Looking for new mower..

[John Deere 3520]

well to start things Im somewhat new here and im looking for a new mower for my small yet growing lawncare company started it last year when i was 15 Ok I have a few mowers im looking at a JD X749,Scag turf tiger cat diesel,kubota ZD331,and maybe a JD 997 or JD 2305 or BX2660 all with 60" decks. I think all of these are great mowers, but im stuck on what to buy Ive got 4 lawns that are between a 1/4-2acres and now I think i might be getting a disk golf coarse and its still growing... Can someone please help me here?

 

[LBrown59]

well to start things Im somewhat new here and im looking for a new mower for my small yet growing lawncare company started it last year when i was 15 Ok I have a few mowers im looking at a JD X749,Scag turf tiger cat diesel,kubota ZD331,and maybe a JD 997 or JD 2305 or BX2660 all with 60" decks. I think all of these are great mowers, but im stuck on what to buy Ive got 4 lawns that are between a 1/4-2acres and now I think i might be getting a disk golf coarse and its still growing... Can someone please help me here?

Oner more to add to your list The MF GC2410.

 

[John Deere 3520]

how are the mowers on the MFs?? i sent skidoo a message about the mower deck on the X749 if that had a 7iron i would buy that without a dought. The kubota ZD331 also seems like a well built machine and its a bit cheaper then Scags diesel model.

 

[LBrown59]

how are the mowers on the MFs??

The MF 2410 is comparable to JD 2305 an BX2660.
Another one you should look at is the Simplicity Legacy XL.
If your're looking for quality of cut Simplicity takes a back seat to no one.

 

[John Deere 3520]

Ill look at the simplicty, I wouldnt mind having a SCUT, but they dont seem to be the best choise for commercial mowing.

 

[bontai_Joe]

If your business is totally focused on mowing. I'd say look at zeroturn mowers. If you think that you can pick up some snow removal jobs in the winter and need the machine for both jobs, then I'd look at SCUT or CUT machines.

 

[skidoo]

I know you are leaning away from the X749, but you expressed an interest in more pictures. Here are a few...

The snow pictures depict the turning radius. The short blue line represents the 6" uncut radius.

 

[John Deere 3520]

Joe i have a snowplow on my truck for snow removal, but dang skidoo that X749 is so nice the mower deck is what worrys me though on how good of a cut your get with it, I know you said that you get some grass stuck on the deck at times but do you think it gives a good cut compared to a ZTR??

Also i plan to do mulch, seeding,and fertilizing.

 

[zzvyb6]

If lawn care and snow removal is all your company will be doing (and not rototilling gardens, etc), get a front mowing machine, 72" deck. I have a JD F935 commercial mower, diesel. The front mower interchanges with a plow and a rotary brush. Its fast, easy to trailer, sips fuel and seems to be bullet proof. Twin saddle tanks hold enough juice to cut lawns all summer. I had to put new glow plugs in (2 were bad) but with 3 good ones the thing starts in 3 seconds in 10 degree weather (like today). Good mowing headlights, pulls a lawn vac, easy to access blades to resharpen and parts are easy to service. (Design for Serviceability). These types of mowers are plentiful and by several brands and colors. You can't have a mower deck that is too wide in my opinion.

 

[John Deere 3520]

forgot to mention tilling gardens. Ive read on my tractor forum that a guy uses the X749 for commercial use and swears my it. so thats got me thinking make to the X749 cause that can mow,till,and spread seed and fertilizer,not that the ZTR isnt a great machine but it only does one thing... MOW

 

[skidoo]

Joe i have a snowplow on my truck for snow removal, but dang skidoo that X749 is so nice the mower deck is what worrys me though on how good of a cut your get with it, I know you said that you get some grass stuck on the deck at times but do you think it gives a good cut compared to a ZTR??

Also i plan to do mulch, seeding,and fertilizing.

I haven't had a problem with grass stuck in the deck, some just collects on top in the black covers. I can't tell how much, but I try to blow it out every time and it is not easy because there is fairly tight. I just may remove the black covers on top... And in the back there are some crevices on the outside of the deck that collects debris. Not really a problem... I don't know that the 7 iron or any other deck would not do the same collecting grass and dust on top and around the deck...

 

[John Deere 3520]

well that dont seem like a big deal then. I just dont want to get something that dont cut good but from what ive read I dont think i have to worry to much about the 62X mower deck for quality..

 

[ChuckinNH]

I haven't had a problem with grass stuck in the deck, some just collects on top in the black covers. I can't tell how much, but I try to blow it out every time and it is not easy because there is fairly tight. I just may remove the black covers on top... And in the back there are some crevices on the outside of the deck that collects debris. Not really a problem... I don't know that the 7 iron or any other deck would not do the same collecting grass and dust on top and around the deck...

The deck on my Simplicity Legacy gets piled with grass, and it gets packed under the belt covers too. I have their version of the "power flow" so that makes taking one of the covers off a real pain. (the mower deck has to be removed) It doesn't seem to affect operation, but I can't help thinking that it must get pretty warm in there! I have to take the deck off to grease the mower spindles too, and that is a poor design.

 

[KentT]

The deck on my Simplicity Legacy gets piled with grass, and it gets packed under the belt covers too. I have their version of the "power flow" so that makes taking one of the covers off a real pain. (the mower deck has to be removed) It doesn't seem to affect operation, but I can't help thinking that it must get pretty warm in there! I have to take the deck off to grease the mower spindles too, and that is a poor design.

Chuck,

I'm not sure about the spindles on yours (check the manual), but the older Simplicities used sealed bearings in the spindles. When you greased them, all you were doing was putting grease inside the housing to coat the inside to combat rust that might form from condensation of moisture. It's not like you're really greasing moving parts, so once or twice a mowing season was plenty...

Like I said, yours may be different, so I'd check the manual and if its not clear on the interval for greasing them, ask the dealer...

 

[art]

Commercially built mower? Kubota ZD331! Just look at what is standard and what little there is for maintenance and lack of high wear items. They are the standard today.

 

[John Deere 3520]

I agree the kubota ZD331 is a killer grass cutting machine,but i think i would like to have something a little more then that right now..

 

[ChuckinNH]

KentT, you are right about the greasing frequency on those spindles. Actually, I sharpen the blades more frequently than that, so the fittings usually get a couple squirts of grease while I'm at it. Thanks for that info though, since I didn't know why they only wanted them greased that often.

JohnDeere3520, I commend you for your ambition in getting a business started. That is a good move for a young man. One benefit of the JD749 is that it might tear up less turf on tight turns than some of the ZT mowers, especially if you are new to them. SkiDoo can chime in on that, or perhaps others, but that topic was discussed here in length last spring / summer. I'm sure customers would appreciate that! Dixie Chopper is another machine that commercial mowers around here like. I do hear that the bigger gas engine ZT's can be real gas hogs. Keep living that good life!!!

 

[skidoo]

I've had no issues with tearing turf even on the sharpest turns. The AWD system seems to work very well. 4WD on the 2520 does tear the turf...

 

[John Deere 3520]

Well i priced a X749 with 62"mower and rear PTO and 3point hitch for $14,500 and i think i might get the deluxe seat to so another 3-400. I dont think it was to bad.


Skidoo im going to steal one of your pics and use as my avatar.. if that ok with you

 

[LBrown59]

Well i priced a
1*X749 with 62"mower and rear PTO and 3point hitch for 2*$14,500

Is that a CAT O 3 point.
How much more is the tiller
What width tiller?
I've heard you can't run a tiller on the all wheel steers just on the 2 wheel steers.
Mite want to check into that.