AchingBack
Veteran Member
I'm reconsidering purchasing the EGO ZT6. Batteries have a 5 year warranty, but the mower requires 4 @ $450 each when they are toast.
Electric ZT
- Thread starter mrmikey
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CloverKnollFarms
Elite Member
So I can spend $2000 on batteries, or $2000 on fuel over the same period. Saving me hassle, but not saving me any $$
5030
Epic Contributor
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- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
What engine is on it? Life expectancy on a Kawaski V twin is 1000 hours before major rebuild or repower and Kohler and Briggs twines are even less.
Mine is 'commercial grade' whatever that means other than a jacked up price tag, but all of them except Kubota diesels have the same engines and transmissions.
Lets use an 6 hour mow time for your 8 acres x 40 weeks mowing once a week = 240 hours per year (which is about what I accrue as well x 25 years = 6000 hours (if I did the math right). You won't even come close no matter how carefully you maintain it and how 'lucky' you are. You'll be replacing the engine, belts (lots), blades (lots) and most likely a transmission or two, plus new tires. Drives cost as much to replace as engines do, most times more.
The electric replaces many of the consumable components, but especially the over priced stinky gasoline and the terrible EPA dribble cans for gas. The butt head that invented those needs to be shot. All of them are a joke except the Justrite metal gas cans but they are expensive to buy.
5030
Epic Contributor
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- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
I bet some enterprising You Tuber will come up with a hack to rebuild them, just like the power tool battery rebuild vids that are on YT now.
I also suspect they will go longer than 5 years, not like they get to 60 months and instantly crap out. Don't play that way and keep in mind that a repower on a conventional ZTR will be at least that much, maybe more.
Heck of a lot easier to drop in new packs than wrenching on an engine too, especiallu an old dirty shot one.
AchingBack
Veteran Member
Great input. I know the 7.5ah in my EGO self-propelled is still going strong after 4 years. That includes the few times I've also used it in my chainsaw. I do hate gas engines. The only one I have is a Tecumseh in my DR field and brush mower. That engines still shines after 20 years of hard use. but; noise, fumes, gas cans, oil changes, belts.
5030
Epic Contributor
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- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
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- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
I never use the term 'Hate' it's used way too much to describe unpleasant things today.
I dislike dealing with internal combustion gas engines and the dribbling gas cans all the time and in my view an electric ZTR os a viable alternative in my situation. Don't mind my diesel tractors as fueling them is much easier (bulk tank) and they perform ag related tasks and don't mow the lawns. Thinking about it, I dislike mowing lawns in general. Waste of time for me, but a necessary evil. Maybe I need to get a few goats.
I dislike dealing with internal combustion gas engines and the dribbling gas cans all the time and in my view an electric ZTR os a viable alternative in my situation. Don't mind my diesel tractors as fueling them is much easier (bulk tank) and they perform ag related tasks and don't mow the lawns. Thinking about it, I dislike mowing lawns in general. Waste of time for me, but a necessary evil. Maybe I need to get a few goats.
AchingBack
Veteran Member
I must correct one thing I said. I don't hate the gas powered engines in my Thunderbird and Ford courier. Like you, I dislike mowing.
DK35vince
Super Member
I've been reading on "Lawnsite" a commercial mowing site for years.
I can't imagine they would even buy a certain engine if they only lasted 1000 hours, they would pick a different brand.
My take from reading there over the years is most expect 1500 to 3000+ hours from a commercial machine before having major issues
Yeah back in the day, Briggs would say a properly cared for standard bore engine could run 1000 hours. The word "commercial" gets stretched nowadays by John Q Public. It depends how far you go up the food chain to know the differences between a heavier residential and various levels of commercials. I've seen people with their Husqvarna call it commercial because it has a Fab deck. HOP has made some nice ZTRs though. But really, take a typical Bad Boy mower as an example. Nice enough rides, but I've never seen a commercial one. Maybe they make them? Heavy decks, chassis itself nice and sound. Nice enough bearing set in the spindles but non lube able. Standard air filter systems instead of a nice big canister system. Lighter drives. That is just comparing them to a more basic ZTR.
