Talk me in/out of a Kubota ZD-1211 w/ 72” deck

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I joined the club this weekend. Somebody near me had a 72" and a 60", I was too slow to get the 72". I ended up with the 60" with 350 hours for a pretty good deal. The only damage I can find is on the front, it looks like it rode in a trailer pushed up against another machine, or something so it's dented and rusted. You can see a spot in the picture below on the front corner, the other side is a little worse. I've got new blades, oil change stuff, and fuel filters already in the shop for it. That, a bath, and replacing that front piece and I'll have a pretty nice machine. I'm hoping it will cut well enough that I can make up for the missing 12" with a couple more MPH compared with my Spartan.

ub this weekend.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I mowed a little bit with it yesterday evening. It is a beast! I love it!

 

[Hay Dude]

I’m on a full year with both my ZD-1211-72’s and no real complaints. Coming off a ZD-331 you can feel the lower power climbing hills, but it’s not like it bogs down, you just hear more pump strain.
My complaints are small. Really wish it had phone charging outlet. I’m on it 8 hours at a time some days and my phone is bluetoothed to my headphones.
I think it’s BS they put it on the 1611 and not the 1211.

 

[RjCorazza]

I’m on a full year with both my ZD-1211-72’s and no real complaints. Coming off a ZD-331 you can feel the lower power climbing hills, but it’s not like it bogs down, you just hear more pump strain.
My complaints are small. Really wish it had phone charging outlet. I’m on it 8 hours at a time some days and my phone is bluetoothed to my headphones.
I think it’s BS they put it on the 1611 and not the 1211.

It wouldn't take much to add a charging port. I've been tempted to add a regular 12v cigarette socket, then just plug one of the many USB ports into it. I suspect there are straight USB 5v power points that can be wired to 12 volts also, but I've never looked for them.
I did wire SAE 12v charging cables that just hang out of the battery box for off season battery maintenance.

On an unrelated note, I'm still struggling with uneven fuel draw from the tanks. I had planned on replacing the existing "T" between the tanks with a gated T, but in my troubleshooting I realized that the fuel return will fill up the closed off tank. I'm not willing to valve the returns, as 4 valves total would be a pain to manage. As it is now I can cut for at least one long day without fuel issues, so fueling after each day is working for me.

 

[Hay Dude]

It wouldn't take much to add a charging port. I've been tempted to add a regular 12v cigarette socket, then just plug one of the many USB ports into it. I suspect there are straight USB 5v power points that can be wired to 12 volts also, but I've never looked for them.
I did wire SAE 12v charging cables that just hang out of the battery box for off season battery maintenance.

On an unrelated note, I'm still struggling with uneven fuel draw from the tanks. I had planned on replacing the existing "T" between the tanks with a gated T, but in my troubleshooting I realized that the fuel return will fill up the closed off tank. I'm not willing to valve the returns, as 4 valves total would be a pain to manage. As it is now I can cut for at least one long day without fuel issues, so fueling after each day is working for me.

I have same issue. If one tank runs dry, and other is partial full, will it still run?

 

[Brown Dog]

My ZD1511 with 500hrs has lost power OR this new ZD1611 has a good bit more Torque.
It doesn’t pull down near as bad.

UNLESS the old style Pro Blades (blade boss mod) with higher lifts on the ZD1511 takes that much more power in taller grass idk

I LOVE the new Tight Feeling & STOUT ZD1611

 

[RjCorazza]

I have same issue. If one tank runs dry, and other is partial full, will it still run?

It will continue running if I shut off the empty tank, but then it starts filling up again from the injector fuel return line.

 

[WM75Guy]

I have same issue. If one tank runs dry, and other is partial full, will it still run?

I have had the left tank look empty when the gauge still showed 1/4 tank in the right tank. It ran fine for me.

 

[Brown Dog]

It will continue running if I shut off the empty tank, but then it starts filling up again from the injector fuel return line.

One of my tanks always takes more to fill than the other side.
ICR which. I just fill em & MOW