The Z122rkw just caught my attention!

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Aha that makes sense but I would have done the same thing before finding out how to do it right.

I put the mulching kit on mine and I don't have any issue with side discharge any more. Mows and mulches equally close on either side. BTW, I mowed 12in high grass down to 3in height with no problem. Had to go slow but that was even with moist grass and no stalling the engine. You may want to try it. I highly recommend the mulch kit. Mulches better than my Honda push mower which can mow like a beast but was stalling under the same conditions. Of course I didn't mean to let it get so high but I was away on business most of the last month. I love my Z122! Do wish it had a folding ROPS. I can't get under some of my neighbor's fruit trees. A more comfortable seat would be icing on the cake for me.

I to mowed some high thick over septic lines grass before tackling the seat spring installation and it cut it great and with only slight slowing, actually was probably more in the engines best operating rang and also without full throttle. I still have my F3080 with 72" rd deck that I use for most of my yard. I was just using the ZG for fun and it is fun but will be more comfortable fun if/when I get this suspension seat fixed today. :cool2: The ZG is supposed to be my wife's assist me mower but occasionally I steal it for a few thrills. I have the big ZD rear discharge but it requires a lot more concentration and arm strength and is not at home but at rental property. I did run it down a few passes when I moved it to it's summer storage building where my son in law can get it out when he mows. Bought him a used BX1500 so he will mow my rental property and we both like the arrangement. He loves his BX1500 and is going to drive it about a mile and a half on a back road to come pick up my boxblade and level his gravel driveway.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Took seat off (4 fairly easy to remove with socket 1/2" I believe bolts) and suspension and tracks and the biggie, the seat belt bar!!! I believe it was the seat belt bar the entire time not letting the suspension system drop down. I did switch tracks to put the seat slide lever on the left side instead of the middle while I had it all off when I reassembled it.
Installing suspension system: The seat belt bar has to go on the seat plate first with belt angled toward the front (belt on left side while sitting), then the tracks with slide lever on left outside edge and then the suspension system with adjustment knob in the front and then thread thru suspension system the plug wire back in to seat bottom (plug has a lever catch that catches and has to be lifted away from plug body with thumb nail or screwdriver to pull plug apart when you remove seat). When tightening tracks down from the bottom when seat plate is lifted up don't totally tighten because everything has to be aligned after installed to go together properly. Same thing with attaching suspension system to tracks. I didn't have help but some one holding the seat plate up while assembling will help a bit. Clip wire plug back into bottom slot in seat and attach the 4 bolts then tighten every thing tight. I think the tool sizes are 1/2 open end wrench for attaching rear bolts and 1/2" and 7/8" socket. I actually had two 1/2" sockets with two ratchet handles for part of the job.
Wife took ZG out after installation and came back in happy. She said it didn't do anything because I had it to firm but when she loosened it up she said it did great with plenty of bounce to take the shock.:cool2:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Aha that makes sense but I would have done the same thing before finding out how to do it right.

I put the mulching kit on mine and I don't have any issue with side discharge any more. Mows and mulches equally close on either side. BTW, I mowed 12in high grass down to 3in height with no problem. Had to go slow but that was even with moist grass and no stalling the engine. You may want to try it. I highly recommend the mulch kit. Mulches better than my Honda push mower which can mow like a beast but was stalling under the same conditions. Of course I didn't mean to let it get so high but I was away on business most of the last month. I love my Z122! Do wish it had a folding ROPS. I can't get under some of my neighbor's fruit trees. A more comfortable seat would be icing on the cake for me.

Wife told me she hates grass blowing on her while she mows BUT LOVES SEAT. nEXT, i GUESS, MULCHING KIT, Details of price and where you bought it. Did you shop around? Part number or specs for comparison shopping. Will a chute blocking plate alone do the job?

 

[dragoneggs]

Wife told me she hates grass blowing on her while she mows BUT LOVES SEAT. nEXT, i GUESS, MULCHING KIT, Details of price and where you bought it. Did you shop around? Part number or specs for comparison shopping. Will a chute blocking plate alone do the job?

There you go. At least I can spend someone else's money for a change. Lord knows I have been on the receiving end. Was going to count up and post pics of all my BX mods thanks to TBN. The mulch kit is the only mod I've done to the Z. I bought it at my local Kubota dealer after mowing once. I think I paid retail $139. There is a 'plug' and some internal baffles to install. Pretty easy. I think it also came with a couple mulching blades too but I honestly don't remember. One thing for sure is it does a fantastic job of mulching. I think she will be much happier.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thanks. Ordered one just a minute ago. Offered less than $145, no go and accepted $145 offer.

There you go. At least I can spend someone else's money for a change. Lord knows I have been on the receiving end. Was going to count up and post pics of all my BX mods thanks to TBN. The mulch kit is the only mod I've done to the Z. I bought it at my local Kubota dealer after mowing once. I think I paid retail $139. There is a 'plug' and some internal baffles to install. Pretty easy. I think it also came with a couple mulching blades too but I honestly don't remember. One thing for sure is it does a fantastic job of mulching. I think she will be much happier.

Thanks. If it keeps the blowing grass off her/me it will be worth the money plus the added benefit of close mowing on either side. Just to be fair, spending my money, order the seat. About the same amount for both of us.:laughing::drink:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

There you go. At least I can spend someone else's money for a change. Lord knows I have been on the receiving end. Was going to count up and post pics of all my BX mods thanks to TBN. The mulch kit is the only mod I've done to the Z. I bought it at my local Kubota dealer after mowing once. I think I paid retail $139. There is a 'plug' and some internal baffles to install. Pretty easy. I think it also came with a couple mulching blades too but I honestly don't remember. One thing for sure is it does a fantastic job of mulching. I think she will be much happier.

Stopped at Barlows and ordered the mulching kit. You saved me some time. Gary said $199 and I said it's supposed to be less. He looked and said for the 42" is $139 so I said that must be it. Guess he was thinking I had the 48". I told him to order one for 42" if I didn't call him back the next day after looking at mine to make sure. Mines the 42".
Any issues or tips that you remember on installation?

 

[dragoneggs]

Stopped at Barlows and ordered the mulching kit. You saved me some time. Gary said $199 and I said it's supposed to be less. He looked and said for the 42" is $139 so I said that must be it. Guess he was thinking I had the 48". I told him to order one for 42" if I didn't call him back the next day after looking at mine to make sure. Mines the 42".
Any issues or tips that you remember on installation?

Well I took mower deck completely off. I was looking for install pics but only found one pic where I was going to try and do the install by just jacking it up without removing and quickly realized that would be too difficult as I couldn't get to the topside for some of the mounting bolts. Pic no real help but since I found it...



I honestly don't remember many details, it was pretty straight forward install once deck removed. I think the only thing I struggled with was reattaching the belt tensioning spring at the end. Good luck... I know your wife will love it.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Bump for new small Kubota Z buyers. Has lots of good info concerning suspension seats and other useful info.

 

[03 shaker]

I know this is an old thread, but how many hours are on your mowers now? I bought a z122r back in 2015 and have 80 hours on it with no problems. Really curious on what kind of life we can expect out of these mowers?