Kubota ZTR

[JonSpinosa]

Art,

Are you the Art at Whites Farm Supply? I think Ed has spoken to me about you!!! You know, the computer guy. Anyways Art, this is my situation, I am looking to purchase a mower and have been considering many options. To make it short, I have narrowed it to a Exmark laser Z w/60" cut with a 23 hp liquid cooled Kawasaki engine for $6900 and the Kubota ZD21 for $9500. However, other than an emotional reason to purchase Kubota, since we all love Kubotas, why should I spend $2600 more for the Kubota. The Exmark machine has a proven track record and high reviews from thousands of users compared to a piece of equipment with no history of performance???? Unless you guys at Whites can help offset the cost, I think I am going to buy Exmark. How about a quote??

Jon S.

 

[MReeter]

Joe, I was at our Kubota dealership last week,they had three TG1860's with the liquid-cooled Kawasaki engines in the shop,all of them shot,blow up,worn out.These mowers hav'nt been on the market that long.Dealer says the mowers are holding up very well,it's the engines that are junk.Would I pay more for a Kubota diesel? With out question,yes.

 

[rja]

I had the occasion to talk to the Scag factory tech. on a oil question and I asked him about the Kawasaki engines. (scag uses them for the 22hp? models). He said that there were manufacturing problems that are being corrected (parts being left out of the engines, stuff like that). He also said that the Kohler engines are fine and will hold up (provided you do the requiered maint.) I thought the board would find this interesting. Rich.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

MReeter,
How many hours did those Kawasaki's have? I have never heard of a junk Japanese motor, especially Kawasaki!!!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Not sure on the hours,but the TG-Series mowers have only been on the market for a couple of years.I would'nt think they have a "lot" of wear.By the way the Kawa engines are made and mfg. in the good old U.S.A. not Japan.Kubota used to build a very good gasoline engine,I don't know if they still do or not,I think it would be in their interest if they did.