I need a new lawn mower!

[EddieWalker]

I went from a 42 inch riding mower to a 60 inch zero turn. I really enjoyed mowing with the riding mower. It was relaxing, and comfortable. But when it died, I decided to upgrade to a commercial grade zero turn so I could mow more areas and get it done faster. The zero turn is great at that, but it's not fun, it's not relaxing, and it's not something that I look forward to doing. I mow because I have to, and I'm happy when I'm done mowing.

Last year I got my wife a used 60 inch riding mower. She loves it. She is now mowing a lot of the areas that I've been mowing. It takes her longer to do what I can with the zero turn, but she looks forward to mowing with it, and that means there is less for me to mow with the zero turn.

I've used it a few times to see if it's as enjoyable as I remember it being with my previous riding mower, and it is. But it's a slower pace. The zero turn requires constant attention. The riding mower is slow and easy. After mowing for an hour or more on the zero turn, I'm beat up. An hour on the riding mower, and I'm still up for doing other things. The difference is noticeable!!!!

If I just had an acre to mow, I would focus on making it as smooth and nice as possible, and I would mow it with the most comfortable riding mower that I could afford.

 

[CliffordK]

What is your budget? Look at some of the electric zero turn mowers.

Commercial Zero Turn Mowers | Greenworks Commercial

Our zero turn stand on and ride-on mowers were designed for landscaping professionals. Explore our collection and find the right solution for your next job!

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Greenworks Pro 60V 42 Inch Electric Zero Turn Lawn Mower | Greenworks

Meet the industry's industry's most powerful, fastest cutting, and quickest charging battery-powered zero turn mower.

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[zzvyb6]

I picked up a JD-1435 front mower plus I also have a JD-935, an earlier version. Both are diesels with 72" mowers. The 935 has a rear discharge deck and chomps thru old hay fields no sweat. It also serves as the powerplant for my pto driven home generator. On the 1435 I have a 60" broom with has shown itself to be wonderful as a snow clearing machine. Now I've found out that the broom also does a nice job of leaf raking, frost heave leveling, as well as cutting grass.

Used they run around $2000 for the 935 and $3500 for the 1435. Easy starting Yanmar motors. I just picked up an Exmark 72" diesel at a consignment auction for a friend to play with for $3200. It has a Kubota diesel. Not running yet...

 

[Alan W.]

I just purchased a zero turn but kept my rider.
I also have a rear finish mower so multiple choices are good.
The rider is more easier on the back and less stress.
As for a zero turn get one that has commercial grade serviceable drives. Mine has a Kawasaki but everyone has a preference.
One thing that helped me in my model choice was a friend of mine had this particular for years and his kids mowed properties to earn money. So a lot of use.
I asked him about problems and he said none other than what his boys hit and bent.
When I asked how often he serviced his hydros he didnt know you could. Im hoping mine holds up just as well with a bit better maintenance.

 

[sd455dan]

Hello folks,

After giving up on my 314 and sending it on down the line, I am without a mower; this hasn't been a problem, but it'll need to be rectified before we get into Spring. My lawn, if you could call it that, would currently be about an acre on a just under 2 acre property. It barely exists as a lawn, having seen much destruction over the last year, and it was a mess to begin with. However, over time it'll be smoothed out, dried out, and an attempt made to return it to normal.

Traditionally I have mowed with lawn or garden tractors; prior to moving here I had a D160 that I really enjoyed, however I found the lawn (before it's current state) beat the tractor rather hard, so I sold it before it caused any damage. That has me scratching the 100 and 200 series out of the running. That was replaced with a Cub Cadet XT3, which handled the property well, but those are no longer in production. The obvious alternative is the X500 series, but that would need to be used given their premium price. So, that leaves the X300 series; from that I've cut out the K46 machines. From there I've narrowed it down to the X380, or maybe even an X384.

The lawn tractor market is sad these days, the only real alternative to the Deere would be a Cub Cadet XT2 in the higher end. Those seem to be good machines, but the frame is similar to that of the 100/200 series Deere; they're pretty well put together, but I'm a big guy and the flex makes me a little uncomfortable.

Husqvarna isn't even in the running, their lawn and garden tractors are a bit of a farce. So I guess that just leaves the Deere X380/X384, or whatever I can find used.

Or...

I could get a zero-turn.

I've never operated one in my life, but they've taken over the market so there must be something to them. I have a few concerns; first and foremost, will my Big & Tall catalog self be able to operate one comfortably? Not far behind that, I wonder how they do on rough terrain? Mud?

