Buying a ZTR, what should I look for, or avoid?

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I worked at a hardware store that sold Gravely mowers along with a competent small engine shop. Most of the commercial mowers have good engines on them, and most of the residential mowers have much lower quality engines on them. The commercial Kohler (Command) engines were just as good as the commercial Kawasaki (FX) engines. The residential Kohler (Courage) engines were not as good as the residential Kawasaki (FS) engines.

That’s when Kohler made a halfway decent engine.
Now they’re just ceasing to make them altogether.
They best just stick to making toilets, showers and sinks.

 

[Duds13]

The 3 foot walk behind mower is going by the way of the dinosaur.
We stopped selling those two years ago.
I don’t even know if anybody makes them anymore with maybe the exception of cub cadet.
If you like yours, best keep it.

It's a great mower, love it. Excellent cut. I use it on a side hill that I wont take my zero turn on and some other areas around the house. It also comes in handy in the spring in some areas that stay a little softer for a while.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I like my Ferris with an airseat.

 

[Duds13]

I like my Ferris with an airseat.

I like mine too with no air seat. Gotta be a heck of a ride with an air seat!

 

[Carl_NH]

I like mine too with no air seat. Gotta be a heck of a ride with an air seat!

Indeed - still Ilke my 2010 IS2000 52" with the high back seat

- suspension seat would be like riding on a cloud!

 

[TractorNoob85]

So this is where things get interesting. I linked in my original post to Toro Titan 6605.
Toro Titan 6605 60", 845 lbs.

You linked to Toro Titan 6604.
Toro Titan 6604 60", 761 lbs

The 6604 would be 1000-761=239 lbs (no fuel so 209 lbs with fuel 5 gal x 6 lbs per gallon) That is darned close given the average American male weigh's 199.8 lbs.

FastStats

FastStats is an official application from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and puts access to topic-specific statistics at your fingertips.

www.cdc.gov

If you put a bagger on it then it will definately be over weight, with most that weight over the rear hydro units.

I would love to know what drives the differences in weight between models. This is why on the latest post I noted that it varies by model within the same company.

Toro defiantly has the largest variation in weight within a model family. I am not sure why.

Idk man. Alot of companies are using the same exact pumps/motors in similar size mowers. It's not like there is major reporting's of hydro failures. Usually, the failures that do occur are being caused by people doing dumb stuff like trying to tow a trailer with their grass steer. Realistically, once you get past the budget/entry homeowner series, it's usually on the up and up. More money, better machine. I don't think I would be scared to rock a Toro Titan even though I'm a Scag guy.

 

[Carl_NH]

Indeed - still Ilke my 2010 IS2000 52" with the high back seatView attachment 3534196 - suspension seat would be like riding on a cloud!

That pic was 2010 - now 15 years and 500 hours later. This Ferris has the Hydro Gear Pumps and separate Parker Wheel Motors, and I installed a hydro oil cooler in 2012. All is good - these are great machines.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I like mine too with no air seat. Gotta be a heck of a ride with an air seat!

It is.

 

[Alan W.]

We purchased a Husqvarna MZ54 last year. Lowes had one leftover that I got for about $2000 cheaper than a new one. Plus it had a full warranty and a new battery.
The reason I got this model was a friend of mine had the same mower for years and his sons did lawn care after school and summers to earn money. I asked him how often he serviced the hydros. To which he in all seriousness asked They can be serviced.
I took that to be a statement of how well they would hold up.
I took the money I saved and did some upgrades.
Vevor seat suspension
Bagger
Better tires
Air cleaner was free just had to make the mount and put a Uni in place of the cap.
Lights and switches.
Forgive the dirt and dust and the cats.

 

[Milo]

It's great having a couple cats to help out in the garage!