Comparison Kubota or Grasshopper Zero Turn?

[PapaPerk]

Interested in buying a Kubota or Grasshopper zero turn mower. I want a diesel. And a 60 or 72 deck.

If I get the grasshopper I'm thinking about the front mounted mower.

I'm interested on peoples feedback on the 2 machines.

I would be mowing around 7 acres a week and some of it is fairly rough ground. So smooth riding would be a plus!

 

[Redneck in training]

We have Grasshopper 725 cutting about 8 ac with steep slopes and many trees. The machine has about 1000 hours with few repairs. Bearings on the deck shaft and all bearings in the deck spindles were changed recently. The machine got new engine at the end of last year. We mow on slopes steeper than 45 deg. therefore proper engine oil level is imprortant as we learned the hard way. Otherwise it was troublefree past ten years we own it. Since our ground is also rough we got suspension seat for it.

 

[big bubba]

45 degree slopes in iowa...pretty good!
did low oil level starve engine on slopes? :-(

 

[coobie]

Interested in buying a Kubota or Grasshopper zero turn mower. I want a diesel. And a 60 or 72 deck.

If I get the grasshopper I'm thinking about the front mounted mower.

I'm interested on peoples feedback on the 2 machines.

I would be mowing around 7 acres a week and some of it is fairly rough ground. So smooth riding would be a plus!

I owned a 2008 ZTR kubota (diesel)326 pro model.IMHO it,s the best commerical grade ZTR out there.coobie

 

[PSUTundra]

Not much to go on as I own a Hustler, but the neighborhood "lawn guy" that does my fertilizer and cuts a number of neighbors large lawns has a Grasshopper. We have discussed the machines and he is really happy with his.

 

[pizzaguy]

I love my Kubota tractor, but never tried their zero turn. I do have a Grasshopper though and love it. We mow 5 acres and until a couple years ago did it all with the Grasshopper front mounted deck. Mower has not had any major repairs,just good maintenance. We did add a Gravely zero turn a couple years ago and I really like that one also. Gravely will mow much faster than the Grasshopper, if you can stay in the seat!

 

[Verticaltrx]

We have a Kubota ZD21 (21hp diesel, 60" deck) and a Grasshopper 614 (14hp B&S Vangaurd, 48" deck) and 725K (25hp Kohler, 60" deck) . The Grasshopper 725K is by far my favorite one to operate.

Kubota ZD21:
Pros: Excellent Kubota diesel engine, nice hydraulically controlled PTO and deck lift, good commercial grade machine, no repairs in 600hrs
Cons: Rides rough as an ox cart, the hydro drive has marginal power on steep hills (it does have fluid in the tires which makes it heavier)

Grasshoppers:
Pros: Ride is the best of any zero turn mower I've run, especially the 725K (wide rear axle), very heavy construction, built for longevity (lots of grease fittings), G2 drive system in the 725K has plenty of power for hills. The older 614 has been an excellent mower as well, it's a 1992 vintage with nearly 2,000hrs on it and basically no repairs.
Cons: Traction isn't great on hills with turf tires (both have lug tires now), electric PTO clutch and manual deck lift.

I'd go with the Grasshopper for your situation. They are an excellent machine all around and not many people seem to know about them any more with popularity of the mid-deck ZTR's. Grasshopper has been building zero turn mowers decades before most of the other zero turn companies were even in existence (since 1969.) With the out front deck, lug tires and wide rear axle they are very stable, capable and extremely smooth riding. The Kubota models are very good machines as well, we've had zero trouble out of ours and it's very well built, just rides really rough.

 

[Degolyerent]

I have a 1999Grasshopper 725g2 with a 25 hp Kubota gas engine and I love it, it is very reliable and cuts good and is very fast. It has the mowing unit out front and is 61" wide, it trims very well and handles and rides like a dream. It is the best lawnmower I have been on by far. Grasshopper is a fine machine and has my vote for sure.
John

 

[trevelynzx]

I owned a 2008 ZTR kubota (diesel)326 pro model.IMHO it,s the best commerical grade ZTR out there.coobie

I just bought a ZD326s and could not be happier. Very comfy to ride, adjustable suspension seat, hydraulic deck lift, built-in jack, great power, amazing speed, Kubota diesel engine!! Etc! Full disclosure: this is my first ZTR so I don't really have a frame of reference. But it is a sweet, sweet machine.

 

[Redneck in training]

45 degree slopes in iowa...pretty good!
did low oil level starve engine on slopes? :-(

Exactly. We mow pond dam. Did that for years until the day when the oil was at about low mark.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

with hills like that, I'd buy a Steiner or Ventrac. On a ZTR one of those times your going to end up in the pond.

(or buy a Kubota and get KTAC insurance.. they pay for machines that dumped into ponds)

 

[PapaPerk]

We have a Kubota ZD21 (21hp diesel, 60" deck) and a Grasshopper 614 (14hp B&S Vangaurd, 48" deck) and 725K (25hp Kohler, 60" deck) . The Grasshopper 725K is by far my favorite one to operate.

