I need help:
- Thread starter FRIZ
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Gittyup
Elite Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2007
- Messages
- 3,145
- Location
- Mid Atlantic
- Tractor
- Kioti CK25 Shuttle Shift, loaded tires, JD X739
On the top tier garden tractors, some will have hydraulics. Like the JD 4xx seies I have and the new X7xx series that the OP is considering. Some Kubotas and the Simplicity legacy also have hydraulics. Other brands might too. It's awesome for the snow blade: up/down and left/right. And they can have 3PH as well, even a rear PTO.
Someone said you can't put a tiller behind an AWS JD. Not true.
Someone said you can't put a tiller behind an AWS JD. Not true.
aczlan
Good Morning
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2008
- Messages
- 16,985
- Tractor
- Kubota L3830GST, B7500HST, BX2660. Formerly: Case 480F LL, David Brown 880UE
I think your JD salesman was uninformed when he said that "these Zero Turn machines are just for big open & flat lawn area. And not for all those trees and baby hills around the house and pond" having used and worked on several Zero Turn mowers (ZTRs) mainly Exmark and Huskvarna for a lawn care company as well as many "standard" mowers I would say that in close quarters and around trees a mid-mount ZTR will probably be faster and easier to use than a standard mower (ie: a B3030 or other front wheel steer tractor), a 4 wheel steer machine may be different, I haven't used a 4 wheel steer tractor, but a ZTR will essentially eliminate the need to have a pushmower to edge with, as long as the ZTR can fit in the spaces. I highly recommend Exmarks, and recommend NOT getting Huskvarnas, they are not very well engineered and are a PITA to work on.
before you buy get the dealer to do a demo at your place (or run them around at the dealership if they wont) with a 4ws and a ZTR and see how they stack up.
if you have many trees to mow around I would not do it without a ZTR.
Regards
Aaron Z
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I had a four wheel steer craftsman mower. It was able to make it around a tree in one pass, I just turned it all the way and was able to make the full turn while cutting the grass. It worked pretty good, but that rear axle broke on me and Sears no longer supports it. No parts, so that's when I started looking at a new mower.
The big difference between the ride along and the zero turn is the speed. I can speed up in a second with my zero turn and go faster then I can hold on. I even wear my seatbelt on my zero turn because it's so fast. It's FUN TOO!!!!
With the ride along mower, I just sort of chose a gear and rode it at that speed until I was done. I do the same with my tractor and bush hog or finish mower. I just stay at the same speed the entire time I'm mowing.
The zero turn is instant response for both faster and slower. I don't think I can express how important this is in comparing types of mowers. But when mowing, it's HUGE.
As for traction and hills, there was an area along the highway that was too steep for me to mow with my tractor and ridealong mower. I just left it and waited for the State mowers to come through with their batwings mowers twice a year. With my zero turn, I can mow sideways at extreme angles. Both tires are being drivin and have very good traction. It's by far my safest side angle mower. For going straight up, it also has tremendous traction. Both tires have their own hydralic pumps, which allow power to both tires. I can go up that steep angle, turn on it and mow sideways. There are also two street signs in the way. I spin around them cutting at an agle without any issues. It's fun!!
There is a reason commercial mowers use zero turns. It's really the only option out there. Nothing compares.
Eddie
The big difference between the ride along and the zero turn is the speed. I can speed up in a second with my zero turn and go faster then I can hold on. I even wear my seatbelt on my zero turn because it's so fast. It's FUN TOO!!!!
With the ride along mower, I just sort of chose a gear and rode it at that speed until I was done. I do the same with my tractor and bush hog or finish mower. I just stay at the same speed the entire time I'm mowing.
The zero turn is instant response for both faster and slower. I don't think I can express how important this is in comparing types of mowers. But when mowing, it's HUGE.
As for traction and hills, there was an area along the highway that was too steep for me to mow with my tractor and ridealong mower. I just left it and waited for the State mowers to come through with their batwings mowers twice a year. With my zero turn, I can mow sideways at extreme angles. Both tires are being drivin and have very good traction. It's by far my safest side angle mower. For going straight up, it also has tremendous traction. Both tires have their own hydralic pumps, which allow power to both tires. I can go up that steep angle, turn on it and mow sideways. There are also two street signs in the way. I spin around them cutting at an agle without any issues. It's fun!!
There is a reason commercial mowers use zero turns. It's really the only option out there. Nothing compares.
Eddie
Sportsman762
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 942
i would go with a Zero-Turn mower they are faster and easier to mow with. However do not get discouraged when trying to drive one. It takes time to figure out how to mow perfectly strait with one. Once you do figure it out you can mow steeper hills than you could with an 2wd lawn mower. You also do as much if any trim work with one. How much are you looking at mowing with the mower? I mow about 4 acres with a 44" Gravely. Also how far apart are your trees? I only use a 44" because for me to get between all the trees I have to use a smaller mower. A 52"+ deck would not do me much good. For work around the farm i would look at used tractors and start off with a 4wd and a loader then after a couple years I would relook at my situation and get what I really needed. This way you do not spend as much $$ on something you might not really need. This is just my two two cents worth. Everyone else has given you great advise. Let us know what you buy.