Kubota ZD 28 vs. Scag Sabre Tooth Tiger

horsinaround · Aug 18, 2005

Help Please.

Can someone out there who has used both the Kubota ZD 28 and the Scag Sabre Tooth Diesel please tell me the key differences, advantages, disadvantages between both? I am about to upgrade equipment and have narrowed it to between these two mowers.
I need to make a decision very soon and want to be the most informed. Let me know your thoughts, good or bad, on either.

Both have the six foot deck.

Thanks.

milkman · Aug 18, 2005

Have used smaller versions of both machines, would be a real easy choice for me.

horsinaround · Aug 19, 2005

( Have used smaller versions of both machines, would be a real easy choice for me. )

And your choice is???
Because?

Thanks.

Nasty135 · Aug 19, 2005

horsinaround, Not to bust in on someones thread , But I think his answer was given in the color of his screen name (secret code /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)

Dargo · Aug 19, 2005

Not to take anything away from either machine, but I like the ZD 28 better. I just think that the Kubota diesel engine is smoother feeling, smoother sounding, and just seems to be a bit more of a refined engine. I have nothing against the Daihatsu diesel, but I just think the Kubota has it beat. If you look around and see what small diesel engines are being used in mowers and smaller tractors, you will find a huge amount more of the Kubota engines. Besides the obvious, I think that will keep parts not only more available in the future, but at a reasonable price.

Both ZTR mowers are certainly worthy commercial grade pieces of equipment. I did not buy either because I strongly prefer a front mount ZTR for my particular needs. Good luck!

gamble77 · Aug 19, 2005

Any reason you think you need a diesel?

milkman · Aug 19, 2005

I have looked them over and crawled under and looked at the drive system and the drive for the deck and the orange one is all Kubota, one belt, hydraulic deck lift, the drive has no hoses, built like a tractor, pivot front axle with built in lift to change or sharpen blades. It was built from the drawing board to finished product to do what it does. Hope this don't start a war, it's just one mans opinion. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

horsinaround · Aug 20, 2005

( Any reason you think you need a diesel? )

Yes, First off, there are needs and wants. I don't need a diesel, so, this clearly goes in the want category. So, the first reason I want a diesel is I like it. The second reason I want a diesel is the big tank of off road fuel beside my barn making it completely unnecessary to continuously run back and forth to the gas station with a 5 gallon can for gas for the mower. A diesel will run much better and longer.

gamble77 · Aug 21, 2005

Well those are some good points...just remember that while the diesel will run longer the rest of the machine will last the same amount of time no matter what motor it has in it...

Dargo · Aug 21, 2005

You know, before it was really just a line to my wife so she wouldn't mind the diesel, but now it's true. The dollar savings in fuel economy between the gas and diesel can com into play. If I were to mow just my lawn portion of my property, about 12 acres, with the diesel it takes about 4 gallons of fuel. With the exact same ZTR mower but the engine is gas powered, it burns almost exactly 8 gallons.

With current prices of gas at about $2.70 a gallon, that costs an extra $10.80 in fuel per mowing. My mowing season is about 30 weeks, give or take. That means it would cost me an extra $324 per year to use the gas mower. Based on the current history of my mowers, even with the gas powered unit, I should be able to get over 2500 hours of service; more on the diesel. It takes me about 4 hours to mow 12 acres, so that comes out to around 120 hours per year. (And, that is pretty accurate as to what I've put on my machine per year) That would mean that the mower should last me over 20 years. At $324 savings per year (that's assuming that gas prices don't go up, which we all know they will) that will equate into a fuel savings of $6480 over the life of the mower. Since fuel prices will continue to rise, that amount will only be higher.

I now really regret not paying the additional $2000 for the diesel engine on my 2nd ZTR. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif