BX vs ZD for mowing

[TMGT]

I'm thinking about selling my ZD331 and buying a BX2680 with loader (used).

I know the BX cut speed and cut quality won't be as good, but I like the idea of having a machine I can use year round and for other task.

The only experience I have on a BX mowing has been with a BX1500 a few times and a BX 1870 with a 54in deck that I bought to flip last year.
Both seemed to do a good job, but it was late in the season for the 1870 and I didn't really get to try it out in the thicker grass.

My current Zd331 has a 72in deck, a hard shell collector, and a mulch kit that I put in for most of the mowing season. I would miss the hard shell collector, but I'm sure I can adapt something to it in the future.

Does anyone have back to back experience with the larger ZD mowers compared to a BX?

The propert is a put 2.5acres of mowing, mostly tall fescue, thick in some areas. I just don't have as much area to mow as I use to so the larger deck is not as necessary.
Just trying to see if I'll be annoyed by the BX as a mower.

 

[WM75Guy]

I have a NH 25S (25 HP) tractor with a mid-mount 60" mower deck and a Kubota ZD1211 60" ZTR. I use the 25S to mow about an acre of rougher areas and the ZTR for my finished yard of about 2 acres. The ZD1211 will mow twice as fast as the 25S but I feel like I am beating me and it up in the rougher areas. The cut on the 25S is acceptable on the finished yard.

I call the 25S my powered wheelbarrow. It is very handy for doing dirt work around the buildings and other small tasks. I just put 3 yards of mulch in the flowerbeds in very short time. I got 6 yards in my dump trailer and dumped it on the driveway, then scooped it up with the 25S. The 2 landscape guys that were raking it out said it cut the time in half from them using a shovel and wheelbarrow to move it.

 

[dj1701]

I bought my BX 2680 for the sole purpose of mowing. I have places that a zero turn just won't go. I even had the remote driving mode installed at the dealership. LOL

 

[TMGT]

Thanks, I know it'll be slower then the Zd, mainly wondering how the BX cut quality will compare. I have a larger L3240 for heavier tractor work.
While I like the z it's a one trick machine, it would also be nice to have a smaller machine to get into places the L doesn't fit.

 

[check 6]

Years ago I tried mowing with a mid mount on my then owned BX it was ok but not great as it is less nimble than a zero turn, slower and the blade tip speed is slower . Plus if I left the front loader on getting into tight places was harder. For the last 20 years I have mowed with a ZD currently a ZD 1211 26 hp diesel with a 60” deck great mower and my BX stays configured as a tractor without the reduced ground clearance of the mid mower. My normal mowing is just over one acre But I have mowed our community grass runway 2100x 200 in less than a hour with the ZD that said theBX as a tractor and the ZD as a mower each does its job better than the other

 

[BleedingOrange]

I,ve owned a BX2350, BX2360 and now own a BX2370. I get tons of compliments all summer long on how great our lawn looks. As long as you are not in the most beautiful looking lawn contest all summer, go ahead and get it, it will do the job just fine. I also have the front bucket, snowblower, weight box and rear scraper blade for it, it is a great all around machine for our 2 acre property.

 

[Hay Dude]

I don’t think the cut quality will be much different, but you’ll leave more tire tracks with the narrower cut swath of the BX.
Have you thought of keeping the ZD and just ordering your BX without a mid mount deck? That would alleviate some of the cost and leave you with a tractor thats more capable driving on bad/muddy ground conditions.

 

[TMGT]

I don’t think the cut quality will be much different, but you’ll leave more tire tracks with the narrower cut swath of the BX.
Have you thought of keeping the ZD and just ordering your BX without a mid mount deck? That would alleviate some of the cost and leave you with a tractor thats more capable driving on bad/muddy ground conditions.

I don't need a bx, it would be more of a replacment for the zd since it has more uses. I would be buying used and selling my zd331, zd21 and probably my Wheel Horse 520h.