I've looked around the local field, and I've found these machines. Does anyone have any thoughts on them? On zero-turns in general? How they compare to lawn and garden tractors? This will just be a lawn mower, other tasks are handled by the Kioti. That said, I've got a 10P cart I'll be able to use again.

Cub Cadet ZTS2 50

ExMark Quest X

Scag Liberty Z

Ariens IKON

Ariens APEX

Bad Boy ZT Elite

John Deere Z330R

Is there anything I'd be doing a disservice not to look at? I'm trying to stay right around 48" with the deck size. Is there anything to look for on a zero-turn that doesn't apply to a lawn tractor? Anything to avoid?

I'd like to figure this out quick enough, before the Spring rush I suppose.

Maybe keep an eye out and find a used but serviceable X 500. That one we bought for $2400 was pretty ugly but the machine itself was in really good shape and has been a trooper on our rough yards. That diff lock, Kawasaki, and K 72 work well with a good deck as well.

I would buy it again in a heartbeat. Doing a little body work and paint made it presentable.

VERY glad we did not spend similar money on a New lesser Rider.

 

[bmg88201]

I have an X300 I bought in 2010 that has 750 hours on it. Still running just fine. No real issues other than belts and blades etc. As far as the K46 goes, I change the fluid (5/50 synthetic) in it every 100 hours and still functions like the day I bought it.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I had the same issues with my zero turns on hills with the stock turf tires
I put Carlisle AT 101 bar tires on my zero turns and those issues went away

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Same problem here, i.e. no traction on hills. Do the bar type tires tear up the lawn pretty bad?

 

[DK35vince]

Same problem here, i.e. no traction on hills. Do the bar type tires tear up the lawn pretty bad?

They can tear the grass up a little if your not careful. Not enough to concern me. Our grass seems to grow right back
Sure beats not being able to mow our hill or sliding off it out of control like I used to deal every time I mowed using the stock crappy turf tires

 

[2manyrocks]

I still have turfs on my ZTR. There's a steep section of hill in my yard where I may be tearing up the yard more spinning with turfs than if I changed to bar tread.

Cub Cadet makes steering wheel ZTRs which are easier to control on hills because the front wheels are steerable, but they seem to be priced about $1,000 more than the equivalent regular ZTRs.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I've never had an issue with traction on hills with my 72" Hustler. Now, my father in laws 52" residential version? Yes. It's weight. The XOne weighs 1425 pounds, and easily sticks to hills.

The 52" Raptor, sucks on a grade. It is about half the weight.
Also never had a ZTR tear up the lawn, unless it was being driven incorrectly... If driven correctly, it won't harm the turf at all.

 

[DK35vince]

I've never had an issue with traction on hills with my 72" Hustler. Now, my father in laws 52" residential version? Yes. It's weight. The XOne weighs 1300 pounds, and easily sticks to hills.

The 52" Raptor, sucks on a grade. It is about half the weight.
Also never had a ZTR tear up the lawn, unless it was being driven incorrectly... If driven correctly, it won't harm the turf at all.

My Hustler Super Z, 72" weighs 1600lbs. (the mower in my earlier picture)
The stock turfs sucked on our hills. The bar tires made a massive difference
My other Z turn is a Snapper Pro s200xt 72" . Weighs 1450lbs.
I replaced the stock turf tires with Carlisle at 101's almost immediately after I got it. The stock tires absolutely sucked on our hills.

 

[DK35vince]

My Hustler Super Z, 72" weighs 1600lbs. (the mower in my earlier picture)
The stock turfs sucked on our hills. The bar tires made a massive difference
My other Z turn is a Snapper Pro s200xt 72" . Weighs 1450lbs.
I replaced the stock turf tires with Carlisle at 101's almost immediately after I got it. The stock tires absolutely sucked on our hills.

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[t1kilo]

I have a Bad Boy Outlaw XP with 72” deck and 36 HP Vanguard that I bought new in 2017. It’s a great machine and I’d buy another without hesitation. My only complaint is the paint could be better.

Bad Boy has a tire (I think called Raptor) that helps with traction without being too aggressive.

The commercial models have a floating operator platform that really helps. I don’t have personal experience with that platform, but have a buddy that has one. He upgraded last year from an Outlaw XP with 60” deck.

