Scag vs Bad Boy

[Chef Pa]

Just mowed my lawn this morning and I got to thinking about this thread. A number of mentioned the importance of a good seat. I do not have a seat with suspension but got thinking are your lawns really that rough that you need one or are your derierres a little sensitive?

Back problems here as well, and before the Ferris cutting grass was painful. Won't go so far to say cutting grass is now 'fun' but it's definitely bearable, and don't dread it like I used to.

 

[DK35vince]

I don't own 1,but they claim to be the fastest mower Best Commmercial and Residential Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mowers | Dixie Chopper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxmVdUNADc4

 

[4570Man]

The top speed really doesn't matter. Unless you are mowing a golf course any of the above mowers will go faster than you can actually mow.

 

[DK35vince]

The top speed really doesn't matter. Unless you are mowing a golf course any of the above mowers will go faster than you can actually mow.

You learn where the bumps are.
We have many areas of the lawn we can mow at full speed with a Hustler Super Z and many we can't.

 

[4570Man]

A more important question than the top speed is the cut quality at top speed.

 

[DK35vince]

A more important question than the top speed is the cut quality at top speed.

Looked fine to me.

 

[daugen]

Looked fine to me.

If the engine was running flat out, for max blade speed, and the blades were very sharp, I can see how in certain circumstances that mowing at 10mph is possible.
If you don't miss that bump or hole at 10mph, not only does it shake up the operator but it adds wear to the machine, some would say abusive wear. We don't drive our cars or trucks at full speed do we?

I think every property is different and one has to learn one's lawn and where the "sweet spots" are where you can fly.
I have a couple of those spots, where I can tromp on the JD's treadle and go max speed over level ground while cutting about an inch of grass. But mostly I'm going about half the potential speed because with a lawn full of trees and shrubs, that's what is needed. Most of us don't have radar guns, but I bet the average mower here doesn't exceed 5mph even with ZT mowers, out front mowers, etc. Particularly if you are using cruise control, you don't want to set it at a speed you constantly have to disengage it so average set speed comes down a little.

Commercial mowers have to maximize efficiency but most of us don't. We want a blend of affordability, reliability, performance and comfort. Take away any one of them and things fall apart.

 

[TSO]

If the engine was running flat out, for max blade speed, and the blades were very sharp, I can see how in certain circumstances that mowing at 10mph is possible.
If you don't miss that bump or hole at 10mph, not only does it shake up the operator but it adds wear to the machine, some would say abusive wear. We don't drive our cars or trucks at full speed do we?

I think every property is different and one has to learn one's lawn and where the "sweet spots" are where you can fly.
I have a couple of those spots, where I can tromp on the JD's treadle and go max speed over level ground while cutting about an inch of grass. But mostly I'm going about half the potential speed because with a lawn full of trees and shrubs, that's what is needed. Most of us don't have radar guns, but I bet the average mower here doesn't exceed 5mph even with ZT mowers, out front mowers, etc. Particularly if you are using cruise control, you don't want to set it at a speed you constantly have to disengage it so average set speed comes down a little.

Commercial mowers have to maximize efficiency but most of us don't. We want a blend of affordability, reliability, performance and comfort. Take away any one of them and things fall apart.

I can actually cut (productively and with quality) about 25% of my own grass at full speed, which for mine I believe is around 11 or 12 mph. Of the remaining, about half of it I probably cut at 7 or 8 mph, and the remaining half is under 4 mph. The only time I noticed a major difference in how fast I mow, regarding cut quality, is if my blades are dull and the grass is longer than usual.

 

[4570Man]

Running at full speed the cut quality is pretty shabby on my machines. The cut quality is much better at about 80% or less speed.

 

[kenmac]

I would guess blade speed would be more important than ground speed... If your wide open ground speed is faster than your blade speed. then, what good does it do to run wide open ground speed ??