My New Kubota ZD1211 Mower

JOHNTHOMAS · May 17, 2020

JOHNTHOMAS said:
I to deviate my mowing pattern. I do across my yard and then from street to house and then diagonal from mailbox on front corner to burn pile toward opposite corner and then from drive way toward neighbors corner of his driveway. My grands on now helps and he wants to always do street to house so I have to jump on one mower and start the pattern for the mowing session and then get him sucked in to my pattern and I quit. I do around 3 precious to me 3 pre bearing pecan trees and sometimes the circle just goes out and out and out and out till I have a big circle and then I'm at the other pecan tree and start my circle and keep it up till I reach the beginning of my next circle and just drives my wife and grandson crazy when they see my three big circles. Got many trees but usually, usually I say only do the circle cut on the pecans, my precious pecans.:cool2:
My grand loved the F over the BX and I think he still does butttttt he may have a slight preferencefor the ZD over the F, he hesitates when I ask his preference. At a 14 year old wanting to drive boy the spinning ZD is quite an attraction and they both ride good so guess BX mowing is history for sure.

OK second mowing season with the current F a F2690 and current ZDa ZD1211. The fun of spinning and revers turning is over and we all, even 15 year old grandson, now grab the F2690 if we get there first and grandson now admits he prefers the F over the ZD. This is my 4th ZD and it performs well but not sure the 7xx Kubota model didn't cut better.
On another note I have decided I don't need two new RVs so the RTV500 with 90 hours is for sale.
I also have decided I can't live without a RatchetRake. I sold my last one to my nephew after buying a Pirinha but I'm coming up with to many jobs were the RR would do so much better. I have a thumb for a BX backhoe I'd trade for a RR if someone has the match.

Brown Dog · May 17, 2020

JT,
Is your F a RD deck like your ZD1211 ?

If so, does it suck a tremendous amount of dry fine clippings up into radiator screen ?

I’d LOVE to have a F3990 but not sure I wanna pay $7k MORE for 4wd over a ZD1511, although I need it so many times.

My ZD1211 does a great job with fluid filled tires but I’m sliding sideways down into wet ditches & walking 1/2 mile to get the tractor to rescue it way too often.

JOHNTHOMAS · May 17, 2020

Brown Dog said:
JT,
Is your F a RD deck like your ZD1211 ?

If so, does it suck a tremendous amount of dry fine clippings up into radiator screen ?

I’d LOVE to have a F3990 but not sure I wanna pay $7k MORE for 4wd over a ZD1511, although I need it so many times.

My ZD1211 does a great job with fluid filled tires but I’m sliding sideways down into wet ditches & walking 1/2 mile to get the tractor to rescue it way too often.

My F is a rear discharge since I ordered it new to be made from Barlows and it does not clog the radiator with clippings. My ZD is side discharge since I bought it used with 40 hours but I had Barlows add mulching kit before bringing it home so no grass blowing on me and can cut using both sides of the deck close to objects, trees, houses. I may now prefer side discharge with mulching kit over rear discharge. We all prefer the F over the ZD because of my hillside lot. Mowed today several places I'd never take the ZD for fear of it sliding into a building at the bottom and lack of traction going up and dips and ditches. Got the SDstuck in a small rain ditch the first time I used it here and had to get brother to pull me out or 6 inches forward with his BX. With steep or gullied the F is by far the best choice and is faster than the ZD other than around trees on flat land but the F deck will get under the shrubs and trees where the ZD won't. The F is much faster on open ground since it stays true straight without constant adjusting of steering levers on a bit rough yard (Not lawn). The F2990 comes in 4wd and may not be a lot more than the ZD1511 at Barlows. For sure not $7000.

Brown Dog · May 17, 2020

I’d want the F3990 as Thick / Tall as my grass gets & my steep hills & banks.

I’m just undecided on the deck riding on my Rough Ground around my farm as opposed to the ZD Deck Hanging from it’s chassis ?

JOHNTHOMAS · May 18, 2020

Brown Dog said:
I’d want the F3990 as Thick / Tall as my grass gets & my steep hills & banks.

