JD 997 ZTR vs 2520

[Nuru]

Never had any debris on me after mowing with my ZTR......

Unless of course your discharge is pointing into a 40mph wind!

i actually got a close up look at one of the larger ZTR units (~ $15k?) this weekend and boy that unit was kinda tall. seems the rider would be way off the ground with that one. It was a commercial 9xx from what I remember.

 

[prosperity]

i actually got a close up look at one of the larger ZTR units (~ $15k?) this weekend and boy that unit was kinda tall. seems the rider would be way off the ground with that one. It was a commercial 9xx from what I remember.

That would be the 997 - Yanmar diesel with a 72" deck.

Yeah, those 997's are H U G E - that is the largest Z that Deere makes.

When you step down a model, you will find them very low to the ground and wide - very stable.

 

[JESSE1]

I wish JD made a slightly smaller version of the 997 with a diesel in it. Kubota makes a complete line of ZTR mowers with diesels. I've never been a fan of the big gas engines. I'm going to make a decision within a week about what I want to do. The ZTR probably makes the most sense but I'm still not sure I want to give up having a small tractor.

 

[ddivinia]

I don't have a loader on the 4400, my 6400 handles those jobs. The 4400 has a 60" MMM. When I bought the 4400 I intended to use it to pull a New Holland hay rake but I have upgraded to a large rake and I use the 6400 for all my hay duties.
The 4400 is used for mowing, post hole digging and putting out fertilizer with a 3pt mounted spreader, but mainly for finish mowing. It's really too large for finish mowing. A 2520 could do those jobs but I'm still on the fence about whether the ZTR would meet my needs better.

I had the same challenge. I bought a 757 with the 60" 7 iron deck - it rocks. The 997 is $$$$ diesel, but oh well. I love my 757 and the 60" is just right. Any larger and the scaling would be ugly. You will mow much faster with a ZTR.

D.

 

[ddivinia]

I wish JD made a slightly smaller version of the 997 with a diesel in it. Kubota makes a complete line of ZTR mowers with diesels. I've never been a fan of the big gas engines. I'm going to make a decision within a week about what I want to do. The ZTR probably makes the most sense but I'm still not sure I want to give up having a small tractor.

I hear ya - pick up a used one at the end of mowing season. They are usually half price and keep the 4400 also.

Becareful - once you mow with a ZTR - you will be ruined.

D.

 

[Nuru]

I had the same challenge. I bought a 757 with the 60" 7 iron deck - it rocks. The 997 is $$$$ diesel, but oh well. I love my 757 and the 60" is just right. Any larger and the scaling would be ugly. You will mow much faster with a ZTR.

D.

Yeah, I am definitely trying to stay diesel, but sometime I even wish i had a ZTR to mow in a hurry - After I make the next deal, I will keep on the lookout for a used ZTR and see if there is one laying around that I think is cheap enough.

 

[ddivinia]

Yeah, I am definitely trying to stay diesel, but sometime I even wish i had a ZTR to mow in a hurry - After I make the next deal, I will keep on the lookout for a used ZTR and see if there is one laying around that I think is cheap enough.

End of mowing season is a good time to get a deal on a new or used one.

D.

 

[Nuru]

yep that is de trut!

 

[JESSE1]

I'm finally getting some time off so tomorrow or Thursday I'll be checking with my dealer and decide what I want to do.

 

[JESSE1]

Finally got to test drive a 997 and a 2520. The votes are in and the 997 with the 72" mower wins. I really don't need a small tractor. My 4400 was used 95% of the time to mow with and it's size was really overkill for mowing. The 997 is a monster mowing machine. The Yanmar diesel is about the same size as the one in the 4400. It's going to take some getting used to the quick response of the 997 but it's going to cut my mowing time way down. If JD had offered a smaller diesel I'd probably have bought it. I'm not a big fan of the large gas engines.