Considering Z915B

[adirondackmtnman]

Hey all.
Anyone with experience owning/operating a Deere Z915B? I'm looking at upgrading from my old Husqvarna YTH2454. I'd like to hear some good/bad/ugly stories. I'm not necessarily brand loyal, so I'm open to looking at comparable machines from other brands, but I have a pretty good relationship with our local Deere dealer. Any input is appreciated guys! Thanks!

 

[Wakey]

I was considering the same unit, what did you end up getting?

 

[adirondackmtnman]

I ended up buying the 915. So far, the machine is great! I cut my mowing time from around 4 hours to a consistent 1.4 so far. I bought it with the isolation seat, but I may upgrade to a suspension setup soon. Kills my back on the large bumps. Quality of cut is excellent. Took me a bit to get used to a zero turn setup, but now that I have it down, it's very intuitive. Overall, very impressed.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

 

[Wakey]

Thanks for the follow-up.

What size deck did you get? How about the seat, will you get that from Deere or someone else? That is something I think I would need.

I love the freehand on the ROPS!

 

[adirondackmtnman]

Thanks for the follow-up.

What size deck did you get? How about the seat, will you get that from Deere or someone else? That is something I think I would need.

I love the freehand on the ROPS!

It's got the 54" deck. I'm glad I didn't go with the 60" as I had planned. The edge of the deck is right where it needs to be to see easily when trimming around fences/buildings /etc. Another thing that I didn't really pay attention to when shopping, but turns out to be a great feature; the left front corner of the deck is angled at 45°, so when you approach a corner of any sort, you can drive to within an inch of the object, then pull the right lever back, and the rig can trim very close(within 3" or so) to objects my conventional mower left over a foot of apron on. Equals a ton less trimming. Deere doesn't offer a specific suspension system for the 915b, but since it's the same chassis as the other 900's, I will stop at a dealer and measure a unit equipped with one and compare before ordering. If it'll bolt right in, I'll pay more for the Deere. If not I'll buy from one of the many sources I've seen on here for them. The freehand lettering is a touch I added to it thanks to DIYlettering.com. The decals have become kind of a running joke in the family, as all my money goes into the equipment. Hence 'Marcy's Inheritance.' My 5045D has 'Sawyer's Inheritance' on the hood...

 

[landpride64]

Funny, reading this thread. I am in the same situation with a husky riding mower looking to go to a 915b w a 54" deck. I mow 4 acres of my own property and I am sick of homeowner quality. I found a 16' left over Deere for $7300 with the 54" deck. My questions are, how is yours holding up? Anything you would change? What did you pay? How many hours so far? Quality good? I'm bw a Kubota 724 54" w Kohler motor and the Deere 915b w kohler 54". Both about same price and both dealers within 35 min. Any advice or watch outs is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

If I was in the market still, and could get it at that price, I'd take it for sure! I paid $8900 delivered, with the isolation seat, rear deck roller kit, canopy, and 'floor' mat. I have about 25 hours on mine so far, a result of the hot, dry summer, combined with the sheer cutting speed of the unit. I have been extremely happy with it. Everything seems to be very well designed and built. I love the 1/4" deck adjustment increments. Cleanup and maintenance are a breeze, with the floor pan easily removed to access the top of the deck, and the engine wide open for access. The only 'problem' I can think of so far is that the clippings get thrown so far out the discharge chute, that when I turn into the wind, both myself and the machine end up covered in dirt and clippings. I had a little learning curve at the beginning making the transition between a traditional style to ztr, when I turned, I would tear up the sod with the drive wheels, but that was me, and not the machine. The addition of the cast rear bumper may make it easier to avoid that, but I have yet to pony up the bucks. Not as fuel efficient as my previous mower, but with a commercial unit that's working harder, I fully expected that. I burn 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 gallons per full mow, depending on how tall/thick the turf has gotten. Overall, a great machine, and I have yet to find a reason not to love it!

 

[adirondackmtnman]

Nice little near-sunset pic after mowing recently...

 

[landpride64]

Thanks for getting back to me. I take delivery this Friday. Got the 915b w 54" deck and isolation seat. Pretty excited to mow now that we have had a little rain. Really looking forward to the time savings and quality of the cut.

 

[landpride64]

Thanks for getting back to me. I take delivery this Friday. Got the 915b w 54" deck and isolation seat. Pretty excited to mow now that we have had a little rain. Really looking forward to the time savings and quality of the cut.

PS. Good sunset pic

 

[adirondackmtnman]

Thanks for getting back to me. I take delivery this Friday. Got the 915b w 54" deck and isolation seat. Pretty excited to mow now that we have had a little rain. Really looking forward to the time savings and quality of the cut.

Great to hear! And congratulations! Keep me informed how it turns out for you.

 

[Wakey]

I ended up with the 915B, almost 3 years now.

I have a question on putting grease in the 3 spindles. Is there a weep hole? I have not found one and without it how do you know when it has enough?

Once I just kept pumping until it came out of the bottom past a seal I presume. (it took about an entire tube of grease) Needles to say that made a mess in the deck once I brought it up to speed while cutting lol

I've been very happy with the unit.

The negatives are tire depressions in the yard. Some places you can't rotate the pattern you cut and it leaves a slight depression. I may use my walk behind in these areas. (around planter beds and the house, fence lines etc.)

 

[beenthere]

Grease in spindles.. I don't pump them full.. just 2-4 pumps and quit. And there is no weep hole to my knowledge. That would make a mess too.

Blowing out the seals renders them "not a seal" any more. IMO

 

[Richard001]

Grease in spindles.. I don't pump them full.. just 2-4 pumps and quit. And there is no weep hole to my knowledge. That would make a mess too.

Blowing out the seals renders them "not a seal" any more. IMO

If there sealed bearings, what does the grease do?

 

[beenthere]

Good question.. I don't know if they are "sealed" bearings.. but I do know there is a zerk fitting that takes grease..

 

[Richard001]

Good question.. I don't know if they are "sealed" bearings.. but I do know there is a zerk fitting that takes grease..

Well the bearings may only be sealed on the outside with the inside open, but that still doesn't help much. How do you get the grease to fight gravity and go up to the top bearing?

 

[beenthere]

Don't have problems with spindle bearings, so figure over period of many years.. a few pumps is working..

What do you do with the spindles that have zerks ??

 

[Richard001]

Don't have problems with spindle bearings, so figure over period of many years.. a few pumps is working..

What do you do with the spindles that have zerks ??

It's not clear is this was directed to me or not, but the answer is put some grease in.

I think that the manufactures just put the zerks there to keep the customer from complaining even if they are not necessary.

I have a JC Penny 10HP tractor with a two blade, 36" deck that I bought new in 1979. It does not have grease fitting on the blade spindles.

In 1998, I replaced all four spindle bearings, I had a job shop press out the old bearings and put the new ones in. They are still going good after 21 years.

Richard

 

[tomplum]

It is generally assumed that the lower bearing hauls more of the load so gravity and grease does their thing and protects the bearing. I believe the uppers in these have the shield removed, but no grease makes it up there unless yours is a top lube. At least I think these have a passage. The spindles also have additional seals in the housing outside the bearings to help keep the unfriendly out.