SCUT Mowing - Ground Speed?

[DK35vince]

Isn't that odd. The Land Pride website I linked to above clearly speaks differently to the blade tip speed.

I got my Land pride mower used several years ago and do not have an owners manual to look it up.

 

[mikester]

Here's a question for ZTR fans who get their mowing done quicker. The ZTR's advantages for trimming around obstacles are obvious. But if you figure you're going faster over open ground too, either the quality of cut is being sacrificed by going so fast or your mowing deck runs at much higher rpm's to keep up with the higher ground speed. Or maybe you mow more often so the grass isn't so heavy. I honestly want to know. At my place, the grass is heavy and going too fast means either disharge clumping or poor cut quality.

I'm using a ZD326P-60 and it will cut nicely at full speed 17kph (10MPH). The trick is to avoid wet grass, keep your deck clean and blades sharp. The other thing is that it's better to keep the grass trimmed regularly instead of letting it get really long. If it's too long you will need to cut it 2x at 90 degrees. It's just easier and faster to cut every 5 or 6 days in the growing season and you get no clumps on your lawn. I rarely cut twice, usually only after the first mow in spring if I let the grass get too long.

If your cut quality drops then its time to scrape the deck clean.

No trees? You can really fly.

Before the ZTR I had a 3ph 72 inch finishing mower on a CUT. What used to take me 3+ hours to cut about 3 acres on the CUT now takes me 45 minutes on the ZTR with a 60 inch deck. BTW I have lots of trees. On the straightways I run full tilt. I always run full throttle.

The negative on the ZTR is grass tear-up around sharp turns. It can also be a little hairy cutting on slopes and wet grass. It's like riding a pogo stick if you have rough ground but it feels like a racing cart on open ground.

The biggest advantage of the ZTR is speed. Around here all the commercial guys use the ZD's and there's a good reason why.

Oh and one big bonus for cutting fast - no bugs. No deer fly, black flies or mosquitos at 17kph. I used to get eaten alive.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm using a ZD326P-60 and it will cut nicely at full speed 17kph (10MPH). The trick is to avoid wet grass, keep your deck clean and blades sharp. The other thing is that it's better to keep the grass trimmed regularly instead of letting it get really long. If it's too long you will need to cut it 2x at 90 degrees. It's just easier and faster to cut every 5 or 6 days in the growing season and you get no clumps on your lawn. I rarely cut twice, usually only after the first mow in spring if I let the grass get too long.

If your cut quality drops then its time to scrape the deck clean.

No trees? You can really fly.

Before the ZTR I had a 3ph 72 inch finishing mower on a CUT. What used to take me 3+ hours to cut about 3 acres on the CUT now takes me 45 minutes on the ZTR with a 60 inch deck. BTW I have lots of trees. On the straightways I run full tilt. I always run full throttle.

The negative on the ZTR is grass tear-up around sharp turns. It can also be a little hairy cutting on slopes and wet grass. It's like riding a pogo stick if you have rough ground but it feels like a racing cart on open ground.

The biggest advantage of the ZTR is speed. Around here all the commercial guys use the ZD's and there's a good reason why.

Oh and one big bonus for cutting fast - no bugs. No deer fly, black flies or mosquitos at 17kph. I used to get eaten alive.

So you are mowing an acre in 15 minutes with a 60" deck?

 

[dragoneggs]

So you are mowing an acre in 15 minutes with a 60" deck?

It's possible if you are truly averaging 10mph and there is little to no overlap. I would be surprised if one could do it unless they were mowing a grass airstrip!

 

[mikester]

So you are mowing an acre in 15 minutes with a 60" deck?

It's about 3 acres with rows of trees included. Turns and mowing around trees slows you down. Wide open spaces go real fast.

 

[chim]

So you are mowing an acre in 15 minutes with a 60" deck?

Mike's in Canada. Probably has something to do with a Metric Minute, Imperial Acre or something that's different there.

 

[smstonypoint]

Mike's in Canada. Probably has something to do with a Metric Minute, Imperial Acre or something that's different there.

:laughing:

I don't care who you are, that's funny.

Steve

 

[check]

Mike's in Canada. Probably has something to do with a Metric Minute, Imperial Acre or something that's different there.

No, stupid - it's the metric grass up here. It just cuts easier and is shorter!

 

[Maxify55]

Each of your machines has each own specific task.
Your Z can maneuver around fence posts, trees and other objects with ease.
It, further, can out distance your MMM due to two variances your tractor doesn't have....ground (forward) and blade tip (spindle rotational) speed.
Your tractor, as was explained to me by a tractor sales person, can accomplish several things on it's given platform.
Your Z has but one task.
To mow grass around many obstacles or in a straight line efficiently.
In short, a dedicated machine as opposed to a multi-functional but still needed one.

To answer another querry you posted, as I recall, mowing knee high grass is not so much mowing as brush hogging.
For that purpose, use your tractor with a dedicated rear mounted brush hog or, certainly, with your Z's deck raised to it's highest setting.
Z mowers utilitze blade tip speed to slash at grasses while tractors use more torque to accomplish the same task but without the finish you'll find with your Z's capability.

Then, with a wink to the Mrs., see?
I've saved us the funds by not purchasing a MMM and....
What we really need is an enclosed tractor with a Cab {Heat and AC}.

I rest my case
We're all pulling for you, Bro.

 

[mculik5]

Can't thank everyone enough for all the advice. This thread really took off!

Looks like the consensus is keep the Z or be prepared to spend more time mowing. Since saving time is the driver for this whole thing, and I'll be mowing 80% of the time, I'm sure keeping the Z and renting a tractor when needed (as much of a pain as that is) will require less time overall, and certainly less $$$.

Will continue to keep me eyes open for a used SCUT, but going to hold off on a new one for now.

Thanks!