best zero turn $3000

[PVHIII]

good info as always... my wife told me that if I bought a zero turn, she would NOT be cutting the grass. She said it like a threat, but I'm counting on that

the best feature (for me) is that there is no leg work / foot pedals to mess with (that's why I want one)

My zero turn...turned something I dreaded because of the time it took me and every time I mowed I would feel it in my lower back for a day or two afterwards... Into something I thoroughly enjoy... My grass can't seem to grow fast enough to suit my mowing addiction... I sometimes catch my self slowing down just to prolong my enjoyment ;-)

 

[DK35vince]

good info as always... my wife told me that if I bought a zero turn, she would NOT be cutting the grass. She said it like a threat, but I'm counting on that

the best feature (for me) is that there is no leg work / foot pedals to mess with (that's why I want one)

I rarely get to run our zero turn. My wife mows with it.
She mows the yard at full speed like she's in a race.
I generally use the tractor/rear finish mower for mowing.

 

[Coyote machine]

Am I missing something, or somewhere in this thread did I see mention of some folks shifting over to different than turf tires to get better traction with zero turns? Were ATV type tyre treads recommended or something different? I've had my Scag Wildcat with turfs on the rear and smooth spindle swivel wheels on the front since I bought it in 2009. I find no matter what I do I seem to tear up the ground when I turn whether going fast or slow when I change direction? Is it me or the machine? Does anyone else experience this when using zero turns, regardless of brand?

 

[dragoneggs]

Am I missing something, or somewhere in this thread did I see mention of some folks shifting over to different than turf tires to get better traction with zero turns? Were ATV type tyre treads recommended or something different? I've had my Scag Wildcat with turfs on the rear and smooth spindle swivel wheels on the front since I bought it in 2009. I find no matter what I do I seem to tear up the ground when I turn whether going fast or slow when I change direction? Is it me or the machine? Does anyone else experience this when using zero turns, regardless of brand?

Good question... I have the same issue tearing up the grass but it is new and still getting established. Wondering if it is operator error... and I am just not to the top of the learning curve. I do have a lot of tight turns and it seems I do the most damage when turning tight from a downhill attitude to parallel with slope. I am thinking the key is to keep both wheels turning whether they are going in the same direction or not. :confused3:

 

[aczlan]

Am I missing something, or somewhere in this thread did I see mention of some folks shifting over to different than turf tires to get better traction with zero turns? Were ATV type tyre treads recommended or something different? I've had my Scag Wildcat with turfs on the rear and smooth spindle swivel wheels on the front since I bought it in 2009. I find no matter what I do I seem to tear up the ground when I turn whether going fast or slow when I change direction? Is it me or the machine? Does anyone else experience this when using zero turns, regardless of brand?

Are you doing "K turns" or "zero turns"?

BOTH wheels must be moving so the pivot is between the axles, not on one tire or the other.

Aaron Z

 

[Coyote machine]

Good point. I was never taught how to operate a Zturn. Guess I do tend to lock the left wheel mostly and then spin around with the right. Guess I'm not sure how to do a real K turn, but I did watch some of the video links and guess I'll have to practice to get it right. Seems counter intuitive to have a wheel going backward to get it to not cut divots in the lawn, but keeping both wheels moving makes sense.

 

[dragoneggs]

Are you doing "K turns" or "zero turns"?

BOTH wheels must be moving so the pivot is between the axles, not on one tire or the other.

Aaron Z

Good short video... I try to drive it like a Zamboni (offset ovals) but I need to work on not pivoting.

 

[farmer2009]

If you will mow a border of 2-3 mower passes. Depending on the width of the mower. Mines 60" so two gives me almost 10 feet. You will have plenty of room for the K turns. I have found the the K turns if done in the right direction will also help with the wind blowing the clippings back onto you. Another words keep your discharge shoot down wind till your done cutting.

I'm running an ATV bar and knob tire on my mower. It had an ATV tire size on it. But now they are making a mower grade tire that is a bar lug. Just like r-1's on a tractor.

 

[EddieWalker]

If your budget is $3K, then I would look at a riding mower instead of a zero turn. You can get a VERY NICE riding mower for that amount, or a crappy zero turn. The advantage of a zero turn is in the speed it mows and it's maneuverability. You pay for this ability by needing heavy duty parts and a frame. A cheap zero turn is going to be very light duty, which means problems and down time. Or it means buying a commercial unit that is worn out and at the end of it's life.

I have a Scag Wildcat zero turn that is a beast of a machine. I paid a lot of money for it, and it does what it's supposed to do. Knowing what I know now, if I had less land to mow, I wouldn't hesitate to go back to a riding mower.

Eddie

 

[LD1]

If you will mow a border of 2-3 mower passes. Depending on the width of the mower. Mines 60" so two gives me almost 10 feet. You will have plenty of room for the K turns. I have found the the K turns if done in the right direction will also help with the wind blowing the clippings back onto you. Another words keep your discharge shoot down wind till your done cutting.

I'm running an ATV bar and knob tire on my mower. It had an ATV tire size on it. But now they are making a mower grade tire that is a bar lug. Just like r-1's on a tractor.

Yep, two passes with my 61" cut then do down and back diagonals with k-turns. I a, running bar tread tires. AT101's. No issues tearing up lawn at all.

As far as wind, I find it best to try to mow into the wind with it at about 1'o'clock position. My discharge is out the right. So when mowing into the wind at 1:00, it blows the clippings slightly behind me. When coming back, the wind is at the 7:00 position, which carries the clippings forward and away.

Mowing with the wind at my side, one of the trips, either down or back, I am gonna be eating grass.