[rustyshakelford]

I’ve recently been looking at the Kubota ZD1211 and ZD1511 Mower’s. I want Diesel, 72” deck, and rear discharge cause I’m tired of getting filthy as noted in several prior posts.

I tried out both at a dealer almost 100 miles away and both were 60” rear discharge.

I have John Deere Z820A with 60” side discharge. A 72” deck is my preference to cover more area in less time.

The difference in seats on the ZD1211 and ZD 1511 was significant IMHO. I was really impressed with the Air Ride seat on the ZD1511. The adjustable spring seat, on the ZD1211, was better than my John Deere seat but, nothing like the Air Ride seat.

I made a deal with my local dealer on a ZD1511 with 72” rear discharge so they contacted the Kubota Warehouse in Dallas and came up empty. Then they contacted Kubota plant and were advised that no more ZD1511s would be shipping until “sometime in 2018”. They (Kubota) gave no reason why?

My dealer is checking on a couple of units in dealer inventory, in Texas. I told them I will consider but, want to know how long they’ve in dealer inventory and how they’ve been stored, inside or outside.

These guys sure make you work to spend $20k with them.

I'll call my salesman on Monday just to verify what your dealer is saying.

Brett

 

[lostcreekranch]

I'll call my salesman on Monday just to verify what your dealer is saying.

Brett

Thanks Brett! I do appreciate that. Just doesn’t make sense that they would turn down a sale?

 

[sixdogs]

Something I don't understand is the grass clippings with a SD getting blown into the engine or radiator screen or even back on the operator. How big of a problem is this and does it occur mostly under certain conditions like too windy or mowing too fast or whatever? Any info helpful.

Since I can't find a RD mower I may go with the suggestion of the SD and add the mulching option. Remember, this is not a primary mower but only to do the edges of the yard and to scoop under my evergreens and other obstacles. In a way, the SD would likely mow better because I could blow the edge grasses under the tree canopy where it becomes a mulch.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Something I don't understand is the grass clippings with a SD getting blown into the engine or radiator screen or even back on the operator. How big of a problem is this and does it occur mostly under certain conditions like too windy or mowing too fast or whatever? Any info helpful.

Since I can't find a RD mower I may go with the suggestion of the SD and add the mulching option. Remember, this is not a primary mower but only to do the edges of the yard and to scoop under my evergreens and other obstacles. In a way, the SD would likely mow better because I could blow the edge grasses under the tree canopy where it becomes a mulch.

I’m now at almost 10 Years with side discharge John Deere Z820A zero turn.

If you’re mowing with wind blowing from your right ..... you get filthy.

If you’re mowing around flower beds you can only go one direction to keep from blowing cuttings into FB.

If you mowing deeper grass you get extreme windrows trying to discharge into deep grass on right side.

I’m going rear discharge or not at all.

 

[628pm]

I ended up getting the sd deck for my F2690 due to trailer size, I could of bought a smaller deck (60 inch) (no way I was going to do that, that was one of my excuses to buy a new mower), or I could of bought a wider trailer to fit the 72 inch rear discharge (needed 2 inches wider) ( I would of been shot if I said I needed a bigger trailer for the bigger mower). I mounted a Jensen waterproof radio on the F2690 using my bluetooth headphones and I just mow away. Bottom line whether you get a side discharge or rear discharge you are going to have one of the best front mount mowers around. It is so much nicer than my zd326 I had for 7 years. Do I get grass on me while I mow depending on the wind, yes I do, since I don't have the rd mower I can't tell you if there are any issues with them. So whatever you get, enjoy!!

 

[cold1313]

Something I don't understand is the grass clippings with a SD getting blown into the engine or radiator screen or even back on the operator. How big of a problem is this and does it occur mostly under certain conditions like too windy or mowing too fast or whatever? Any info helpful.

Since I can't find a RD mower I may go with the suggestion of the SD and add the mulching option. Remember, this is not a primary mower but only to do the edges of the yard and to scoop under my evergreens and other obstacles. In a way, the SD would likely mow better because I could blow the edge grasses under the tree canopy where it becomes a mulch.

I never have an issue with overheating or anything with my SD. I get a lot of debris stuck to the outside but I mow for several hours and never have a temperature issue.

I am however, ALWAYS filthy. I'm out in the country and it doesn't matter what I do, I'm covered with dust, clippings, poison ivy etc. I have the mulching kit also.

The only time I'm good is if everything is really tall, then I have a better chance to drive ahead of the clippings before they blow back on me, OR if it is slightly damp and everything wants to fall down and not go into the air.