I don't care about ground clearance as this would be a secondary machine to my larger L so the mower deck would stay on all mowing season.

I don't mow for other people anymore, so speed isn't as important, the ZD is kind of overkill now.

This whole thought process started after I bought a BX1870 to flip and used it to mow a small field I usually rough cut a few times a year.
It did much better then I expected and was kind of nice to have a second loader/3pt for when the grapple and backhoe are on the L

 

[TMGT]

Years ago I tried mowing with a mid mount on my then owned BX it was ok but not great as it is less nimble than a zero turn, slower and the blade tip speed is slower . Plus if I left the front loader on getting into tight places was harder. For the last 20 years I have mowed with a ZD currently a ZD 1211 26 hp diesel with a 60” deck great mower and my BX stays configured as a tractor without the reduced ground clearance of the mid mower. My normal mowing is just over one acre But I have mowed our community grass runway 2100x 200 in less than a hour with the ZD that said theBX as a tractor and the ZD as a mower each does its job better than the other

I've mowed this property with a Wheel Horse 520h with a 60in deck, and Z's with 60 and 72.

Time isn't as big of an issue now that it's mine and not a customers where time meant money.

With the ssqa I can at least pull the bucket off to mow, although the swift-tach loaders seem to come on and off pretty quick if needed.

I didn't get a chance to try out the 1870 on my main yard when I had it, but it's cut quality did impress me when I mowed my rough range area, although that is a mix of grasses including bermuda.

 

[RjCorazza]

...
I don't mow for other people anymore, so speed isn't as important, the ZD is kind of overkill now.
...

NOOOOOOOOO! A beast like your ZD331 is never overkill.

 

[TMGT]

NOOOOOOOOO! A beast like your ZD331 is never overkill.

With the blower for the collector on it is almost 8ft wide! Can get a bit cumbersome to maneuver over uneven ground.

 

[TMGT]

Well I think I'm going to look at a 2680 tomorrow, it only has about 250hrs and has a Landpride 3rd function on it. I also found a low hr 60in deck for it from someone else. If it works out, I'll have my Zd's up for sale soon.

Hope the whole deal will only cost me about 2k if I can get what I want for my current mowers.

 

[mikester]

Are you going with a MMM or a RFM? The RFM is harder on the neck than the ZD or MMM.

If you enjoy cutting grass then you will like the BX. If you just want the lawn mowed and don't enjoy sitting on a machine for long periods of time you will miss the ZD.

I don't miss the mosquitoes and deer fly on my ZD. My neighbor cuts his lawn twice a week with his MMM but he's retired and I suspect he's just avoiding being in the house with his spouse...

 

[TMGT]

Mmm, rfm are a pain.

I've mowed this area with a Wheel Horse w/60in deck, it does take a little longer but not terrible.
I figure the extra utility of having a second loader/tractor will outweigh the slight mowing disadvantages, I really will miss my Zd if I go this route, though.

If was mowing more 2 acres regularly the added time would probably come into play more.

 

[workinonit]

You'll hate yourself if you make this BX move. Maybe not right away but it will happen.

 

[Hay Dude]

I might be interested in your ZD-331. PM me if you want to sell.

 

[TMGT]

You'll hate yourself if you make this BX move. Maybe not right away but it will happen.

Maybe, would like to know your reasoning

 

[2manyrocks]

Seems like every time I mow my yard with a regular lawn tractor, it makes me appreciate my ZTR that much more.

My guess is you'll always have grass to mow, but how much loader work are you doing to do for the next 10 years?

 

[Hay Dude]

Is anyone like “why don’t you just buy a cheaper used utility tractor with a loader and keep your ZD-331?”

 

[TMGT]

A lot, I put more hrs on the tractor than I do on the mower every year. That's part of the reason to change, hate having a peice of equipment that sits for 4+ months of the year. Because of how the yard is setup it only adds about 1/2 to mowing time.