The one thing that you wonder why you didn't buy sooner?

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Switching bulb to LED it probably draws less current so AAs may last OK.
This is an interesting "blast from the past". The shake light. As you see it still works. There were knock offs that had a "coin" battery inside but this one when shaken a magnet goes through a coil which charges a capacitor. It works fair, about like a 1960s 2 C flashlight.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

This is a nice thread, let’s keep politics out of it, besides we all know China bought up the available supply of them years ago.

Not any more political than your response.

 

[not2old]

Guys, I hate to burst your bubble, but this cannot be true. AA‘s are not the same length as D’s. AA’s and C’s are the same nominal length (2”), but D’s are substantially longer (2-3/8”). Stack up four in a row, and you’ll have a gap of 1.5 inches, more than the spring in the rear of the flashlight will take up.

Substituting AA’s for C’s seems like a plausible option, but not D’s, unless you have a blank conductive rod to fill the gap left by the shorter length.

My mistake, I replaced four C cells with four AA cells.

 

[WinterDeere]

My mistake, I replaced four C cells with four AA cells.

A good idea, either way, for those of us who tend to have a battery expire through leaking out, long before they go dead. I find myself removing or sometimes throwing away batteries with still nearly full charge, just to avoid having them leak and destroy equipment, due to their age. Using a smaller battery will help reduce cost in those cases where you really don't need the full capacity of a D-cell. A cheap plastic fixture that converts AA's to D's, either singly or in different lengths (2x, 3x, 4x) might be a handy thing.

 

[Thall303]

Has anyone on here ever regretted buying a zero turn mower?

 

[jjeff]

Yes I despise the zero turn I bought for my wife which she adores, every time I used it it feels like I was in a car wreck. I use a 30 yr old JD 260 gear drive lawn tractor when she's not around to mow. Not to mention doing pm on it is not fun or gives you a feeling of accomplishment whatsoever especially on the hydro gear brand drives. It's a Husqvarna mzt 52. However no major mechanical problems in over 5 yrs with it and it actually has grease fittings for the deck components among other things.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I don't, but that's probably because I don't have one.

Sure don't regret getting a 10-foot mower, being used to a 6-footer.

 

[not2old]

Has anyone on here ever regretted buying a zero turn mower?

Yes, I do. Bought a 54in. Husqvarna because it was a bargain. Six months old with a little under thirty hours for $3500.00. It's too big and my wife won't use it. Tears up the grass on sharp turns and found out the catchers have become obsolete after just a few years. Wish I'd bought a 48in. tractor style but will probably live with it forever.

 

[kozal01]

Has anyone on here ever regretted buying a zero turn mower?

Nope, not once ever. Had a John Deere tractor before I got my Exmark and will NEVER go back to a tractor style mower again.

 

[bmaverick]

A quick hitch !

So much easier now to just back up, hook up and go WITHOUT getting out of the seat !

SCORE - Quick Hitch H-F

Yes, Harbor-Freight had a 20% OFF coupon for the 4th sale. I waited a while for this. I got the Quick-Hitch for $111.00 I've watched 3 YT vid reviews on multiple quick hitches under various brands. The H-F holds up to the big name brands just the same. Why pay another $100 or $200 more...

www.tractorbynet.com

3-Point Quick Hitch - 27-3/16 In. Clearance

Amazing deals on this 3-Point Quick Hitch 27-3/16In Clearance at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[kozal01]

A quick hitch !

So much easier now to just back up, hook up and go WITHOUT getting out of the seat !

SCORE - Quick Hitch H-F

Yes, Harbor-Freight had a 20% OFF coupon for the 4th sale. I waited a while for this. I got the Quick-Hitch for $111.00 I've watched 3 YT vid reviews on multiple quick hitches under various brands. The H-F holds up to the big name brands just the same. Why pay another $100 or $200 more...

www.tractorbynet.com

View attachment 835273

3-Point Quick Hitch - 27-3/16 In. Clearance

Amazing deals on this 3-Point Quick Hitch 27-3/16In Clearance at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

YES!!!! I just got one and man, what a time saver!

