Mowing Mower Deck

Bob999 · Jun 15, 2003

All wheel steer and skid steer are quite different in their ability to operate on turf without damage. My comments were directed toward a skid steer. However, even the Bobcat all wheel steer unit, which also will operate as a skid steer, weights more than 7000 lbs and is not what most people would chose for a high quality finish mower!!!

Anonymous Poster · Jun 15, 2003

I was thinking of the all wheel steer skid steer -
I'm sure there would be folks out there interested - but was wondering what everyones opinion was concerning the three point hitch idea (since that would really open it up to a lot of tractors but I would probably get less for the unit with that setup - As far as cost the unit sells new for around $8500 including a hydraulic motor - the motor on this one is really heavy duty and expensive - I'll tell you that it cost me $5,500 for it with PT - since I want to move to a dedicated machine just for mowing - I really want to move this and I expect that I will probably take a hit. I have decided to use the PT just for utility work (I may look for a less expensive smaller 60 inch deck to have to use as a backup or in case of ongoing rain where I have to mow - there is nothing like the PT for traction in rain - I mowed my 20plus degree hill in the pouring rain with the 1845 with not one loss of traction)

The reason for going to a dedicated mowing machine is that at the end of the day I really need a machine that is lighter and just mows / picks up grass - and is set up to do this job all the time - If you are mowing football fields I would choose the 1845 hands down but for 1.5 acres of grass with many tight spots a zero turn will just work better - The 425 was a better machine for mowing my area but needed more climb power and I wanted a larger machine that wold lift more and do other larger jobs easier - so I bought the 1845 but traded some of the nimble aspects of the 425.

I love the 1845. In my quest for a machine that does everything PT is still the winner but I realized that for mowing which I do all the time - I am better off with a machine designed just for that job. - Plus that also lets me think about an even bigger PT since I no longer have to mow with it oh noooooooo.

By the way - I am going with the Walker machine for mowing - it is very stable on slopes with a low center of gravity - has a built in grass collection system - and you can also get a reel mowing attachment made by Locke to fit it if you really want the best cut.

By the way - I think PT should redesign the way they mount the mower - I think the Steiner does a better job mowing and if you look at the mount - the mower on the Steiner mounts lower and in the rear of the deck - When you back up with the PT it tends to lift the front of the deck - Actually I think the old way the PT decks mounted probably worked better (for mowing)

duane · Jun 16, 2003

Ed,

I love the design of the Walker mower. Are you going with the taillock for mowing on the slopes.

Duane

Bob999 · Jun 16, 2003

Ed,
I hope you will have the opportunity to use the Walker mower on your property prior to purchasing.

I was using a Toro ZTR mower but found that I could not work safely on the over 20 degree portions of my property. I was using a walk behind for the steep portions but that was also problematic.

My experience was that a ZTR was not satisfactory on slopes over 20 degrees and that I really had to be careful on slopes greater than 15 degrees--traction and control was a problem going down even after I added wheel weights. If conditions were anything but ideal dry I had a lot of traction problems on the steeper portions that I could use the ZTR on.

My purchase of the PT 1845 was driven by the desire to safely do the steep portions. My experience has been comparable to yours--the PT 1845 is absolutely stable even on wet grass up to 30 degrees.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 16, 2003

Hey Bob - well I would like to test it - I am aware of the limitation of the ZTR's - but I have checked them out and I think the Walker will do the job - I do not expect it to be as stable on the slope as the 1845 - but in the end again it is a trade off - thats why I want a deck for the 1845 because I would not even think about taking the ZTR on the slope when it is wet - I have convinced myself to go this direction - do you think I'm making a mistake? - I know that the Walker will be no problem even in Wet on 90 plus percent of the property

