Thinking about a z122 with a 42" deck

[glennm]

I have been using a Deere mower for years with a 42" deck (freedom 42). This deck does a great job but I am considering a zero turn. I mulch my leaves in the fall. I have a bit of a slope down by a pond what do you guys think? My concerns are the quality of the cut with the mulch kit, getting the ,leaves all chopped up in the fall and traction on the slope.

 

[timswi]

I have been using a Deere mower for years with a 42" deck (freedom 42). This deck does a great job but I am considering a zero turn. I mulch my leaves in the fall. I have a bit of a slope down by a pond what do you guys think? My concerns are the quality of the cut with the mulch kit, getting the ,leaves all chopped up in the fall and traction on the slope.

I tear up leaves with my Z724 so I think what you're looking at may do the same although I've never tested a Z122. Any ZT is going to be iffy on wet grass, so I'd say stay away from the slope if the grass is wet and be careful regardless..Mine holds steep banks nicely on dry grass.

Assuming you're going from a lawn tractor to a zero?..If so give some learning time, these are certainly different...That said, I absolutely love my ZT.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I added a mulching kit on a Z121 to keep grass from blowing out the side for the wind to blow it back on me and wife (Her mower). Cut great with kit and stopped blowing grass. I personally would NOT get on a down hill slope with a pond/trees/ditch at the bottom on a Zero turn and for certain if the grass was the least bit high or wet. I've had the small Z and a ZD326 "take off" on me several times on the hill in front of my home but the land is fairly level and open at the bottom on mine. I don't mow until my grass gets tall enough to know for sure where I have and have not mowed and tall grass laying down under a wheel can get slick, wet or dry. I left the Zero turn world and use my BX2370-1 and F3080 for my hillside mowing.

 

[glennm]

My yard isn't too steep, here are a couple of pics

 

[riptides]

glennm Nice yard shot.

 

[timswi]

WOW!! Nice yard..Just cut it when it's dry, you should be good..I cut a 10' high on grade sand mound that is at least a 30+ degree angle going accross and up and down..Holds very well if it's dry, pulls the front wheels off the ground going up if that's any indication of the angle ...That yard of yours is level compared to mine.

 

[glennm]

Thanks for the comments. The slope is fairly gradual, here are a couple of more photos that may give a better perspective.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thanks for the comments. The slope is fairly gradual, here are a couple of more photos that may give a better perspective.

View attachment 519077View attachment 519078

Nice yard...........Looking at picture on the left, I wouldn't do it or try it with a zero turn unless I was going across the slope and/or going up but I'd never risk the going down, well I might would but I'd want an anchor on board to kick off in case it started sliding and when they start sliding, there is no stopping them. The more you try stopping one the faster it goes. I have taken the ZD326 down a steeper hill several times and got confident but out of ten down hill runs it took off on me twice but I didn't have anything at the bottom of my hill, not a "slope" like yours. My grass was tall and thick which made a grass coated slide for me. Maybe keep it close cut and 100% dry and it "may" work 100% of the time for you without taking off. Maybe will only slide on you 2% of the time.:shocked: Just go across slope and not down.

 

[628pm]

Sickle bar would be nice to go around edges of water. I would love to have one for bx to mow ditches on country roads.

 

[glennm]

Well I drove the 42 in the lot at the dealers yesterday. It looks like it won't take long to get used to it? Is the mulch kit easy to install or should I let the dealer do it'll? They are bringing me the 48 to try in my yard today, I think I will likely get the 42 due to some tight areas. This seems like a lot of machine for the price?