John Deere 997 Z-Trac

[chowl]

Does anyone have a opinion or coments on this unit?

I use the 997 to mow 2 to 3 acre or larger pastures in my stable business.

Thanks
Les

 

[Tonyau]

G'Day,

I bought a new 997 last Friday, 60'' rear discharge deck, for doing rough work, parks, ressie acreages etc.

The prime mover side of things so far is excellent, much better than my Toro. better built too.

The rear discharge cutter.....only neat in dry grass, the lusher the grass the messier it gets, then requires the higher deck setting double pass to tidy up.

So far...so good.

How long has the 997 been out in America?

Mine was in the 1st box over....so new many dealers haven't heard of them yet.

Do any of you blokes on this forum run rear discharge decks?

Thanks,

Tony

 

[Spiffy]

I don't know a thing about the 997s, but seeing your location couldn't resist being the first to say "Welcome" [or perhaps "G'Day"] from this side of the world. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

BTW Great job filling out your profile, hope that means you'll hang around here some....it can be addictive. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jcmseven]

I do not have experience with specifically to rear discharge deck on this machine, but my findings in general have been favorable on larger RFM rd decks for tractors (I have one now) but less favorable on the lawn and garden size machines. The differences to me are as follows: first with a tractor mounted unit the RFM can disperse clippings across the entire width of the deck, which lays them more smoothly. With a mid mount deck, most have a chute or direct the clippings centrally for discharge out the back. They have to do this because one would not want clippings spread over the inner workings of the rear of the power unit. Also, most lawn and garden mid mount decks, including those on ZTR machines, have the benefit of more engine power relative to the size of the machine. This intuitively would benefit a side discharge deck more than a rear, as the machine could generate enough flow through the deck to disperse clippings more effectively out the side. In short, the smaller discharge "chute" surface area creates a situation of inevitable clumping when the grass is wet in these smaller machines. I do not know if the dealer would be willing to swap to SD for those who may wish to switch, or if that would be an option.

John M

 

[Tonyau]

G'Day Spiffy!

Thanks mate for the welcome!


G'day John,

the 997 ztr is a bit different.....the rear of the deck is open, under the mower from the deck to the back is a rubber mat protecting the prime mover.

What I'm working on is blade combos to reduce clipping size so placement is more uniform in lush grasses, where this deck windrows.

Also, just occured to me last night, as the blads spin clockwise, and the deck is open at the rear....the natural flow tends to land more clippings on the left side of the cut....
The middle blade mainly....

So, to even out the mat of clippings, I'm going to make a rubber baffle/deflector and try and be lucky enough to put it in just the right spot where it deflects down before the clippings start 'swirling' to the left.

In theory is sounds ok....but that ain't always gunna work!

I'm doing this tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm still getting the feel for this board, coming from lawnsite.com, can I post pics in threads?

pics say a thousand words, would save me rambling on lol.

 

[Spiffy]

Attachments like you posted are quite usefull and very encouraged. You don't have to [or want to] size them down, but may want to compress them a bit if you take extremely high resolution pictures. Somebody will correct me here, but I think 100K or less is the magic number.

A significant number of TBN users don't have access to broadband internet service, so unless they are really small files, in-line pictures are discouraged so everybody has smooth reading [with attachments you can open only the pictures you need to].

I thought the 997 was slightly less "streamlined" looking. I must be thinking of an older model....pictures are 1000 words... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Tonyau]

Yeah Chad,

it gots the looks, very well designed, very tough.

The only yuck thing j.d did was put those stupid over height ROPS on.....that tall the airport diverts jets around me ha ha ha.

I'm going to get them 'modified' to something practical, even if it does cancel their warrantee etc, just get rid of that forward facing bit.

Been having some luck with the rear discharge deck today, running 2 blades per spindle, doing an initial cut, then a 2nd pass with the deck raised 1'' higher to mulch/disperse the clippings....seems the only way to do neat mowing with these decks.

certainly has a learning curve to it!

 

[chowl]

Tony

If you modifled the ROPS as I did to add a canopy. I don't
JD will have a problem with this.

The canopy that I added is made call TuffTop and is removable. I welded a upside down "U" to the lower cross
piece on the ROPS so the canopy would sit level.

The ROPS is still as is ,and will still give the protection it should.

Thanks
Les

 

[Tonyau]

I'm going to remove the baffle fin in the attached pic, this should enable a wider 'swirl, a wider dispersal of clippings, I think this falle chokes the 'swirl' and aims it torward the inside of the rear drive tyre, even has a protector plate there....

maybe this will sort out my windrow issues... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Spiffy]

I'd say it's worth a try!

That should be the "7 iron" deck, so I don't think you'll hurt the rigidity any. I use side discharge though, so don't trust my advice.

I think once you get the bugs worked out, you'll be real happy with the rear discharge. I know if l let things get too tall, the side discharge leaves a nasty windrow with every mower I've used.

Good Luck! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Tonyau]

Hmmmm, where to start....

Got that baffle off, lots of work!

Now, I get 2 very distinct windrows at the base on each inside tyre area, no spread like I had hoped....feel crook in the guts now, hacked into a brand new deck and got the opposite result to what I had hoped for...yet theoretically to me it should of worked....obviously there is more to this than I thought.