One other thing I noticed is that I like to mow and then mow again at 90 degree angle - this is difficult to do with the 1845 as it is tough to turn around in tight spaces - also i found that that the tires are a little hard on the turf when you turn really hard doing a three point turn at the end of a pass - again if I had really large open areas (several acres ) on slope or flat for many reasons - speed, control etc I would use the 1845 - but when you encounter tight spots - detailed mowing, criss cross etc - it does the job - but not as well as a ZTR -

by the way - you could not even think about mowing the areas I am currently mowing with the 1845 , detail etc - with a CUT -

Bob are you interested in the Lastec? - I'll tell you that you will really like it - it stripes really nice and cuts very well - fast tip speed and since it is heavy duty you can handle rough spots as well with it which i really like - and for finish jobs of course with the contour design it cuts like three independent 25inch mowers

It is just too big for me

Anonymous Poster · Jun 16, 2003

Hey Duane - yes I am going for the lock - I found a diesel unit a 2000 model - I guy in Greenwich CT owned it which is unusual since it is tough to find homeowner units - it only has 380 hours on it and for some reason he thought he needed a new one. Sounds like he is as crazy about Walker as we are about PT - I have not picked it up yet as I am hoping someone will talk me out of it
it has some draw backs - the 7 bushel hopper instead of the nine and that is $1k to change - I am adding the single tail wheel / lock - and a 48 inch GHS deck - I will sell the 42inch deck that it comes with as well as the two stage blower, implement hitch & lift, and plow - don't need any of that with the PT - They make a lot of implements for these units - but I can't really see the use as the unit is fairly light.
- again it losses the quest for a perfect machine that can do everything.

As I mentioned earlier - you can also add Locke reels for it (not cheap) - you can also add these to the PT (Steiner makes a set) but I would still have the turning around / weight problem - I like the Walker because it is very compact and designed as a mower.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 16, 2003

Hey Duane how is the 2445? have you had a chance to use the backhoe yet? - was wondering how long is your unit - from the front of the tires to the rear plate? - It actually looks shorter than the 1845 - was just wondering - interesting PT now lists it as 1800 lbs lift - earlier they had it at 2000lbs
also I no longer see the three point hitch - I wonder if they still make it -

Bob999 · Jun 16, 2003

<font color="red">do you think I'm making a mistake? - I know that the Walker will be no problem even in Wet on 90 plus percent of the property
</font>

I have had the ZTR for 2 years. I have only had the PT for 4 mowings. My experience is that I do more turf damage with the ZTR than with the PT. The advantage (and disadvantage) of the ZTR is the ability to turn "zero radius". I have a number of areas where that is desirable and where I have bare spots from scuffing the turf. Second, on the Toro ZTR the drive wheels are significantly unloaded when moving downslope. In wet conditions, or even in certain very dry conditions, the unit is more like a sled than a controlled vehicle when I get moving downslope. I try to avoid working downslope but sometimes it is just unavoidable in my circumstances. Working cross slope with a ZTR gets more difficult as the slope increases because the front end has pivoting wheels that want to turn downslope and the only control is the differential drive speed of the two drive wheels. Mix that with wet grass and it can be very difficult to control.

What tire pressure do you use with the PT. I use 8 psi or less--PT actually recommends 5-6 PSI but on steep slopes there is so much deflection I am concerned about maintaining the bead seal. I have had significant pressure loss when mowing and added sealant to try to control the situation.

Again, my advice would be to operate the machine on your property in the conditions you typically mow prior to purchase.

As to your mower deck--it looks interesting. I think the general quality of cut of the PT unit I have is good but it is seriously deficient on scalp control. The Lastec deck looks like it would be much better

Anonymous Poster · Jun 16, 2003

Well you are not too far if you want to do a deal on the Lastec
I think we could wedge it in the back of a pickup to avoid the shipping - I do have a pickup -

The Walker is supposed to be better than a standard ZTR because of the third wheel - it also has a third wheel lock for mowing across the hill - I am going to take your advice and mow with it before I buy - I still felt a little unconfortable on the hill with thw 425 - with the 1845 I feel fine - I can go nay direction where ever I want -