LONG STORY Need advice on a ZTR mower

[Sigarms]

Well

Now you have me running to another dealer, a guy who handles country clipper.

Any feedback on this company?

Checked thier website, and they look like they have a decent product.

After riding the Scag compared to the cub, I see what you guys mean.

Now, I just hope I can convince the wife that the extra money will be worth it (funny considering what I was going to spend on a tractor just a couple of weeks ago).

Thanks

 

[Spiffy]

Hey the weather came around! By perfect irrony I have to mow tonight; unfortunately, I don't have the Snapper up this way, so it's going to be on the old LT. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif but I get to play with that this weekend /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anyway, just couldn't find a Country Clipper up this way when I was looking, but if you're looking at true commercial machines for weekly 8 acre use, I just don't think there are many bad options. A few other threads talked about the Clipper as a real strong option too [think I linked one early in this thread].

The tapered bearing in the spindles [Tanks also offer this I think, maybe Clipper does too] is part of what has my envy on the TigerCub. But where that really might be your match [purely research, not experience]: if resale is part of the equation, Exmark or Scag seem to be on top almost everywhere [around here it's the GH front mount though]. Check Ebay and look at 5 year old beat up machines selling for 50% purchase price.

BTW theres also a new 04 cub on Ebay for 5600, but I think he's shorting the warranty; and as you've probably read many times looking for the tractor: don't forgot to get a reputable dealer if at all possible [Scag?, Clipper?, CC?, Ferris?, GH?, ???, I know it's almost frustrating, but trust me too many options sure beats too few! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif].

 

[rbeitz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So far can't find and eXmark for under 7k.

Just got done riding a scag, 19hp tiger cub. Price was $6200, is this a decent price?

It was nice though.

Had a z force there as well, you could tell the difference in ride, but I'm not sure if it was worth an extra $2600.

Althougthe finance company had a "decent" finance plan.

Talk about getting depressed /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif )</font>

Now you're talking. Scag makes an excellent machine that will treat you very well for many years to come. I've been using Scag machines on my 2 acre lot since 1998. I started with a new walk behind and last year I upgraded to a 2001 Turf Tiger. Both machines have performed flawlessly and have been absolutely trouble free. The Turf Tiger is a serious machine and a blast to run. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

$6200 is a fair price for the Tiger Cub, although I just saw and ad in this months issue of Turf magazine for a dealer in New England that has the exact same model on sale for $5995. If you are interested in the dealers name/number let me know and I'll get it to you.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Sigarms, After reading this post, I think you have yourself talked into a ZTR no matter what. I keep reading about your cash flow problems with broken stuff and so here's my two cents. Don't forget while reading this that I'd like a ZTR too!

OK, what I'd do for now is find a good used riding mower from a reputable maker with a 48" or bigger deck. (Remember, you're walking behind a push mower now.) I've passed up on 2 JD 214's lately because they were too cheap and worn out. One was $600 and the other was $800. I'm looking for a garage kept, $1200-$1500 cream puff with a good deck and good compression Kohler. Not as fast as ZTR but I don't have any "extra" money right now either to spend $6-10 grand on a machine that only mows. With the rider, your wife can help, you can use it for 3 years as stated, and probably sell it and get back most of your money if you keep it maintained. Also, you can put a few implements on some of these models.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck with your quest....Kyle

 

[Moon]

Kyle, I went that route. The hardest part for me was finding a real cream puff. Could've bought a new LT (1500 or so price range) but saw and read how the quality in that price range wasn't the best. So I went used. Not once but twice. 1st was a Bolen 16hp LT. It made it 1 1/2 year. I replaced it with a used 17hp Simplicity. It lasted two years before it literally blew a chunk out the cylinder wall. It used oil ...every time you gassed up you had to add oil. Very frustrating experience ...but that's all I could do at the time. Mowing is much harder on machines than I first thought. If I was in that situation again, I'd opt for a new 1500 tractor instead of used.
That's a big part of the reason I choose to spend the extra bucks for a commercial ZTR when the time came.

...just another viewpoint.

Moon of Ohio

 

[frank_f15]

Brian: post a few pictures of that ZTR, WHEN YOU GET TIME.

 

[bczoom]

OK Frank.

Here's the specs. At the bottom is a chart on options and how it compares to other manufacturers.

First pic shows the joystick control. It's just like operating a FEL. Rest your arm on the armrest and just move the handle in the direction you want to go. Not tiring at all.

 

[bczoom]

2nd pic

Rear end/engine.

Oops - just noticed the guard on the discharge chute has been removed. I hope the safety police aren't watching.

 

[bczoom]

Last pic

From the front
You can see the pivot for the front tires, foot assist for lifting deck...

 

[Spiffy]

I would rather go the "cheap route" and have low expectations than beat the heck out of a 3K ZTR on 8 acres.

Although, I think Moon is right about the $1500 used LTs [there may be that 2 year old 20HP GT you get lucky on though, it may do you 3 years fine]. Anyway, I have a $100 LT as well, uses a 4oz oil/hr, I need to beat the leading edge out of the deck a couple times per hour too, but I didn't expect much, and am happy.

The ZTR [$7list, $6.5 "everday sale price", I got lucky on the 04 tho] I am also very happy with; I have high expectations for, and don't expect any regrets. I posted in another thread that my mother called me: all worried that she "took a chuck out of the deck"; I was down there and checked it out a few days later: "no Mom, you'd didn't loose steel, you gained concrete".....

I'd say the LT/GT route [barring a true "hidden treasure"], kick out $2500 on new GT (which will rack up twice the hrs in three years as the ZTR, but still maybe turn it for $500 to $1K) and hopefully a couple year warranty, or maybe try your luck on the $100-300 range, in the latter case, if it runs two months, you won't be dissapointed, if 3 years you'll be estatic [except for all the time you spend mowing].

I'm still thinking the commercial ZTR is your real "bang for the buck" and best chance for good results [there are always lemons and die-hards regardless of choice]. BTW your situation inspired this thread ZTR to save Tractor hrs /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

<font color="red"> Edit: I got tired of beating out the LT's deck today so the Sawzall fixed that.....got going again and sheared a stearing bolt. I'm not whining, it doesn't owe me a dime; just thought it ironic that the same day I made this post required more wrench time than seat time! </font>