EXMARK OR SCAG??

[sperry]

Now you guys have brought up some really good points that I didn't realize to consider.

1st deck size 60" decision has been made

2nd mulching blades not sure if this will help when doing fall clean up. I have some large shade trees and think the leaves are gonna have to be collected. In anticipation of this I have explained to the wife how necessary this attachment might be. But with all seriousness is it correct to believe mulching blades will not do the job? I'm planing to use the vac system during leaf season, I hope it is easily removed and attached. Maybe trailer type is the answer, does this type have a deck mounted blower?

3rd power plant My local dealers have mostly B&S in stock. I have had good luck with Kawasaki and Honda with other toys and equipment. What I'm wondering mostly is do you go with air or water cooled? Fuel injected or carb?

Just want to say thanks for the info from all. Especially when it comes before spending over 10K.

 

[unit40]

Protero Inc » Professional Grade Lawn Baggers and Dethatchers


Of course fuel inj. and liquid cooled for longest life and easier starting, smoother running.

 

[bester]

I just retired my tractor and deck for a 61" Scag Wildcat.Its liquid cooled Kawasaki and it kicks ***.I've found no reason to bag clippings as there really arent any.It cuts the grass so much better than a finish deck that it sucked up the piles of wet leaves from last year and spit out a finely ground "mulch"that just vanished.It was GREAT,wish I would have bought it years ago.I was told by my dealer that exmark has sealed bearings and scag can be greased so they naturaly last longer if you dont mind a little maintenance once or twice a year.I think you cant go wrong with either machine but Scag has my vote.

 

[Dargo]

Protero Inc ｻ Professional Grade Lawn Baggers and Dethatchers


Of course fuel inj. and liquid cooled for longest life and easier starting, smoother running.

Yup, I agree. I've never actually compared the life of an air cooled engine to the life of a liquid cooled engine because I just always got the liquid cooled ones. Now I have had some with carbs though. I really never had any starting issues at all with a carb, but I actually have run into some issues on hills and, believe it or not, when turning around fast. I had a mower that would always sputter when I quickly turned around to change directions (remember, when mowing for a living time is everything). The dealer discovered that I when I turned that fast the gas was being slung to one side of the bowl and not being picked up. No major issue, but it annoyed me just the same.

I've also been told that the fuel injected engines will get better fuel economy. I've never had the same mower, one with a carb and one with FI, to test this. It makes perfect sense to me though. I have had identical mowers except one was a 3 cyl Kubota gas and the other was a 3 cyl Kubota diesel (same hp), and I can tell you that the diesel mower would mow just over twice as much on 8 gallons of fuel as the gas powered unit would. I know the diesel engine costs more and diesel fuel costs more, but if you plan on keeping the mower for a long time I believe it is cost effective. As I mentioned, I still have an old Grasshopper diesel mower that has just over 1500 hours on it and it still performs darn near like a brand new one I have.

I never did the math, but the gas mower would run out before finishing the 12 acres around my house. This is with an 8 gallon tank. I could mow the exact same area twice with the diesel and have about a gallon of fuel left. I'm thinking in the 1500 hours on the old Grasshopper that would likely have already paid off the premium to get the diesel engine with gas prices the way they are now. But, I have no fear of the new gas engines not lasting you quite a while. A lot of people here don't like the Briggs, but I know several guys who mow with them and haven't had any problems at all.

Good luck, and have fun, with whatever you get!

 

[AlanB]

On the Vac, this is something along the lines of what I would get, there is a model below this with a 5hp but I think I would probably get the chipper option while I was buying.

Agri-Fab Tow-Behind Mow-N-Vac Chipper/Shredder — 8 HP, Model# 502492 | Chipper/Shredders | Northern Tool + Equipment

And yes, it is vacuuming up the debris, your deck get's it too the discharge chute, then the vac sucks it through the impeller into the trailer deal.

I am on a different sheet on the motors then Dargo, although, with fuel prices going the way they are I may have to rethink it some.

