Does anyone have "zero turn regret"?

[HillStreet]

Can't say I regret buying the Kubota Z125S but right now I am just a bit PO'd with it. The mower belt came off for the second time in as many months and it is a bit*h to get it back on. First time it came off the engine pulley, this time it came off the idler pulley.

I will try to get the pulley loosened so I can slip it back on behind the snubber. The spring tension is not bad as I use a ratcheting strap attached to the Kubota tractor. The grass was tall so maybe that caused it but what the heck, I will have to slow down when I cut the big stuff.

 

[dragoneggs]

I love my little Kubota Z122 42in cut. I am pretty hard on it even though I don't have a huge amount to mow. Only thing I wish I had is something that could handle steep slopes better. But I can't justify the much higher cost for such a unit when I can tough it out with a walk behind self propelled Honda pusher.

 

[GBHRPS]

dragoneggs,

I have a 46 degree slope in one section of my lawn. Its 25 foot wide and 40 foot tall. I have cut it with my CC Z Force 48 for years, by cutting going straight up the hill, moving over one deck width, and then cutting going down the hill in reverse. It can be done safely, when the grass is absolutely dry, and only when doing so at a slow speed, so that the drive wheels don't bounce and lose traction, which would make for a very interesting and rapid reverse ride down the hill. ROP would help immensely in such a situation. I did the same thing with my JD 175 Hydro for years before I bought the CC.

Gene

 

[Creamer]

I run them on mine and would never go back. They hook up and do less damage. Finally talked a buddy into it with a large scag that has a large steep dam to mow. His quote "my god, it's not even the same machine it just hooks and goes"

I ran two sets of turf tires before I made the jump to AT101s. That machine is now a billy goat - it will hold any hill including ones I do not want to ride on. It will go up it down, sideways, diagonal it does not matter. I am never going back.

As for your wife having a real hard time getting used to the handles - NOT! My wife is as much city and non-mechanical as they come and it took her a couple of minutes and she was very comfortable. She would never go back to a steering wheel.

I personally would never have a mid mount. Commercial guys like them because they take less room up on a trailer but I much prefer a front deck because you can get up next to things without you being in it. It cuts my trimming dramatically - down to almost zero. (I do not like the look of dead around everything.) It also makes easy deck access for cleaning and blade sharpening.

I have a three wheel tractor on it and I am going to get the split wheel kit for the back so I am not bouncing on one little wheel - let it average between two.

For you nothing smaller than a 60" deck. that is what I have an wish I had gotten a 72". The 22 hp Kohler has plenty of power but does seem a bit thirsty.

Mine is a Deines. Not a common brand but they run heavy duty Eaton Hydros that are readily available. They do not have many dealers - they are kind of like a mail order machine and you need to be able to work on them or find someone who will. The advantage is that you are getting a very strong machine for a lot less money and their parts are not special but they are so cheap I usually get them from the factory and have them shipped. For instance I get the #60 chain from them at a lower cost than I can buy it at TSC. I am on the 19th year with it and three years ago I put a blade clutch in it - the first time I ever did anything other than tires and blades and battery. It was only the year before that when i first tightened the deck belt. It is amazingly trouble free, does a nice job cutting and distributing the grass, and is a full commercial type mower for a lot less money.

 

[ruffdog]

My dad's neighbor has a nasty (hill) yard to mow. He had dealers bring out their equipment to try everything out. Some refused to unload the mowers, some crashed through the rock garden below. The best one he found was the CC with the steering wheel and it is the higher end one.

 

[warment]

I currently own a CC RZT 54 with kawasaki 24 hp motor. My opinion is that the deck is probably the crappiest part of the mower. The motor and zt2800 hydros are great. I do regret not getting a zero turn with a foot pedal for deck height adjustment. I currently have 275 hours without any major problem. The deck baffle did have to be replaced...it came loose and struck a blade.

 

[warment]

 

[BukitCase]

Warment, that looks familiar - I have the RZT50 with 22 horse Kawasaki, wish it had a real deck AND real hydros - had I known just how much I prefer doing my yard area in 2 HOURS instead of 2 DAYS I woulda put up with even MORE OT before I retired, and bought a $6-7K machine instead (my ONLY "zero turn regret") -

So now, I beat it to death and resurrect whatever dies, heavier than before - previous deck repair involved reinforcing rings around spindles (posted here when I did it, next time I ordered spindles I was offered MY design for $10 each - guess somebody wanted to pay fer their new plasma table...) Anyway, some of these pics will look familiar to you :laughing:...Steve

(Note in the last pic, the 1/4" thick radiused plate that replaced the "reynolds wrap" "brace" across the mouth of the discharge)

 

[warment]

IMO, it was def worth the extra $$$ to get the Kawasaki and zt2800 hydros with reservoir. Like you, if I could do it over, I would have spent more cash and got something with a fabricated deck. One of my hydros is missing its fins now...I have a replacement fan, but it looks like a pain to replace.

 

[BukitCase]

I have an under-powered 60" Swisher pull-behind mower (13 horse B&S) that has a fabbed deck and (maybe) cast iron spindles, considering grafting THAT onto my RZT 50 when there's not enough "stamped reynolds wrap" left to weld to...

Replaced one of my fans a couple years ago, apparently having sticks thrown up into that area isn't a good plan - IIRC, I had to pull the wheel/hydro/belt to get at it. Still have the "castelated" 3/4 drive socket I made to get enough twist on the belt tensioner to put it back -

Also, I would NOT recommend putting this off - my manual warns to keep the engine at full throttle regardless of travel speed, because the fans are needed for hydro cooling... Steve