Buying Advice Buying a Zero-Turn Mower

hawkeye08 · Mar 31, 2016

TPJ89, how's the new mower working? I think the last I read you were getting a Gravely ZT HD 60".

TJP89 · Apr 1, 2016

hawkeye08 said:
TPJ89, how's the new mower working? I think the last I read you were getting a Gravely ZT HD 60".

Yes, that's what I got. Haven't actually mowed with it yet, so no real thoughts.

hawkeye08 · Apr 1, 2016

I read online that Gravely ZT 60HD has the 3100 hydro units, do they have filters (the 3400 on the Ferris is700z does have filters)?

DK35vince · Apr 1, 2016

hawkeye08 said:
I read online that Gravely ZT 60HD has the 3100 hydro units, do they have filters (the 3400 on the Ferris is700z does have filters)?

Yes.
Far as I know the ZT 2800 and up has filters.

TJP89 · Apr 2, 2016

hawkeye08 said:
I read online that Gravely ZT 60HD has the 3100 hydro units, do they have filters (the 3400 on the Ferris is700z does have filters)?

Yes, two filters both from hydrogear. Actually no Gravely maintenance parts, they're all either Kohler or HydroGear.

hawkeye08 · Apr 5, 2016

We went and test drove a Gravely ZT 60HD last Saturday. It was a fairly smooth paved parking lot (no grass to try out the mower part). It was a bit rough. We went for a long drive yesterday to the nearest Ferris dealer with mowers in stock and test drove a IS700Z. Wow, what a difference in how the Ferris smoothed things out. Yes, I know, the real test is mowing, but my lawn is rougher than the parking lots. Well, we brought the Ferris home yesterday and I went out this morning a mowed the front lawn. My very first time on zero turn, it didn't take very long to get the hang of it. Our lawn is rough (it smooths out quite a bit after the spring) and I have to say, I really like the Ferris. The dealer was very nice and made us a great deal. It was a very long day of driving, but we have a mower that will last us the rest of lawn mowing days.

TJP89 · Apr 5, 2016

Interesting. The thing that really impressed me about the Gravely was how smooth and quiet it was when I tested it out. We'll see.

Gary Fowler · Apr 5, 2016

hawkeye08 said:
We went and test drove a Gravely ZT 60HD last Saturday. It was a fairly smooth paved parking lot (no grass to try out the mower part). It was a bit rough. We went for a long drive yesterday to the nearest Ferris dealer with mowers in stock and test drove a IS700Z. Wow, what a difference in how the Ferris smoothed things out. Yes, I know, the real test is mowing, but my lawn is rougher than the parking lots. Well, we brought the Ferris home yesterday and I went out this morning a mowed the front lawn. My very first time on zero turn, it didn't take very long to get the hang of it. Our lawn is rough (it smooths out quite a bit after the spring) and I have to say, I really like the Ferris. The dealer was very nice and made us a great deal. It was a very long day of driving, but we have a mower that will last us the rest of lawn mowing days.

Which engine did you get. I absolutely love my Ferris IS700Z with the 23 HP Kawasaki engine. It is a miser on gas and seems to have more power than my 26 HP B&S engine on my Craftsman mower. It cuts faster and burns less gas per acre than my old ZTR Craftsman 6000 and is SOOOOO much smoother to ride.
The only thing I have to grip about is deck belt replacement. So far I have had to replace the belt every season (about 50 hours each season). The OEM belt lasted 50 hours and the generic Gates brand replacement the same to the tune of $76 each time which is almost half the price of an OEM. I cut about 6 acres of my own yard and occasionally some of my neighbors.

hawkeye08 · Apr 5, 2016

Gary Fowler said:
Which engine did you get. I absolutely love my Ferris IS700Z with the 23 HP Kawasaki engine. It is a miser on gas and seems to have more power than my 26 HP B&S engine on my Craftsman mower. It cuts faster and burns less gas per acre than my old ZTR Craftsman 6000 and is SOOOOO much smoother to ride.
The only thing I have to grip about is deck belt replacement. So far I have had to replace the belt every season (about 50 hours each season). The OEM belt lasted 50 hours and the generic Gates brand replacement the same to the tune of $76 each time which is almost half the price of an OEM. I cut about 6 acres of my own yard and occasionally some of my neighbors.

Briggs 27hp Commercial turf series. Based on your and others comments, I bought new drive and deck belt with the mower so I did not have to wait for parts if I had an issue with one. I wonder if the PTO engagement is what is eating your belt. I read or was told to engage the blade at the lowest speed you can without killing the engine. Do you have a bagger attachment? That also would put extra load on...

I mowed the back yard during lunch... this mower is going to be just plain fun.

hawkeye08 · Apr 5, 2016

TJP89 said:
Interesting. The thing that really impressed me about the Gravely was how smooth and quiet it was when I tested it out. We'll see.

The Gravely we tested seemed smooth, but it was only running partial throttle when we tested. If your lawn is mostly smooth, the Gravely will be a great mower (I have 3 Gravely riders, 2 two wheel walk behinds). Gravely is certainly well built and I'm sure you will like it. Be sure and let us know how it did after you mow with it.

Thanks for sharing your journey to getting a zero turn, wishing you many hours of happy mowing.