ariens/gravley zero turn residental mod into commercial?

[stevecobb76]

model: gravley / ariens hvz 2350 zero turn
23 hp kohler courage
50" cut
mows grass like a raped ape smoking crack. its a beast. it is unlike any mower I have ever ran before.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

but it is a residential mower. can I convert it to a commercial grade by changing the deck?
or welding metal plates around the deck for strength
and adding commercial spindals?

no matter how tall the grass/weeds are, the engine doesn't ever bog down. the drive train bogs and the belt will squeal if I push the drive train to far but not the motor. I know I need to change the belt though

I just mowed about 2 acres with it today on a customer property. and it is almost as if this thing wants more. it chops the grass so nice that I dont even have to rake!!! how friggin sweeeeet!!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[stevecobb76]

I even dare to put this mower up against my old exmark 48" hydro walk behind. it was super efficient and didn't choke on anything either!
it is not as fast as a Dixie chopper but how fast can you really go when mowing anyway if you want straight lines and not miss any spots!

I am thinking of adding a charge gauge and a striping kit and lights.

 

[stevecobb76]

the beast

 

[stevecobb76]

I have started gathering materials to plate the deck.
I have 1/8th" plate strip 5" wide and about 6' long. I am planning on using this to reinforce the front and sides of the deck.
and I have found but not bought yet a set of gravely commercial spindals w/zerk fittings. but I need to measure the bolt pattern first. but I might just drill new holes if they dont fit. I also notice that they have smaller pulleys so that means faster blade speed. I already chews the grass to the point that I do not need to rake at all.

I also wired in a old volt meter that the ac side was fried in but the dc side reads just fine. so now I have a charge/amp gauge!!!

 

[Oliver1655]

I can understand beefing up the outside of the deck. Changing out the spindle assemblies, well - unless you plan on doing brush cutting with it, I would wait until the spindle assemblies start having problems before making that investment. You said you have been impressed with it's current cutting ability. With just normal yard mowing the current spindle assemblies may get several hundred hours of cutting. After all that is what they are designed for.

This is a good mower. My mother loves her's. In our family we have one 34", one 50", & two heavy duty 60" Gravely mowers. We have been very happy with all them.

 

[damedic]

Just chiming in as well about the Gravely 0 Turn: Love mine!!! :thumbsup:
We have ZT50 with a Kawasaki 22HP Engine - as the model connotes, it's a 50" deck.
Got it a couple of summers ago, after two previous Craftsman riding mowers, and 1 MTD, in 12 years.
Best investment made, Should-aa got one long ago - and so much fun to use! :number1:.

Post some pics once you upgrade your deck. Would be appreciated to take a look. Also of the gauges?

 

[stevecobb76]

yeah fun, I know, now that I got one and that I want to mow the yard now. my other half wants to use it too.. best money I ever invested... ever.
next on my list is a dixie chopper 60" or more.

 

[Richard Wazeter]

I have an Ariens 42" ZTR mower that has to be 12 years old. My wife just loves it and does most of the close in mowing with it. Just changed the battery every couple of years, blades pretty much yearly, and every once in a while one of the spindles will go out. Need to make sure that the shaft that takes up the slack for the mower deck to operate stays well lubricated and does not start to hang up. Am hoping to get at least another 10 years out of mine.