Does anyone have "zero turn regret"?
- Thread starter Dredwolf
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Gary Fowler
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I bought a Craftsman 6000 Zero turn shortly after moving to my 11.2 acre homestead. It worked ok, was rough riding as all heck and traction was almost non-existant. It wouldn't mow straight even on a slight sideways incline. After getting beat up on it for a couple of seasons, I found my Ferris IS 700 while my BIL was getting parts for his New Holland tractor. I liked the coil spring over shocks suspension system. I would never go back to any mower without a spring suspension, it is that good. I also would never go back to a low end residential mower like the craftsman. As stated already, they have throw away hydrostatic drives and don't tend to last that long.
My Ferris is a low end commercial unit with fully serviceable drive motors, a heavy duty Kawasaki engine that is really good on gas. I can mow my whole farm on a tank of fuel (4.5 gallons). I do have a creek running thru the middle of the property plus my house, shop and a pond to deduct from the acreage but I suspect I still have about 9 acres of grass to mow when I mow it all. I mow appropriately 6 acres of near home lawn weekly in about 2-2.5 hours depending on how fast I go. If I am in a hurry I can mow it in a bit under 2 hours but at leisurely pace, about 2.5 hours.
My Ferris is a low end commercial unit with fully serviceable drive motors, a heavy duty Kawasaki engine that is really good on gas. I can mow my whole farm on a tank of fuel (4.5 gallons). I do have a creek running thru the middle of the property plus my house, shop and a pond to deduct from the acreage but I suspect I still have about 9 acres of grass to mow when I mow it all. I mow appropriately 6 acres of near home lawn weekly in about 2-2.5 hours depending on how fast I go. If I am in a hurry I can mow it in a bit under 2 hours but at leisurely pace, about 2.5 hours.
TMR
Gold Member
Are rear chains a complete "no/no" on commercial grade Zero turns? Just curious. What about rear wheel weights? Assuming commercial grade drive motors, etc.
the old grind
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I have a BIG beef with most all 'homeowner-grade' ZTRs and that is the abandonment of pivoting front axles. I've owned three ZTRs, '96 Dixon 4228, '06 CC RZT50, Husky MZ6128. All are still in service, but the CC mows best because the two driving wheels are always in contact with the ground. Bad news is that the CC is still in my care but not to use. All are B&S power and none has ever had engine service. Yards mowed are 2 ac & 3 ac.
My point is that IF what you mow is checkerboard-flat, any ZTR will earn its keep very quickly. Traction can't be a matter of wheel/tire size unless the right two are on the ground. If I EVER buy another ZTR it will likely be a Country Clipper model with the pivoting front axle, well if I can get one w/o Kohler power.
btw, my Husky has HG 3200s, and fabbed deck. I chose it over a comparable Dixon with larger R wheels and Kohler power. We buy B&S engines to R&R cheaper that parts for the Kohlers we service. Current MZs have Kawasaki power and I'd be ok with that, tho' it'd be my first.
My point is that IF what you mow is checkerboard-flat, any ZTR will earn its keep very quickly. Traction can't be a matter of wheel/tire size unless the right two are on the ground. If I EVER buy another ZTR it will likely be a Country Clipper model with the pivoting front axle, well if I can get one w/o Kohler power.
btw, my Husky has HG 3200s, and fabbed deck. I chose it over a comparable Dixon with larger R wheels and Kohler power. We buy B&S engines to R&R cheaper that parts for the Kohlers we service. Current MZs have Kawasaki power and I'd be ok with that, tho' it'd be my first.
I have a gravely pro turn 60" with the kawasaki engine and love it.
I did lots of research on ztrs before purchase and the common theme was home owner grade is hit and miss with issues and support. You can get one that will last just as long as commercial but seemed just as likely to get one wrought with problems.
Just make sure you feel comfortable that you can get parts no matter what brand you go with.
As for traction, ztr's are a different machine and need to be driven differently than a garden tractor. You will notice when traction is lost faster because your drive wheels are also your steering.
After some time you will figure out how to not lose traction much at all and how to turn without cutting up the lawn.
I did lots of research on ztrs before purchase and the common theme was home owner grade is hit and miss with issues and support. You can get one that will last just as long as commercial but seemed just as likely to get one wrought with problems.
Just make sure you feel comfortable that you can get parts no matter what brand you go with.
As for traction, ztr's are a different machine and need to be driven differently than a garden tractor. You will notice when traction is lost faster because your drive wheels are also your steering.
After some time you will figure out how to not lose traction much at all and how to turn without cutting up the lawn.
I have a BIG beef with most all 'homeowner-grade' ZTRs and that is the abandonment of pivoting front axles. I've owned three ZTRs, '96 Dixon 4228, '06 CC RZT50, Husky MZ6128. All are still in service, but the CC mows best because the two driving wheels are always in contact with the ground. Bad news is that the CC is still in my care but not to use. All are B&S power and none has ever had engine service. Yards mowed are 2 ac & 3 ac.
My point is that IF what you mow is checkerboard-flat, any ZTR will earn its keep very quickly. Traction can't be a matter of wheel/tire size unless the right two are on the ground. If I EVER buy another ZTR it will likely be a Country Clipper model with the pivoting front axle, well if I can get one w/o Kohler power.
btw, my Husky has HG 3200s, and fabbed deck. I chose it over a comparable Dixon with larger R wheels and Kohler power. We buy B&S engines to R&R cheaper that parts for the Kohlers we service. Current MZs have Kawasaki power and I'd be ok with that, tho' it'd be my first.
I am not a fan of the Kohler motors just from the noise level, and they seem to use more fuel the same HP range as the Kawasaki motors.
I have looked at a Gravely ZT HD 52, a Husky MZ 52, and a Cub Cadet Z Force LX 54, all with the Kawasaki power plants, and similar sized rear tires, and maybe the same size tires on the front swivels. All had the better tread pattern on the drive tires than the standard "Turf Saver" pattern that is on almost everything residential.
I have seen in some forums where zero turn owners have even started using lug tires. I had a little slippage on the RZT I borrowed, but I could tell what was happening quick and compensated. I even cut the sides of the graded bowl my older barn sits in, but if its too bad, thats what the LTX-1050 will be kept for.
coolreinfarm
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I have a zforce 50 that is 10 years old with about 480 hours, with regular maintenance should last me for awhile, has the 2800 hydros that work fine. Shame they removed the pivoting front axle and the foot pedal for the mower lift so I won't buy another. Looking at the Hustler flip up deck, tired of crawling under the deck.