 

[WinterDeere]

It seems the few regrets on zero turns are about buying the WRONG zero turn, not A zero turn.

 

[kozal01]

It seems the few regrets on zero turns are about buying the WRONG zero turn, not A zero turn.

Yes this, or user error.

 

[masscity]

I put a hydraulic top link on my B7100DT, a hydraulic thumb on my BH92 and bought a Husky 54" zero turn that works great. Cut my mowing time in half. Best part is that I only mow my yard 4-5 times a year.

 

[Oaktree]

It seems the few regrets on zero turns are about buying the WRONG zero turn, not A zero turn.

What do you mean by "wrong" one? Box store vs pro model?
How's maintenance on these things, like getting at blades to replace/sharpen them? Easy enough to pull the mower deck on a lawn tractor, but these seem to have them mounted under the mower itself. Not everyone has a lift.

 

[WinterDeere]

What do you mean by "wrong" one? Box store vs pro model?

Yes, there were a few posts above in which users were citing issues with their particular model, not a problem general to all or even most zero-turn mowers.

How's maintenance on these things, like getting at blades to replace/sharpen them?

I service mine every year, as follows:

1. Warm it up and drive it up on a pair of oil-change ramps to access under mower deck.
2. Unscrew oil drain plug and pull oil filter, let drain.
3. Remove three blades, scrape mower deck clean, then install my spare set. Removing blade is a single bolt in the center, most easily done with impact driver, since you don't need to block the blade rotation with impact driver.
4. Install oil plug and new filter, then pour in fresh oil to 90% of specified crank case capacity (can't use dipstick on inclined ramps).
5. Drive off ramps, park on level floor, check oil with dipstick.
6. Grease 3 mower spindles, 2 brake pivots, mower deck height adjustment knob, and mower hanger blocks.
7. Blow out or replace outer air filter, inner filter is good for many years.
8. Do any other specified engine maintenance on schedule (spark plugs, valve lash, etc.).
9. Double-check carb tuning and idle/max RPM's.

The whole process takes less than an hour, in fact I could probably slam it out in close to 30 minutes if there's no major engine maintenance items due, after so many years. I sharpen the dull blades a different day later in winter, since I'm usually focused on plowing thru the annual oil changes and lube on all of my machines in a single day or weekend.

Engine maintenance is extremely minimal, since these machines (commercial versions) are generally designed to run 2000 hours per year, and I'm averaging under 100 hours per year.

Easy enough to pull the mower deck on a lawn tractor, but these seem to have them mounted under the mower itself. Not everyone has a lift.

It's pretty easy to pull the mower deck, but I've only done that once in 20 years, to sandblast and repaint it. I believe you could even replace a mower spindle without having to remove the deck, at least on my commercial unit. Since those spindles are probably designed for 20,000 hours or more, I'll probably never have to try it.

 

[RjCorazza]

Has anyone on here ever regretted buying a zero turn mower?

Nope. Buy once, cry once.
I run (2) diesel commercial zero turns, and with over 3000 hours between them practically no problems. The speed, cut quality, and ease of maintenance cannot be matched.

 

[JJT]

What do you mean by "wrong" one? Box store vs pro model?
How's maintenance on these things, like getting at blades to replace/sharpen them? Easy enough to pull the mower deck on a lawn tractor, but these seem to have them mounted under the mower itself. Not everyone has a lift.

My zero turn has a built in lift for accessing the blades. Pull a pin, turn a crank and the front end rotates until you have full access to the blades.

 

[scootr]

Bought a couple of high traction steps to mount on the SS brush hog. Tired of stepping down onto the slick 1/4" steep plate edge hoping I don't fall.

 

[Hay Dude]

Anything with a Cummins engine