IMO, gas, carb and air cooled are "good enough" and I am not willing to pay the premium for the other things. They definetely have their advantages, but for us, in our situation we do lots of small to mid size yards, we get more windshield time and trimming time then mowing time so I would rather keep my initial investment down.

Also with a gas engine, if I get really pissed at it, I can kick the dang thing off and get a brand new one for around $1500 to $2000 with full warranty.

For us as well, carbs, air, gas, are very simple and easy for me to understand and troubleshoot. Get's me going quicker. The more complicated the machine, the more there is to break, and the more likely I will have a hard time troubleshooting it.

Just worked on a Scag with fuel injection on a Kohler, we ended up doing factory tech support and swapping some controllers off a new mower to diagnose and get the guy (commercial cutter) going.

Your pricing kind of scare's me a bit.

I think I can get the Lazer Z that we run (I forget what they call it now, it would be the "old" model) for about $7500 (they call it the "advantage series" I think, here is a link, Lazer Z AS riding lawn mower for the landscape professional from Exmark. and I am pretty sure I saw a hustler for about the same price.

As to the Brigg's, I would not quite be ready to go there yet. For the 5 or 8 hp on the blower, fine, no problem, but on my mower I would rather have Kawi, Kohler or Honda. I have cussed my Kawi on occasion (they put the freaking PCV valve in the MIDDLE of the dang engine) and had literal fits out of 2 kohlers that both broke rods but all in all they are well proven engines and their are thousands if not millions of them out there. The new, bigger commercial Briggs in my opinion have just not proven themselves yet so I would not go there.

Hanna and I were talking last night about our mowers, and I think one Exmark is about 7 years old, and one is 8 and the dixon is about 10 years old.

Dixon has had 3 motors, but the first one failed in the first year, the second failed first run, and the 3 has been there 9+ years. Exmarks motors are still original, Kawi and Kohler.

If I did have the option I would get the Donelson (sp) air filter setup but I do not have it on any of my mowers.

Good luck whichever way you go, but I would think long and hard about going past $7500.

 

[sperry]

Well finally did it!

Just brought home a new Exmark Lazer Z 60" with 27 hp Kawasaki. I can't wait to find out how much mowing time it will save me. Sure seems to be a learning curve to operate it. The Exmark dealer is close by and seemed professional so I figured thats the way to go. (support small dealer)

My first small cut looked like I should adjust the anti scalp wheels lower. I have very uneven ground here in VT. A cut mark was left behind in spots where the height of the deck varied coming from different directions. The scalp wheels are set in the high position, is this the norm? And is this the proper remedy?

I appreciate all the comments and advise. (past and future)
Thanks!

Sperry
TYM 300 HST KUBOTA 7610 Exmark Lazer Z 60"

 

[sperry]

Well finally did it!

Just brought home a new Exmark Lazer Z 60" with 27 hp Kawasaki. I can't wait to find out how much mowing time it will save me. Sure seems to be a learning curve to operate it. The Exmark dealer is close by and seemed professional so I figured thats the way to go. (support small dealer)

My first small cut looked like I should adjust the anti scalp wheels lower. I have very uneven ground here in VT. A cut mark was left behind in spots where the height of the deck varied coming from different directions. The scalp wheels are set in the high position, is this the norm? And is this the proper remedy?

I appreciate all the comments and advise. (past and future)
Thanks!

Sperry
TYM 300 HST KUBOTA 7610 Exmark Lazer Z 60"

 

[AlanB]

Yes, it would be the proper remedy, I "THINK" that ours are set one down from the top hole, but honestly cannot remember.

There should be a little chart on the deck (a sticker) that shows what hole to put the wheel in, corresponding to how high you normally cut.

I will look at ours if I remember tonight and verify, but remember, a lot of what we do is a compromise as we go to different lawns, mown at different heights constantly.

Hope you enjoy yours and it works out well for you.

Added on edit, you will probably also improve against scalping somewhat with practice and experience, but there are some places where even the 60's are a bit big.