My New Kubota ZD1211 Mower
- Thread starter lostcreekranch
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lostcreekranch
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2012
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- 7,948
- Location
- Austin County, Texas
- Tractor
- NH TL-100A with Bush Hog 5045 FEL, WR Long 3rd function, LS XR4155HC w/FEL, WR Long 3rd Function.
I've checked Agri Supply before. The blades are $16.99 but shipping, for 3 blades, is almost $27.
Blades? All you do is get a set of holders K5955-34380 and cut the ends down to 1.120" and buy whatever blade you want to use. Plenty available.
I've made and sold several sets. Easy to get them done locally if you don't have a lathe. I don't sell them anymore.
Ok I’ll give it a try. I see you had some interest on lawn site as well for these. If you make any more keep me in mind. Can prepay you as well
Buckeyebutch
New member
I'd be interested in the modified holders also.
JOHNTHOMAS
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2008
- Messages
- 7,717
- Location
- Somerset, Ky
- Tractor
- F2690 4WD RTV X1140 MX5400 HST ZD1211
Now having to question many years of personal experience with rear discharge decks not wind rowing for me.
Last mowing was me on my new F2690 60" side discharge with Kubota mulching kit installed (Blades and block plate) and grandson on the ZD1211 72" rear discharge bought used with 37 hours so assuming it has standard Kubota factory installed blades. The F left no windrows and mowed higher grass while the ZD left obvious narrow rows that can be seen almost a week later.
:confused3::thumbdown:. There were no clippings on the vent screens other than the small one just above the battery on the F and one leaf on the front screen. Very few grass clippings on the ZD, some on the deck but none on the vent screens.
Pondering the removal of back baffles on the ZD deck, ordering a full Kubota mulching kit for the ZD (Probably around $300) or the Gator blades from Amazon. Will call Barlows today and check pricing for full mulching kit.
I've owned and used many rear discharge decks on different Fs without the wind rowing and have always been skeptical when "Dealer(s)" and others said the rear discharge wind rowed but now seeing for myself one that is. I'm sure it can be fixed for sure with the Kubota mulching kit but maybe with the rear discharge guides being removed or different blades or both but know or almost know the mulching kit will do it. This deep in expenditure so what's another $300 and an hour or two of my time? Yeah, $300 and a couple hours of my time is what it is but something like this bothers me.
Last mowing was me on my new F2690 60" side discharge with Kubota mulching kit installed (Blades and block plate) and grandson on the ZD1211 72" rear discharge bought used with 37 hours so assuming it has standard Kubota factory installed blades. The F left no windrows and mowed higher grass while the ZD left obvious narrow rows that can be seen almost a week later.
:confused3::thumbdown:. There were no clippings on the vent screens other than the small one just above the battery on the F and one leaf on the front screen. Very few grass clippings on the ZD, some on the deck but none on the vent screens.Pondering the removal of back baffles on the ZD deck, ordering a full Kubota mulching kit for the ZD (Probably around $300) or the Gator blades from Amazon. Will call Barlows today and check pricing for full mulching kit.
I've owned and used many rear discharge decks on different Fs without the wind rowing and have always been skeptical when "Dealer(s)" and others said the rear discharge wind rowed but now seeing for myself one that is. I'm sure it can be fixed for sure with the Kubota mulching kit but maybe with the rear discharge guides being removed or different blades or both but know or almost know the mulching kit will do it. This deep in expenditure so what's another $300 and an hour or two of my time? Yeah, $300 and a couple hours of my time is what it is but something like this bothers me.
Brown Dog
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- Jun 5, 2014
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- 1,439
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- North GA
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- John Deere 5115M 5101E H260 5115M 540M all MFD
I agree on ZD RD decks windrowing
I don’t like it at all.
I’ve made mine better but it still does it.
I hear people all the time say RD recks doesn’t cut good.
Mine cuts fantastic, it’s just the light trails of clippings it leaves behind : not the cut.
The problem is the clippings are slung into the wides rear tires then ran over packing it down.
I’ve ran 3 different RD RFM behind a tractor for 20yrs & none of them windrowed because the tires were much narrower.
