Does anyone have "zero turn regret"?

[Dredwolf]

When my LTX1050 threw a belt and my son lost the two deck wheels (of course I found all of this on a Saturday afternoon), I was able to borrow a neighbors RZT 54 to mow the lawn. I have about 2.3 acres (with a total of 3.5 that I could mow) to cut and trim out between my place and my mother's, excluding the pastures I cut with a 6' Hardee bush hog and tractor. I picked up on the zero turn operation in minutes, and before I knew it, was LOOKING for grass to mow. As I had to weld on the LTX deck the next weekend, I borrowed the RZT again, and this time, ran a stopwatch. In less than 90 minutes, I had cut the 2.3 acres (1 acre has lots of trees and flower beds) and maybe another acre in areas I would like to mow regularly during the summer. I had no idea a zero turn could make that big of difference.
So I am in the market for a zero turn, and I have a Cub Cadet dealer less than 5 miles from me. So many of the lawn equipment forums bash anything with Cub Cadet, but my LTX1050 ran for 6 years before I replaced the first belt on it. In truth, I think its because I waited too long on the drive belt, and so, I had to replace the trans cooling fan too.

The Z force line looks stout, but what do those that have owned one of them think now? Good buy for a "heavy duty" residential, or bad idea, and head towards one of the "prosumer/land owner" models by other manufacturers?

 

[not2old]

Mine is too big. I bought a 54" Husqvarna with a fabricated deck because it was a bargain. 35 hours and saved $2800.00 plus tax on a used a few months old with 2 years of warranty left. Too small for the first owner. Cut most of my acre in under 20 minutes. I will live with it

 

[WM75Guy]

I sold my RTZ50 to get the ZD1211. The RTZ50 was OK for smooth ground and short grass. I mow about 2 acres now with the zero turn and have another acre that I am working so I can use the zero turn instead of the tractor. It is all trees. The 24 HP diesel does not slow down in high or wet grass, no comparison to a gas mower.

 

[GBHRPS]

Dredwolf,

I have a well used Z Force 48 zero turn. Its about a 2003 and had about 300 hours on it when it was repowered with a B&S 26 HP twin (original motor would have been a B&S 22HP. During the next how many years until I bought it in 2013, the PO hadn't hooked up the hour meter, so who knows how many hours are actually on it? I reconnected the hour meter shortly after purchase and it has 472 hours showing now. I cut an acre and a half in no time at all. My old John Deere 175 Hydro 38 inch deck took 2 hours and then some. The Z Force has it done in an hour.

Problems? Zero! Sharpen blades, clean under deck, inflate tires, oil changes and filter, lube machine. That's it.

Now, before I bought the Z Force, I did extensive research on all of the manufacturers of zero turn mowers, and I discovered an alarming fact of all of the introductory models by just about every manufacturer. Cub Cadet, Sears Craftsman, John Deere, Toro, Snapper, and so on.

They almost all use the lightest Hydro Gear hydraulic drive motors in their introductory mowers. They can not be rebuilt, you cannot get parts for them, they are throw away motors that have to be replaced when they develop an issue. That's frequently at 300 hours from what I've read, and the last price I saw for just one motor (one each side) was about $900 US.

When I researched the Z Force and the hydraulic drive motors in them, I saw that they are the heavier Hydro Gear ZT 2800 series, for which parts are readily available from many sources. They are the heaviest motors Hydro gear makes for residential level mowers. Commercial units have several heavier models well above the ZT 2800.

That essentially was what made me jump on the used Z Force that I came across. Heavily built and has been absolutely dependable.

Gene

 

[Dredwolf]

I'm looking at the Z Force LX series, which uses the ZT 3100's, such is used on the Graverly ZT HD and the Husqvarnia MZ series. I used to try and buy tools and equipment of "normal" durability, but found out I should buy heavy duty everything for life on this attempt at a farm. I tend to keep equipment a long time, but the same can't be said when my number one helper tries to push the equipment "just a little more".
Thanks for the info on the Z Force, the frames don't seem as heavy as some of the others in the range, but my local dealer is a family that has always done right by me.

 

[Dredwolf]

Mine is too big. I bought a 54" Husqvarna with a fabricated deck because it was a bargain. 35 hours and saved $2800.00 plus tax on a used a few months old with 2 years of warranty left. Too small for the first owner. Cut most of my acre in under 20 minutes. I will live with it

When it comes to equipment, you rarely hear anyone say they bought too much tractor, truck, trailer, etc. But that was a heck of a bargain.

 

[not2old]

Next choice to this was a new 48". No fabricated deck, less power, weaker transmissions and slightly less warranty. Would have saved about $150.00.

 

[mrmikey]

I bought a Toro ZT with a 42" deck, main reason is my ground in not exactly level. any bigger and I'd be scalping. The only regret I have, more of a complaint actually, is the traction is terrible. Would I have bought it knowing what I know now.....probably, but i would have got something with bigger drive wheels hoping the traction would have been better.........Mike

 

[thepumpguysc]

Interesting thread.. I was wondering if anyone has used the ZERO TURN w/ a steering wheel?? I see them advertised on tv..
The wife loves to mow the lawn, 2 acres.. & the neighborhood men like to watch.. lol..
She's rather large up top & likes to get some sun when she's cutting.. lol
I can ALWAYS TELL when she mowing.. I turn the corner in the truck & all the neighborhood guys are standing in the road sippin suds & "chatting".. Lol
Lets just say, she would have a REAL hard time picking up the 2 handle controls on the standard zero turn mower..

 

[jcummins]

I bought a Toro ZT with a 42" deck, main reason is my ground in not exactly level. any bigger and I'd be scalping. The only regret I have, more of a complaint actually, is the traction is terrible. Would I have bought it knowing what I know now.....probably, but i would have got something with bigger drive wheels hoping the traction would have been better.........Mike

It's not.

 

[Ortimber]

My only regret is that I didn't buy one sooner. They are just awesome machines.

 

[Gary Fowler]

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.

 

[Dredwolf]

My only regret is that I didn't buy one sooner. They are just awesome machines.

I am hearing that from many that I talk to. I am glad I am not rushing the decision, though.

 

[Dredwolf]

It's not.

I am getting a lot of mixed thoughts on the traction part. I am looking at a Z Force LX, with the larger rear tires, and similar machines in the class also have larger tires, with a better tread pattern.

 

[TMR]

I am getting a lot of mixed thoughts on the traction part. I am looking at a Z Force LX, with the larger rear tires, and similar machines in the class also have larger tires, with a better tread pattern.

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]

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.

 

[madpuma13]

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.

 

[Dredwolf]

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.

 

[Dredwolf]

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]

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.