Help! Zero turn mower help

[Jpcjguy]

Hi everyone,

New here and I just bought a house with 2 acres. Coming from a city lot with .22 acres. The lot is relatively flat.
I am looking a for a mower. Previous owner has a kubota 48" zero turn and he said it takes him about an hour to cut.
So I am looking for a mower. What on earth do I look for? Brands? Commercial vs. residential? Hours on it? Etc.
I am mechanically inclined as I rebuild old jeep CJs on the side. So. I do not have to call someone for the slightest thing, but I know nothing about mowers.
All advice welcome!

Thanks!

Joe

 

[Creamer]

Almost any brand will do it for you. Since you are mechanically inclined you do not need the dealer. i would go with at least a 60" deck. There is no cost factor really to go to a smaller deck and 60" is nice for a lot of things.

I run a Deines which is a mail order brand. I have had it since '97 and it has been wonderful. I literally tightened the deck belts for the first time this past summer. Only other problems have been the dry rot on the tires. I personally like the front deck for the following reasons:
1) Can get under things without you being in them, i.e. fruit trees, lilacs, etc.
2) Easy flip up deck for blade access and cleaning
3) Easier to see.

The midmount are very popular in that they cut faster and are a little easier on and off.

I would make sure you have a commercial grade blade - much heavier than a homeowner grade.

I also have a Rear deck for my subcompact tractor but driving over it with the tractor was not conducive to a nice even cut and with obstacles the zero turn cut mowing time significantly.

 

[TSO]

For that sized lot you don't need 60". A 48 or 52" zero turn will do just fine.

I have a Hustler and I'm very happy with it. But with that said, when I did my research last year, most brands are nearly identical. They all use the same engines and hydro trans units (in those sizes) so you're paying for their deck designs, styling, color, Brand name and warranty.

Most people agree that Kawasaki gas engines are better than Briggs or Kohler, so I'd stick with Kaw.

With Kaw engines, if the engine model name is "FR619" for example... the numbers correspond to engine size (cc's) and the letters are for the engine class. "FR..." is usually regarded as Residential grade, "FS..." is regarded as heavy duty residential or entry level commercial, and "FX..." is regarded as commercial.

You can probably get a nice 52" ZTR for around $6k or less. I have a 66" diesel ZTR, but I mow about 5 acres per week.

Good luck!

 

[smstonypoint]

What on earth do I look for? Brands? Commercial vs. residential? Hours on it? Etc.

Although you can tinker, dealer support is important for parts and help if you need it. Keep an eye out for the brands that the lawn service companies in your area are using -- that's a clue as to dealership quality.

Steve

 

[TSO]

Although you can tinker, dealer support is important for parts and help if you need it. Keep an eye out for the brands that the lawn service companies in your area are using -- that's a clue as to dealership quality.

Steve

Yes & No ... sometimes it's more indicative of which company runs the better lease deals.

 

[Mattc8832]

I like the older Toro Z 400 Zero Turn Models myself. There is a lot of good models on the market a lot of it will come down to personal preference.

 

[Bird]

I have the smallest, cheapest Toro, but it's all I need for a little city lot, and I do like having a dealer nearby that I can depend on. And I like the fact that I was able to download the entire parts list from the Internet.

 

[ajd187]

You don't need a 60" deck, but a bigger deck will do the job faster.

 

[Mattc8832]

I agree Toro does good online resources and a good dealer network in my area. My Z400 was a 48 inch deck.

 

[big bubba]

many many name brands out there...wise to seek advice on this forum. even for residential use in your case, i would stay away from popular (lowes, etc) consumer grade mowers & pay more for quality & longevity. construction of deck is real important. just stand or kick on a troy built or husky & you'll see just how flimsy they are. apparently a welded vs stamped construction is preferable. i'd say anything from a 52"-60" would be good for your needs. parker & hydro gear are good names for the hydraulic system. for fun, check out Encore mowers, another quality name brand good luck!