Buying Advice Buying a Zero-Turn Mower

[2ndhalf]

Yeh, a ZTR will flat spoil you. I can't imagine going back to a rider. When we were kids we had those old JD Gear drives that had the turn radious of the queen mary. We are pampered now.

 

[TJP89]

Yeh, a ZTR will flat spoil you. I can't imagine going back to a rider. When we were kids we had those old JD Gear drives that had the turn radious of the queen mary. We are pampered now.

The H was the last main mower, no power steering, 10ft long. My arms were ready to fall off after mowing with that thing. Tricycle front end so decent turns, but if you used the brake to turn the lawn was going to be a bit torn up. I won't miss the constant stream of hot exhaust in the face either. That said, the deck cut beautifully, and to hear it throttle up to go through some thick grass...well no zero turn will quite be like that. On the whole, I think mowing will now be a whole different experience. Now if it only it would stop snowing

 

[man00]

One of the guys that started Bad Boy mowers sold his half of the company and has started his own. Spartan Mowers..they look really good and seem to be build great (time will tell on that) here is the link for info
Spartan SRT Series Mower - Spartan Mowers - Zero Turn Mowers
I don't work there or have anything to do with them

 

[Gary Fowler]

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.

I always engage at lowest RPM possible without stalling the engine (I still stall it occasionally). The mower gets heavy use with about 6 acres of my yard to mow and the occasional mow of neighbor yard when they have mower or health problems. It could be that the belt is running at an angle to the deck when mowing at my preferred height that is stressing the belts. They look like new except for the break of course so they aren't wearing down like my Craftsman was doing. The Craftsman belt would wear the V sides down from slipping a lot but not the Ferris. I still like it even if it is hard on belts.

 

[hawkeye08]

I always engage at lowest RPM possible without stalling the engine (I still stall it occasionally). The mower gets heavy use with about 6 acres of my yard to mow and the occasional mow of neighbor yard when they have mower or health problems. It could be that the belt is running at an angle to the deck when mowing at my preferred height that is stressing the belts. They look like new except for the break of course so they aren't wearing down like my Craftsman was doing. The Craftsman belt would wear the V sides down from slipping a lot but not the Ferris. I still like it even if it is hard on belts.

Someone said that there have been some different adjustment settings in the last few years... wonder if a tighter or looser adjustment would help? If it is a clean break, wouldn't that indicate that the shock load broke it? I should measure the adjustment springs on mine before I loose a belt to see what it is now brand new..

 

[Creamer]

There is just no way you should be going through belts like that. On my mower which I bought in 97 I just tightened the deck belt for the first time in 2014. I mow about 2.5 acres at my house but it also mowed some commercially and has had some rough duty when I wasn't driving it as well as some heavy duty when I was driving it.

 

[hawkeye08]

I think I have ~13 hours on the new Ferris and now that I am used to it, it seems rougher than it did when new. I wanted to do some dethatching so added dethatcher to lawn sweeper and hooked it to the old riding mower. The reason the Ferris seems rougher is that I am going probably 3 times as fast as on the old rider. I have been going faster as I got more comfortable with the ZTR. Some of the lawn has smoothed out now and it is a blast to mow that part on the new mower and the rougher part is not bad. I'm mowing now the whole yard in about 1 hour compared to 2.25hrs with old mower. The new mower uses less than 1/4 tank per mowing. I'm enjoying being able to alter the mowing direction each time. Doing that with the rider wore me out and took too long. No issues with new mower, loving it. Only complaint is I wish the seat back "tilt" was adjustable. My wife will likely make me a "wedge" to put on it so it tilts more forward.

 

[Creamer]

Now you know why us Zero Turn guys won't go back. Mowing is a joy and so quick because you spend the time mowing not turning.

 

[dragoneggs]

Now you know why us Zero Turn guys won't go back. Mowing is a joy and so quick because you spend the time mowing not turning.

Amen!

 

[hawkeye08]

The weather turned hot for a week or so and really slowed the lawn growth down. In the past, I would be thankful for not having to mow as often, now I find myself disappointed that I don't get to mow as often.