I’m just undecided on the deck riding on my Rough Ground around my farm as opposed to the ZD Deck Hanging from it’s chassis ?

I've got steep hills and used to wait till grass was tall before mowing (Pre grandson helping me mow) and never had an issue with any of the F3080s, the F2690 (Mostly used on flat rental property) or the current F2690. I usually smile for those that want more power and believe they need it and feel good paying so much more to have it. Come drive mine on my steep property and if it doesn't flip over backwards on you then decide. :laughing::laughing::laughing: I even have lots of unmown 4' grass you can try mowing and watch it mow it of course when the grass is taller than the mower one has to slow down to get the grass out of the discharge chute.:cool2::drink:
I also have or had mostly rough yard and unmown areas and the front deck wheels do take a beating and had replaced the bolts holding wheels on with heavy duty hardened steel bolts to keep them from breaking and running over the tires. Haven't done that yet with the F bought last year but will. I sometimes use the deck for grading high spots and doubt anyone could "use" their mowers harder than I have over the years but doing better now. Just ordered another RatchetRake yesterday for ground leveling/finishing instead of using the mowing deck.

Oathkeeper · May 24, 2020

JOHNTHOMAS said:
My F is a rear discharge since I ordered it new to be made from Barlows and it does not clog the radiator with clippings. My ZD is side discharge since I bought it used with 40 hours but I had Barlows add mulching kit before bringing it home so no grass blowing on me and can cut using both sides of the deck close to objects, trees, houses. I may now prefer side discharge with mulching kit over rear discharge. We all prefer the F over the ZD because of my hillside lot. Mowed today several places I'd never take the ZD for fear of it sliding into a building at the bottom and lack of traction going up and dips and ditches. Got the SDstuck in a small rain ditch the first time I used it here and had to get brother to pull me out or 6 inches forward with his BX. With steep or gullied the F is by far the best choice and is faster than the ZD other than around trees on flat land but the F deck will get under the shrubs and trees where the ZD won't. The F is much faster on open ground since it stays true straight without constant adjusting of steering levers on a bit rough yard (Not lawn). The F2990 comes in 4wd and may not be a lot more than the ZD1511 at Barlows. For sure not $7000.

JT,

Do you know the maximum slope angle you may have tried mowing with your F sideways (as opposed to going up and down the slope)? Does Kubota have an official slope rating for their F units?

Thanks!

JOHNTHOMAS · May 25, 2020

Oathkeeper said:
JT,

Do you know the maximum slope angle you may have tried mowing with your F sideways (as opposed to going up and down the slope)? Does Kubota have an official slope rating for their F units?

Thanks!

I do not know but I do drive comfortably across hills with the F that I would never consider with a tractor. I posted a video of me going across the hill infront of my house some years ago.
I have to do some corrections. I bought a new F2690 but Barlows had a mowing deck in dealer stock, a 60" side discharge and ordered the tractor body so I took the in stock deck and had the mulching kit added to it. The 40 hours used ZD1211 has a 72" rear discharge deck and that's one of the reasons I jumped on buying it. Have had no issues with the ZD as long as RPMs are kept up to near max for best cutting of grass and discharge of clippings evenly spread over ground and not on me and no clogging of screens. Nearing the 50 hours service on the ZD and also on the F maybe before end of mowing season.

Oathkeeper · May 25, 2020

JOHNTHOMAS said:
I do not know but I do drive comfortably across hills with the F that I would never consider with a tractor. I posted a video of me going across the hill infront of my house some years ago.
I have to do some corrections. I bought a new F2690 but Barlows had a mowing deck in dealer stock, a 60" side discharge and ordered the tractor body so I took the in stock deck and had the mulching kit added to it. The 40 hours used ZD1211 has a 72" rear discharge deck and that's one of the reasons I jumped on buying it. Have had no issues with the ZD as long as RPMs are kept up to near max for best cutting of grass and discharge of clippings evenly spread over ground and not on me and no clogging of screens. Nearing the 50 hours service on the ZD and also on the F maybe before end of mowing season.

Do you still have that video?