 

[5030]

Hello folks,

After giving up on my 314 and sending it on down the line, I am without a mower; this hasn't been a problem, but it'll need to be rectified before we get into Spring. My lawn, if you could call it that, would currently be about an acre on a just under 2 acre property. It barely exists as a lawn, having seen much destruction over the last year, and it was a mess to begin with. However, over time it'll be smoothed out, dried out, and an attempt made to return it to normal.

Traditionally I have mowed with lawn or garden tractors; prior to moving here I had a D160 that I really enjoyed, however I found the lawn (before it's current state) beat the tractor rather hard, so I sold it before it caused any damage. That has me scratching the 100 and 200 series out of the running. That was replaced with a Cub Cadet XT3, which handled the property well, but those are no longer in production. The obvious alternative is the X500 series, but that would need to be used given their premium price. So, that leaves the X300 series; from that I've cut out the K46 machines. From there I've narrowed it down to the X380, or maybe even an X384.

The lawn tractor market is sad these days, the only real alternative to the Deere would be a Cub Cadet XT2 in the higher end. Those seem to be good machines, but the frame is similar to that of the 100/200 series Deere; they're pretty well put together, but I'm a big guy and the flex makes me a little uncomfortable.

Husqvarna isn't even in the running, their lawn and garden tractors are a bit of a farce. So I guess that just leaves the Deere X380/X384, or whatever I can find used.

Or...

I could get a zero-turn.

I've never operated one in my life, but they've taken over the market so there must be something to them. I have a few concerns; first and foremost, will my Big & Tall catalog self be able to operate one comfortably? Not far behind that, I wonder how they do on rough terrain? Mud?

I've looked around the local field, and I've found these machines. Does anyone have any thoughts on them? On zero-turns in general? How they compare to lawn and garden tractors? This will just be a lawn mower, other tasks are handled by the Kioti. That said, I've got a 10P cart I'll be able to use again.

Cub Cadet ZTS2 50

ExMark Quest X

Scag Liberty Z

Ariens IKON

Ariens APEX

Bad Boy ZT Elite

John Deere Z330R

Is there anything I'd be doing a disservice not to look at? I'm trying to stay right around 48" with the deck size. Is there anything to look for on a zero-turn that doesn't apply to a lawn tractor? Anything to avoid?

I'd like to figure this out quick enough, before the Spring rush I suppose.

Cub Cadet commercial. I have one, a M50 Tank and it's been stone reliable for over 10 years now and is festooned with grease fittings as well but I'm trading it on a Kubota F series front mount diesel mower soon. Have a ton of pines to get under and the ZTR don't get it for that chore unless you want to poke your eyes out.

 

[Yander]

ZTR all the way. Just buy a good seat. Gravely ZTHD 60 with the deluxe suspension seat. Or the Hustler model with the deluxe seat. I cannot speak to the length on the Hustler but I am 6' 4" and 360 and fit on the Gravely fine, plenty of leg room.

I don't think a ZTR is any more rough than a rider if you have a good seat. Some also have suspension forks.

As far as never having driven one, my 77 year old MIL runs two of them every year, one is a front deck grasshopper and one is a mid-deck Bushhog commercial ZTR that will mow 13mph.

The biggest thing on a ZTR are the engine and hydro quality. I like Kaw. engines. Stick with Hydro gear or parker hydros. For Hydro gear get at lease the ZT-3100 or better, they have serviceable hydro with dual pumps.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Looked at the Deere Z300 and Z500 zero-turn models and I found the steering bars to be a little tight. I wish I could move them up and out another two inches.

Most other places are yet to stock mowers, so I haven't been able to really look at much else. I checked out the ExMark last year, and remember it being a little roomier, but I can't look into that until one arrives to the dealer.

I found two potential used units; an X394 and an X580, and they're both rather nice. I've seen the X394 in person, and it's in great shape; the X580 is a haul to look at, but if I'm serious they'll move it to a closer location.

 

[5030]

ZTR all the way. Just buy a good seat. Gravely ZTHD 60 with the deluxe suspension seat. Or the Hustler model with the deluxe seat. I cannot speak to the length on the Hustler but I am 6' 4" and 360 and fit on the Gravely fine, plenty of leg room.

I don't think a ZTR is any more rough than a rider if you have a good seat. Some also have suspension forks.

As far as never having driven one, my 77 year old MIL runs two of them every year, one is a front deck grasshopper and one is a mid-deck Bushhog commercial ZTR that will mow 13mph.