I don’t like it at all.
I’ve made mine better but it still does it.
I hear people all the time say RD recks doesn’t cut good.
Mine cuts fantastic, it’s just the light trails of clippings it leaves behind : not the cut.
The problem is the clippings are slung into the wides rear tires then ran over packing it down.
I’ve ran 3 different RD RFM behind a tractor for 20yrs & none of them windrowed because the tires were much narrower.
JOHNTHOMAS
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2008
- Messages
- 7,717
- Location
- Somerset, Ky
- Tractor
- F2690 4WD RTV X1140 MX5400 HST ZD1211
I agree on ZD RD decks windrowing
I don’t like it at all.
I’ve made mine better but it still does it.
I hear people all the time say RD recks doesn’t cut good.
Mine cuts fantastic, it’s just the light trails of clippings it leaves behind : not the cut.
The problem is the clippings are slung into the wides rear tires then ran over packing it down.
I’ve ran 3 different RD RFM behind a tractor for 20yrs & none of them windrowed because the tires were much narrower.
About 13 years experience with rear discharge decks after about 40 years experience with side discharge decks. No problem with quality of cut as long as I've pushed the diesel engines to max or near max revs with any decks. Reduce revs and quality of cut rears its ugly head with the diesels.
I was pondering and concluded the Fs deck is riding on its own wheels and has to be adjusted at the deck and being pushed, pulled and can be lifted by the machine but the Zs are riding the under belly of the machine and dropped down with some no scalp wheels. Also the Z deck is shooting out toward the center rear of the machine and I believe the discharge opening is probably smaller than the Fs where the discharge is just barely under the machine but tires run over clippings on both ZDs and Fs. Tires may be bigger on the F and I can see where they run over and lay down grass.
I called Barlows and the price for the mulching kit is more than I expected. It takes a ZD3168 Mulching kit for the 72" Z rear discharge deck. Going forth to see if I can find better pricing and research installation instructions.
I'm about to make a declaration: Buy side discharge with Kubota Mulching kit as I've done on four machines recently (BX2370, Z121, Z724, F2690) with great results. I may amend this recommendation after installing a mulching kit on my ZD1120 72" rear discharge deck.
https://apps.kubotausa.com/illustrated-parts/
Last edited:
JOHNTHOMAS
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2008
- Messages
- 7,717
- Location
- Somerset, Ky
- Tractor
- F2690 4WD RTV X1140 MX5400 HST ZD1211
I agree on ZD RD decks windrowing
I don’t like it at all.
I’ve made mine better but it still does it.
I hear people all the time say RD recks doesn’t cut good.
Mine cuts fantastic, it’s just the light trails of clippings it leaves behind : not the cut.
The problem is the clippings are slung into the wides rear tires then ran over packing it down.
I’ve ran 3 different RD RFM behind a tractor for 20yrs & none of them windrowed because the tires were much narrower.
About 13 years experience with rear discharge decks after about 40 years experience with side discharge decks. No problem with quality of cut as long as I've pushed the diesel engines to max or near max revs with any decks. Reduce revs and quality of cut rears its ugly head with the diesels.
I was pondering and concluded the Fs deck is riding on its own wheels and has to be adjusted at the deck and being pushed, pulled and can be lifted by the machine but the Zs are riding the under belly of the machine and dropped down with some no scalp wheels. Also the Z deck is shooting out toward the center rear of the machine and I believe the discharge opening is probably smaller than the Fs where the discharge is just barely under the machine but tires run over clippings on both ZDs and Fs. Tires may be bigger on the F and I can see where they run over and lay down grass.
I called Barlows and the price for the mulching kit is more than I expected. It takes a ZD3168 Mulching kit for the 72" Z rear discharge deck. Going forth to see if I can find better pricing and research installation instructions.
I'm about to make a declaration: Buy side discharge with Kubota Mulching kit as I've done on three machines recently (BX2370, Z121, F2690) with great results. I may amend this recommendation after installing a mulching kit on my ZD1120 72" rear discharge deck.
