How many hours on your kubota ZD21??

[Nasty135]

To all who will listen and not take this the wrong way...

I will grant you Kubota makes some great stuff!! Albeit more pricey ,you get what your willing to pay for... There are TWO different classes of people,Some who dial in a repair (dealer) and DIY's , I fall in the DIY catagory because I'm just a homeowner ,not a business, nor wealthy (healthy maybe,Wise the jury's still out on that one). (I still have my RFM for mowing if necessary,as backup) When I was looking for a fast way to cut my 5 measely acres I wanted #1 a commercial grade machine, diesel would have been great because of the fuel comsumption rate ,But they are $10k,Hmmm I can buy a lot of gas for The $4k I saved buying a Lesco commercial unit (same as the cub M60 tank)....#2 Being a lazy DIY guy, I look at ease of maintenance; If and when I have to work on this unit ,I want it to be as easy as possible... The ZD's look a little more difficult to work on with the big body cover,and a trans job is an eight hour deal (so I've been told,could be wrong) but maybe you'll never have to...?
I can flip a panel out of the way and get to what-ever I need to,when ever I need to...
A cub Z-force 44 really isn't well suited (IMO) for 6 acres, But you know that now...Some lessons are not soon forgotten /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
I'm sure you will be very pleased with your new machine ... I know mine has been giving me great service for the the last year & a half... 90hrs /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif And I don't feel that I have taken any risk buy not buying a more exspensive machine

I chose what I chose for my reasons and I'm fine with that /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[gamble77]

Sorry Dargo! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The ONLY reason I am not a huge fan of diesel lawn mowers is for the simple fact that spindles, transmissions, decks, etc. are only going to last (if used commercially) so long. By the time all those components are giving out that diesel motor is just going to be getting started.

The counties around here used diesel mowers for years until they realized it wasn't cost prohibative to use diesel's for the simple fact that at around 2000 hours they were replacing decks, transmissions, spindles, etc.. They were having to basically rebuild the machine around the motor. One machine I remember they had twice the original cost of the mower in replacing deck and drive parts. Thats my spill on the matter.

 

[SkyPup]

Gasoline lawnmowers don't have the 2,000 hour deck maintenance problems simply because they don't make it that far, they've already been trashed long ago.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DmansPadge]

I agree with Gamble77 that you will most likely be rebuilding the machine around the engine and there comes a point to where putting money into a used machine isn't the best option. The diesel will also cost more up front. But the diesel is much nicer to use.... quieter, more power, less fuel consumption. A lot of people seem to fall back on the line of thinking that "when it breaks... I want to be able to work on it." And that leads them to a gas unit. I guess if you do want to work on something... the gas is your best chance of having that happen. With the diesel... you may never have the "opportunity" of working on it arise. Just keeping the fluids and filters changed will keep that diesel running smooth for a long time. And still... anything can break. But that fact would not in anyway change my mind.

 

[JJT]

This is my 3rd season with the ZD21, just a little over 100 hours. Pro's - fuel consumption, speed, comfort, cut, Pro deck. Con's - just 1 - price, (mine was $9500 3 yrs ago, that's a very expensive mower....). My only regret - not buying a ZT sooner. I'd buy the same machine today.

Don, where are you located?