The biggest thing on a ZTR are the engine and hydro quality. I like Kaw. engines. Stick with Hydro gear or parker hydros. For Hydro gear get at lease the ZT-3100 or better, they have serviceable hydro with dual pumps.

If you can afford an F series Kubota diesel front mount mower, I'd say get one. No hydro gear or whatever tranny, the F series front mount mowers are basically a B series tractor running backwards, that is, the diesel engine in in the back driving a hydrostatic transmission and driving the front wheels and the rear steering wheels if you opt for the 4 wheel drive model and the decks are shaft drive too and flip up for easy cleaning and they come with an air suspension seat and you can even get a cab and lots of front mount stuff if your wallet is big enough..

Buying a well cared for used one as I cannot afford a new one. I* think you can get decks up to 80" wide I believe. The one I'm buying is a 72" wide. Not a cheap date even used but we all know how long B series Kubota's run and Grasshopper also uses Kubota engines.

I'm done with gas hog Kaw and Kohler big V twins.

 

[Yander]

If you can afford an F series Kubota diesel front mount mower, I'd say get one. No hydro gear or whatever tranny, the F series front mount mowers are basically a B series tractor running backwards, that is, the diesel engine in in the back driving a hydrostatic transmission and driving the front wheels and the rear steering wheels if you opt for the 4 wheel drive model and the decks are shaft drive too and flip up for easy cleaning and they come with an air suspension seat and you can even get a cab and lots of front mount stuff if your wallet is big enough..

Buying a well cared for used one as I cannot afford a new one. I* think you can get decks up to 80" wide I believe. The one I'm buying is a 72" wide. Not a cheap date even used but we all know how long B series Kubota's run and Grasshopper also uses Kubota engines.

I'm done with gas hog Kaw and Kohler big V twins.

Our Grasshopper is a 725d with the Kubota diesel. It does sip fuel compared to the Kaw. In the Bush hog. But we all prefer mowing on the Bush hog. So much faster and nicer cut.

 

[5030]

Our Grasshopper is a 725d with the Kubota diesel. It does sip fuel compared to the Kaw. In the Bush hog. But we all prefer mowing on the Bush hog. So much faster and nicer cut.

The F series will mow at 11 mph if you can stay in the seat. You need to go read about them in the Kubota lawn and garden forum on here. Been wanting one for a long time now but I cannot afford a new one but a used, well cared one poped up so I'm buying it and trading in the M50 tank. The F series has a steering wheel (power steering) as well. A new one is around 20 grand+. Grasshopper has been using Kubota engines for a long time. You can get a F series with a full cab and ac and heat and snow plows, rotary brooms, mowers and even tillers. I weas thinking Grasshopper as well but the F series came up so I grabbed it. Don't know about which does the nicer cut and really don't care actually. Sharp blades yield a nice cut more than anything else and blade tip speed.. I'm done with the gas hog V twins. The F series has a 15 gallon fuel tank btw.

Interestingly, my old boss has a 'diesel Hopper and he says it don't cut as nice as the Kubota F series he bought last fall, so I'd say it's all personal opinion on that. My M50 tank cuts real nice as well, it also sucks down gas faster than my car does. he can well afford both new, I cannot. Got the side discharge model, not the rear discharge. Not gonna tell you what I paid however. Lets just say not too much and I'm having my dealer go through it completely.

 

[5030]

My wife has her on zero turn mower, a Cub Cadet with a steering wheel and no oars either and she loves her's and of course it has a Kohler gas hog V twin on it. None of the vertical V twins gets good fuel usage far as I can tell. Hers is a Hydro Gear. Running hers with the steering wheel sold me on the F series with a steering wheel more than anything else. I really don't care for the oars at all. Couple posters on here have them, Arto as well as Hay Dude and some others. It's at the dealer presently and will be coming to the farm in a month or so. I'll probably deliver it myself and take back the M50 tank. I hear like the oar mowers, it takes some getting used to. I won't miss getting poked by the pine tree limbs anymore. Have a lot of Blue Spruce trees lining the front property line and I always get poked mowing around them with the ZTR.

Having Dennis go through it, oil change, transmission fluid change, new blades, new anti-scalp wheels, air filter and oil filter and grease and wash it and it any of the spindles have any play in them, replace those as well. Don't know squat about them except it's a Kubota and you know me and Kubota's. Enough said. Not a mark or a scrape on it either, was well taken care of and my dealer sold it new to the entity that had it and he did all the required maintenance on it as well and just sold them a new one, so I get theirs. Even get the owners manual with it.