Cub Z-Force Experience

JimMorrissey · May 1, 2005

Anybody care to report on their experience with a Cub Z-Force or comment on the build quality. It looks like a nice machine, almost too nice for the $$. So I'm thinking something's got to be sub-par.

I'm mowing about 2+ acres that are pretty flat.

frank_f15 · May 1, 2005

JIM: i will be interested in seeing any comments. i have een thinking of getting a new GT , my current one is 13 years old, works fine but at thet time where thigs can start to got wrong. my other option is to keep the GT as a small tractor for small tasks where i don't or can't use the Kubota and getting a ZTR. just saw in the local penny saver today wher they are selling the RTZ 42 FOR $2499.00 and the Z FORCE44 FOR $3600. THE ZTR REALLY WOULD WORK WELL ON MY 1 ACRE LAWN(lots of trees and turns) which model were you looking at?

gamble77 · May 1, 2005

They are great machines. I think for the money they are some of the best built home-owners ZTR's on the market. During our peak season we sell one or two a week and rarely ever have problems out of them. Every one who ever uses a ZTR will tell you that not only do they cut down the mowing time but they give a much better cut. I recommend ZTR's to everyone now unless they just don't feel comfortable operating them, have large hills, or need to pull things.

JimMorrissey · May 2, 2005

Frank,

I'm seriously looking at the Z-Force 50 with the Kohler. I know it's not a commerical machine and I'd love an Exmark, but the price is pretty steep.....especially since I recently took delivery of L39. One of these days the wife is going to put a ban on major purchases /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If I get one, I'll let you know how it cuts and feels. Might be taking a trip to Tractor Supply tomorrow with the trailer.

I wish I knew more about the transmission.

I'm dealing with TSC because the local Cub dealer is a joker to put it nicely. I called him and specifically asked him if he had a Z-Force 50. He said "yep, got one right here". OK, I'll drive the 20 minutes to check it out. I get there and am promptly ignorned for close to five minutes, then I find out that it's not a Z-Force, it's the RTZ! I said to him "I specifically asked you if you had a Z-Force" and the guy says to me "Ohhh, I'm sooo sorry I ruined your day" with a total attitude. Incredible. The place is a mess too. It looks like they dump used oil out onto the ground....junk everywhere....a bunch of good-old-boys hanging out shooting the you-know-what while the customer stands there waiting to ask a question. Three or four of them talking about some random topic while I waited....Again, incredible. I had to laugh as I was walking back to my car. TSC, here I come.

moss2940 · May 2, 2005

I am awaiting one to show up at the Lowe's in my area. I ordered one and it is supposed to be here Firday, it is the 44".
I waffle back and forth on if I should have gotten something different.
While I was push mowing my lot today waiting on my riding mower to show up this Friday, my neighbor came to the rescue with his riding mower and helped.
He was asking why I was push mowing and I told him my story. He then told me one of our other neighbors had bought a Cub Cadet ztr and he hated it and took it back.
Well that dosen't do much for the confidence factor. I went and got the story with the ztr he took back.
He bought it at TSC, it was the RZT 42. He said he bought it brought it home and proceeded to try it out. It leaked transmission fluid from one of the transmissions. You had to feather the handles to get it to go straight as it got low on fluid. He said he called the 1-800 number they gave him to get help. He said he tried it many times and no one ever answered. He said to heck with it and took it back. Nobody at TSC knew what to do. He got a refund and I don't blame him I would have done the same thing.
The story just makes me wonder if some of the bad mouthing these machines get is because of the lack of knowledge of the people selling them combined with the lack of knowledge of some of the people buying them also.
If you think about it it sounds like a recipe for disaster.
The guy at lowes were I ordered the Z force told me the only difference between the RZT is the arm rest's.
I have no idea if the Z force is going to be a good unit, I hope so. One thing that I have to think is resale on them may not be good if someone researches them and lands on one of the threads or sites talking about how bad they are.

gamble77 · May 2, 2005

First of all your story is a prime example of why I never recommend buying from Lowes or TSC. If the guy as Lowes said the only difference between the RZT and the Z are arm rest then he just doesn't have clue one!!

The people at TSC didn't know what to do because they don't have any trained mechanics there!

But then again if your local dealer isn't willing to support you then you don't have much choice.

Now, I hope you do have faith in Z, they are great units and very well built...especially when compared to the RZT. We sell the fire out of them and everybody here loves them. Let us know when it comes in and what you think about it. Rest easy, they are good machines.

JimMorrissey · May 2, 2005

Gamble,

Your comments make the decision a bit easier. As I said, my local dealer is a joke, so I'm going to TSC.

I'm a tad worried about the gear driven wheel motors....if you can call them that. Can you shed any light on the workings of the transmission?

Clearly the Z has little in common with the RZT. Maybe the deck might have more than a few common parts, but the machine itself has little in common. I'm hoping it'll just do the job and I won't have to worry about resale.

frank_f15 · May 2, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Clearly the Z has little in common with the RZT )</font>
JIM I SAW THAT ALSO with just a swift comparassion. the z force is most definetly a hardier machine, thus the difference in cost

gamble77 · May 2, 2005

Alright,

A company called Hydro-Gear makes the transmissions for the Cub RZT's and Z's. Both units are completly self-contained piston type. I can't explain in words over the net how they work. I myself didn't fully understand it until I saw a unit cut-in-half at the dealer show this past year.

Anyway, there are substaintial differences between the units the Cubs use. The RZT uses an "EZT" transaxle whereas the Z's use an "IZT" transaxle.

Here is a link to the hydro-gear page that talks about both units and breaks down their specs.

EZT (RTZ's)
http://www.hydro-gear.com/LawnGard/EZT.aspx

IZT (Z's)
http://www.hydro-gear.com/LawnGard/IZT.aspx

Hope this helps some of yall!

JimMorrissey · May 2, 2005

OK...it's a completely sealed unit. I wonder what the life expectancy is on something like that...with "standard residential use", say 75 hours a season.