Kubota ZD21:
Pros: Excellent Kubota diesel engine, nice hydraulically controlled PTO and deck lift, good commercial grade machine, no repairs in 600hrs
Cons: Rides rough as an ox cart, the hydro drive has marginal power on steep hills (it does have fluid in the tires which makes it heavier)

Grasshoppers:
Pros: Ride is the best of any zero turn mower I've run, especially the 725K (wide rear axle), very heavy construction, built for longevity (lots of grease fittings), G2 drive system in the 725K has plenty of power for hills. The older 614 has been an excellent mower as well, it's a 1992 vintage with nearly 2,000hrs on it and basically no repairs.
Cons: Traction isn't great on hills with turf tires (both have lug tires now), electric PTO clutch and manual deck lift.

I'd go with the Grasshopper for your situation. They are an excellent machine all around and not many people seem to know about them any more with popularity of the mid-deck ZTR's. Grasshopper has been building zero turn mowers decades before most of the other zero turn companies were even in existence (since 1969.) With the out front deck, lug tires and wide rear axle they are very stable, capable and extremely smooth riding. The Kubota models are very good machines as well, we've had zero trouble out of ours and it's very well built, just rides really rough.

Great review! Thank you for taking the time to tell me all about them! I'm really leaning towards the GH with a Kubota diesel engine. The smooth ride is really important to me if I want to mow fast.

 

[PapaPerk]

I just bought a ZD326s and could not be happier. Very comfy to ride, adjustable suspension seat, hydraulic deck lift, built-in jack, great power, amazing speed, Kubota diesel engine!! Etc! Full disclosure: this is my first ZTR so I don't really have a frame of reference. But it is a sweet, sweet machine.

Sounds good! How rough is your ground? I really need to drive a Kubota and GH to understand ride roughness. I really like the Kubota and love Kubota machinery.

My only concern is ride harshness and difficulty mowing close to trees, etc. The grasshopper can reach up under bushes and fences. I hate weed eating and would like to keep it at a minimum.

 

[EastTexFrank]

with hills like that, I'd buy a Steiner or Ventrac. On a ZTR one of those times your going to end up in the pond.

(or buy a Kubota and get KTAC insurance.. they pay for machines that dumped into ponds)

Now that there is some good advice.

We run a ZD 326 at the farm on mainly level ground and it is a fairly comfortable ride. It is a great mowing machine but it is a dusty son of a gun when the wind is blowing (side discharge). It's not good on steep slopes at all. It'll scare ya. It'll lose traction and start to slide on steep slopes and then you are just along for the ride.

When I was looking for a mowing machine at the very end of last year I looked at the front mount Grasshopper diesel real hard. It mowed great in the demonstartion area at the dealership. I think that I would have probably bought it but the dealership was one of those two man small engine repair shops that sold some mowers on the side. It would have probably been OK but that just worried me. I went with the Kubota F2680 instead and even though I've only got 30 hours on it so far I'm extremely happy with the purchase.

 

[Redneck in training]

with hills like that, I'd buy a Steiner or Ventrac. On a ZTR one of those times your going to end up in the pond.

(or buy a Kubota and get KTAC insurance.. they pay for machines that dumped into ponds)

We mow the dry side only.

 

[PapaPerk]

Now that there is some good advice.

We run a ZD 326 at the farm on mainly level ground and it is a fairly comfortable ride. It is a great mowing machine but it is a dusty son of a gun when the wind is blowing (side discharge). It's not good on steep slopes at all. It'll scare ya. It'll lose traction and start to slide on steep slopes and then you are just along for the ride.

When I was looking for a mowing machine at the very end of last year I looked at the front mount Grasshopper diesel real hard. It mowed great in the demonstartion area at the dealership. I think that I would have probably bought it but the dealership was one of those two man small engine repair shops that sold some mowers on the side. It would have probably been OK but that just worried me. I went with the Kubota F2680 instead and even though I've only got 30 hours on it so far I'm extremely happy with the purchase.

Ohhhh Kubota F. How much they run? That maybe also an option for me. Love the snow plow. Will it mow faster than a ZD or Grasshopper?

 

[IXLR8]

Have you considered a Ferris? They have a full suspension system.

 

[PapaPerk]

Have you considered a Ferris? They have a full suspension system.

I need to look at them. They seem like popular machines.

 

[srs]

PapaPerk, I don't own a zero turn so take this for what it's worth. My dentist said he had a Kubota zero turn mower and even though it was a great machine he said it was incredibly rough riding. So much so that he sold it. Not sure what, if anything he replaced it with. The Ferris sounds like a great machine for ride quality. You might want to check lawnsite.com to check out some reviews there. Stanley

 

[PapaPerk]

PapaPerk, I don't own a zero turn so take this for what it's worth. My dentist said he had a Kubota zero turn mower and even though it was a great machine he said it was incredibly rough riding. So much so that he sold it. Not sure what, if anything he replaced it with. The Ferris sounds like a great machine for ride quality. You might want to check lawnsite.com to check out some reviews there. Stanley

Thanks for the info. Bet he was afraid it would shake his teeth out! Lol. I think I need to expand my search. Those hoppers maybe too pricey!