Looking for a zero turn.

[TractorGuy]

I cut about 3.5 acres of grass. We've only lived here a year, and I've used my '92 Craftsman 42" rider, but it takes a while. I've been looking at stuff in the $2,500-$3500 range. What should I be looking for? Dual hydro's? Suspension? Engine type and size? My brother has a mobile repair shop and has worked on almost all of them. The only one he doesn't care for is the Craftsman. He said the "box store" JD's, Husky's, Toro's, Cub Cadet's, Ariens are fine if maintained. I really don't want to buy a commercial grade machine if I don't have to. I have a BX23 with a mmm that I can use but I really don't like racking up hours on it cutting grass.

Believe me chief, if I was looking for a "new toy", it **** sure wouldn't be a lawn mower. I bought the BX used over 10 years ago, and it had the 60" MMM. I removed it immediately because I didn't buy it for cutting grass. (See original post...have only been in THIS house a year). I use it in a field I have but it's hard to maneuver in the rest of the property because of the width of the mower. Why did you even reply?

Guys, I bought the BX to use the loader and backhoe. The MMM came with it. Never needed it until I bought the house I'm currently in. That BX destroyed the hydro pump last fall with only 450 hours on it. How? One the followers contact the squash plate snapped off. Why? No one could tell me. The original owner had it dealer maintained. I had the dealer service it twice, and kept all the fluids topped off, etc. It was never abused. I USE THE BX. I just prefer not cutting grass with it.

Didn't mean to offend. You didn't mention the BX had a backhoe mounted in your OP so those of us that didn't understand your reluctance to put hours on it were uninformed by the original statement. "I have a BX23 with a mmm that I can use but I really don't like racking up hours on it cutting grass."

You didn't give us the "Guys, I bought the BX to use the loader and backhoe" info until post #22.

 

[KubotainNH]

Right, hours is not really a good reason in my opinion. Comfort and swapping implements is. Lots of good info here on which hydro to stay away from. As mentioned, sell the MMM and use that dough towards the dedicated mower that you like. :2cents:

 

[hawkeye08]

Get yourself an end of season demo from reputable dealer like Messicks.

End of season BLOW OUT. 1-Only demo.... - Messick Farm Equipment | Facebook

 

[4570Man]

A stamped deck doesn’t automatically equal bad. All my Kubota’s and my Grasshopper have a stamped deck.

 

[DK35vince]

A stamped deck doesn’t automatically equal bad. All y Kubota’s and my Grasshopper have a stamped deck.

The John Deere 7 iron is known to be a very good stamped deck.

 

[pipefitter]

Didn't mean to offend. You didn't mention the BX had a backhoe mounted in your OP so those of us that didn't understand your reluctance to put hours on it were uninformed by the original statement. "I have a BX23 with a mmm that I can use but I really don't like racking up hours on it cutting grass."

You didn't give us the "Guys, I bought the BX to use the loader and backhoe" info until post #22.

I apologize for being a turd. The BX comes standard with a loader and backhoe, so I assumed folks knew that. I forgot I wasn't on a dedicated Kubota page. The original owner bought the MMM and used it a lot. Peace.

 

[pipefitter]

I am following this thread as I am in about the same place as the OP. I bought an old JD855 with the MMM and do not want to deal with mounting and demounting it. I have a Husqvarna 48" rider but it is a pain to use with the two dozen or so trees I have on my 1 1/2 acre lawn (the JD would be even worse!). It takes me 90 minutes to cut and 1/2 hour to weed whip. I can probably do it in 45 minutes with a ZT with 15 minutes to weed whip.

I cut the grass about 12-15 times a year...so call it 12 machine hours a year on a ZT. If the "junk" residential ZT's are good for 300 hours (I hope?) I will get 25 years out of one. I am in my late 60's. so that will last my lifetime....or close to it. I will never put 1000 hours on a ZT.

I have a guy who will cut my grass for $70...so if I use him it will cost about $850-1000 a year. I can pay back a low end ZT in about three years, and a better ZT in 6 years.


My first question is, "How long will the low end ZT's last?" And the second is, "What would it cost to replace the hydro unit when it fails?"

In my circumstances, I doubt I can justify a $6k machine, if the "junk" residential ZT's are good for 300 hours.

As I mentioned somewhere, my brother has worked on lawn equipment for 35+ years. He and I went to HD to look at some of the residential units. He's pretty thorough, and crawled around under them giving the JD, Cub, and Toro a good going over. He thought the JD ($2699) was pretty good, a stamped deck, liked the Kawasaki engine, but felt that the front wheels were a weak point the way they're mounted to the front of the machine. It looked easy to service. The Cub ($2999), had large bearings on the blade quills, a Honda engine, a fabricated deck, and a stouter suspension, easy to service, but stupid "bearings" on the front wheels. Actually just a plastic sleeve with a grease zerk. The Toro ($2499), has a stamped deck, a v-twin engine, but seems to be a Predator engine from HF. Not a horrible engine, but tough to find parts for. He didn't think it was worth the price particularly with that engine. The JD and Cub, (maybe the Toro), had Hydro Gear pumps. They aren't rebuildable, but Tim said he had never seen one go bad on a residential mower. Anyway, that's his opinion.

 

[dragoneggs]

I will give a thumbs up to my Kubota Z122R w/ 42in deck. A 21.5hp Kawaski engine, welded deck, and seems well designed and built. About the only upgrade I would like to do is add a full suspension seat. You are in the $4000 range for the 42in. For about $5000 you can step up to the 48in deck and full suspension seat.

 

[Katahdin]

My residential Toro z420 (42inch deck), with 16hp Briggs and Stratton, so far has lasted me 12 years. I mow one acre a week June-October, confirmed with google's area calculator. I also use it to do all my leaf mulching.

The only major failure was a broken 3/4 inch axle off the hydro, and the rebuild kit upgraded the shaft to 1 inch. A friend also has a running z420, we bought them the same time and we upgraded the axles on both together.

I think I'm at the limit with a 42 inch deck mowing one acre, so I definitely think you need a bigger deck and more hp if mowing 3. I also think I would much prefer sticking with a zero turn rather than a sub-compact tractor.

 

[prof fate]

I cut about 3.5 acres of grass. We've only lived here a year, and I've used my '92 Craftsman 42" rider, but it takes a while. I've been looking at stuff in the $2,500-$3500 range. What should I be looking for? Dual hydro's? Suspension? Engine type and size? My brother has a mobile repair shop and has worked on almost all of them. The only one he doesn't care for is the Craftsman. He said the "box store" JD's, Husky's, Toro's, Cub Cadet's, Ariens are fine if maintained. I really don't want to buy a commercial grade machine if I don't have to. I have a BX23 with a mmm that I can use but I really don't like racking up hours on it cutting grass.

My toro timesaver I got at a dealer - more value for the money than at a big box store. (Fab deck, floor mat, hour meter, arm rests and a few odds and ends).

Have had to replace a front tire - REAL bearings that you can replace (sealed roller bearings), broke a deck pully (rocks..arg) - cheap to replace the parts and again, sealed roller bearings in the spindle. Solid construction.

Paid $3200. Next model up had rebuildable trans units, if you care or need to ever do that.

I bought an old used one, non-pressurized oil system..no clue what hte PO did, but the motor is not healthy..rest of the machine Perfect. It's a 2004. Paid $550 and put 100 into it (missing fuel pump...? welded exhaust..now main seal is gone on engine..got a free engine off a friend, changing this weekend I hope). All bearings, trans, seat - all perfect.