I'll talk to my dealer tomorrow, see if he can link me up with someone at john deere tech dept. who maybe able to help me modify this deck to leave a 'windrow-less' finish'....

failing that....dunno, might well of stuffed my business.

I'll see if I can trade back this deck and buy a 7 iron side discharge, though this puts me out of government work, which is why I went rear discharge in the 1st place, it will however keep me going.....problem is my new RD deck isn't worth anything now, and a 7 iron will cost an arm and leg, plus apparently on these models, they aren't made to interchange....so it will need to be engineered to fit.

dunno what I'm going to do.....but I feel crook stressin about it...

 

[Spiffy]

Made it worse or just changed the problem, that stinks; and I even gave you words of encouragement on trying it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif!

I wonder, reading your earlier post, if a mulching deck isn't what you're after, but I'm not sure if this is even an option in the 7iron....getting way out of my league. I am a tinkerer and someone who spent way too much time researching and testing out ZTRs last spring, but sure not an expert.

I'm really hoping some experts jump in here, but worste case I'm seeing is that if you get stuck buying a SD deck; you'll have this RD to experiment with until you're satisfied. If you tell them the story: how it didn't work right to begin with, and you reasonably tried to make it better, I'd really hope the JD dealer will treat you fair regardless of the solution. I must go visit an uncle this afternoon [who I believe has picked up some really strange roommates], so I'd gladly trade your visit with the JD dealer....of course, I think the plane tickets would destroy us both /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anyway, best of luck! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I think he's on vacation right now, but if Vin happens to be in your neck of the woods, I'm sure he'd give some advice or metalworking skills to a fellow country man:

stonevahestate

Again good luck; no doubt you'll come out well on this! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[fig]

Tony,

Hate to hear of your problems. I work for a mechanical contractor and we do welding every day. Do you know of any good machine shops out there that could weld the piece back in (if not damaged too much) or make you a new one. At least that would get you back to where you started.

But as an earlier poster said; maybe check with your dealer and see what kind of help that he can give or get JD involved and "force" their hand a little to help with your situation.

Fig

 

[Tonyau]

G'Day blokes!

after removing that baffle it hasn't done anything negative, just leaves 2 even windrows, not one and a half.

I have been asking my dealer what to do, he is obliging, but this is way outa his league.

I emailed deere in america late last week asking what I could do....just got a reply from customer services 1/2 hour ago, they said go to deere australia for help!

these machines only just arrived here, I'm one of the 1st buyers, j.d australia wouldn't know....I emailed the rep earlier last week and no reply, emailed deere australia, no reply, then I emailed deere usa....and they basically tell me to go away.

If this is the deere fantastic client services I hear about so often, I was better staying with Toro, least ya know head office doesn't care even before you start negotiating lol.

I replied stating how I felt, nicely, and that I felt let down etc, and that it would of been easier for everyone if they could just get a techie to look at my request, instead of passing the buck.

If this is typical of their service...this deere will be traded young, and I won't buy another, one of the things that attracted me to deere was the service.....I'm losing my attraction fast!

I wish I didn't have to post a negative on the internet, but they could of given a little effort, not like I'm asking for anything more than advice. But obviously giving me the run around suits them more.

I expected more from this company, crap service is typical for mower companies, but companies who are ag. based I thought would be more willing to help.....I obviously expected, assumed too much.

not much I can add to this thread now....what I've got is as good as it will be and I'm not about to be assisted by the deere corp, live and learn as they say....

thanks for reading the saga guys....looks like it's come to a grinding halt /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[fig]

Tony,

I have been in that position several times before. Seems like no one is worried about their customers anymore. I have had to deal with mfg's of TV's, "weed wackers", autos, etc. and had to get a little forceful to get anything accomplished. I was nice, but forceful.

You get a department manager on the phone and tell them this will be the last product that you, your freinds, and hopefully anyone in your family will ever purchase from their company or companies any more. Usually when I pushed that fact; they would change their tune and try to do something. They don't want the bad publicity and in JD's case; they don't want a bunch of landscapers to know that their new mower mows like crap.

If you tell a department manager that and that you are in the landscaping business (not just a homeowner); then it might help. Just my 2 cents and what I have done in the past.

Fig

 

[chowl]

To everyone that has try or has a JD 997 Z-Trac

What is your thoughts and feelings over all on this machine?

What do you like or dislike about the proformance of this machine?

The 997 does a great job for us in keep up with our horse pastures. It gives us that nice cut home lawn look and doesn't
tear the fields up like a shredder ( MX 6 ).

The time to cut a 2 to 3 acres pasture is reduce to almost half the time.

Thanks
Les

 

[Tonyau]

Update:

Deere is looking at a fix for the heating issue, so that is a relief.

I have got my deck working much better, slighly modified that baffle I removed and had it put back on....PLUS deere has just released to my dealer new deck settings specs, so now the deck has been refitted it appears to cut much, much better.


As far as the mower in general, awesome!

Only dislike is the rediculous high ROPS, dangerous.

The mower is very well built, very strong, true quality gear, very productive. Once deere sets our aussie models up for our conditions this is probably going to be the best cutter on the market! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

All is good now....