Zero Turn traction issues

[Maxify55]

How about buying front brakes for your Z?

Tedbrakes.com

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Thank you, Multimow.

One final question. Back when I used to hire a mowing company to do my one really steep hill, two young guys on z-turns would do it. They would zip up and down and around really fast with nary a problem. Is this simply because of having pro-grade machines, experience, or both?

 

[majorwager]

MULTIMOW,
I don't have a lot of experience w/ all the mowing variations you describe, as most of my lawn is mowed w/ a 50 hp utility tractor and either a 90 inch or 110 in finish mower (rear 3 point mount). However I can speak to the deere rider comment, and DISAGREE. I do the close "clean-up" mowing w/ a deere X340, 25 Kawa engine and my cutting height is about 3-1/2" and I have no issues w/ cut quality.
Their line-up is extensive but perhaps the "Broad Brush" is the incorrect tool to describe the entire product spectrum.

 

[4570Man]

Thank you, Multimow.

One final question. Back when I used to hire a mowing company to do my one really steep hill, two young guys on z-turns would do it. They would zip up and down and around really fast with nary a problem. Is this simply because of having pro-grade machines, experience, or both?

Both.

 

[big bubba]

I mow everything I can across it. Its much better than up down. ZTRs don稚 drive down hills very good. Bar tires help a bunch. This hill is 17 degrees and it痴 about the limit of what I can drive straight down when wet without losing control, but it痴 no problem sideways. View attachment 567343View attachment 567344

please correct me....you will get more rear wheel traction if you reverse the tread pattern on the wheels. swap the rear wheels....
foam filled tires work wonders too

 

[yomax4]

I have a Pro Grade Gravely. Same issues as prior posts. Think I go with the Bar tires and see what I get. I have to say, It's a very very nice upgrade from the Cub Cadet ZT I started with. 2x faster, Easier to maintain and way more comfy. Still wicked trying to turn going down hill.

 

[dnw64]

please correct me....you will get more rear wheel traction if you reverse the tread pattern on the wheels. swap the rear wheels....

On Directional tires, I would assume, yes. The Kubota on the TedBrakes site has "reverse" mounted bar/R4 type tires. Make perfect sense to me.

 

[LouNY]

please correct me....you will get more rear wheel traction if you reverse the tread pattern on the wheels. swap the rear wheels....
foam filled tires work wonders too

What ?????

 

[4570Man]

What ?????

It started with the tires I have on my Grasshopper which are directional tread. They go forward better in the direction I have them which is what I wanted to do. But they would stop better if they were turned around.

 

[RjCorazza]

Just got a Husqv zero-turn last week. When it was delivered, the dealer said DO NOT drive straight down a steep hill. Go sideways, and make all your turns UPHILL. If you can't go sideways, back down the hill. Going straight uphill is okay. Apparently the front end lacking any kind of steering, even if you go down at an angle, it will tend to slew around and pull you downhill.

I was VERY surprised by this and not sure I would have bought it if I had known. Thought z-turns were supposed to be so safe on hills.

Very interested in other folks' experience, and any tips.

This is the correct way to mow slopes with a zero turn, even if it doesn’t seem right. I personally break out the walk behind on banks that I can’t mow sideways on the ztr. Much less stressful.