Buying Advice Trade the ZD326 for a B2601?

[PapaPerk]

I have a b2620 with a 60" mmm and a zd326p zero turn. There is no comparison in my opinion on which mows the best. The zd326 is a great mower, if I had the money I would buy a F series, and maybe some day I will. But the B mower even though it is a "finish mower" ,it does not mow very well I've used the z on pastures, hills, and yards, it is just a better mower But that is what it is for, it doesn't have a FEL or Backhoe, so everything has its place.

Great feedback! Thank you! Have you ever compared time to complete mowing a yard using both machines?

 

[Scooby074]

Does your ZD326 exhibit the above behavior when mowing on rough or hilly ground? The issue is worse when the ZD is going down a hill due to "coasting" effect.

I have driven other zero turn mowers including a big 72" cut Toro.... They don't seem to wander like the ZD.

Thanks for the help!

Hmm, its been a few months since I last mowed, but as I recall it doesnt really come into play for me because Im always "on the sticks", slowing down or turning on hills. I dont really coast per se. A ztr isnt like a vehicle with a steering wheel where you just have to hold the wheel steady, I find Im always tweaking the controls while mowing. Practice helps to make straight lines. Bumps or bouncing can exasperate that, so I usually slow down considerably on the really bumpy sections. Most time, unless im on the straight flat spots im only mowing at 7/10's speed. On the flat straights Ill wind it out to 10/10.

As to the freewheeling action vs Toros.. I think freewheel that makes it smoother IMHO. The ZD has something that the others dont, it has an actual brake instead of relying on the hyd motors acting as brakes. The brake on the ZD has saved me from the bushes on more than one occasion:laughing:

I still think Id check the wheelspeed right to left with a tachometer on your ZD. Its behavior sort of sounds like you might have wheelspeed issues.

 

[PapaPerk]

Thank you for the feedback! I can guarantee my ZD is harder to run in a straight line than any other zero I have run. Please remember I'm not a novice at operating zeros.

One of the leading lawn care equipment dealerships in our area who sells Kubota and lots of other brands indicated the Kubota ZD does operate differently. And that some folks don't like it. When you go to their place they recommend Laser Z. And they sell Deere, Grass Hopper, Ferris, Kubota, etc. This area has some very high end customers and the dealer sells most of the equipment to them.

But with that being said I really enjoy operating the ZD due to comfort, quality and the purr of that Diesel. (0:

 

[MattEffinCameron]

I am also considering the purchase of a 2620. The part of my property that I mow is probably only 1.5 acres. Just bought it last year and made it through the summer borrowing my father's old 38" john deere riding mower.

With the JD, it would take me 4+ hours to mow, in part due to how slow it was, in part due to one hill that it had trouble with, and in part to the fact that I wound up bagging it sometimes to avoid leaving piles.

I have been considering a ZT, but also have a 500ft driveway that I need to clear of snow, and another 10 acres of property, some of which I hope to cultivate...so I have been thinking the increased investment in a tractor might be worthwhile to serve these two additional functions in addition to mowing the lawn.

I am confident that the 2620 with 60"mmm would be considerably faster than the old JD...both because it can cut faster, and because it cuts almost twice the area with each pass, but I have seen repeated comments on how the cut with the 60" mmm on the B/BX is not very good, certainly not as good as on a ZTR...my question is, does anyone have pictures (up close and at a distance) the cuts with each? I am not sure if I would notice the bad cut of the B series having come from something that was not exactly professional grade...much like I might not miss the increased speed of the ZTR having never experienced it and seeing such an improvement over my former situation with a B series.

 

[Scooby074]

I am also considering the purchase of a 2620. The part of my property that I mow is probably only 1.5 acres. Just bought it last year and made it through the summer borrowing my father's old 38" john deere riding mower.

With the JD, it would take me 4+ hours to mow, in part due to how slow it was, in part due to one hill that it had trouble with, and in part to the fact that I wound up bagging it sometimes to avoid leaving piles.

I have been considering a ZT, but also have a 500ft driveway that I need to clear of snow, and another 10 acres of property, some of which I hope to cultivate...so I have been thinking the increased investment in a tractor might be worthwhile to serve these two additional functions in addition to mowing the lawn.

I am confident that the 2620 with 60"mmm would be considerably faster than the old JD...both because it can cut faster, and because it cuts almost twice the area with each pass, but I have seen repeated comments on how the cut with the 60" mmm on the B/BX is not very good, certainly not as good as on a ZTR...my question is, does anyone have pictures (up close and at a distance) the cuts with each? I am not sure if I would notice the bad cut of the B series having come from something that was not exactly professional grade...much like I might not miss the increased speed of the ZTR having never experienced it and seeing such an improvement over my former situation with a B series.

Heres some comparison shots from when I was fighting with cut quality on my BX http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...219707-problems-bx-fine-cut-rck54p23bx-9.html

BX pic

ZD pic. Same lawn. As you can see the ZD is much better

 

[MattEffinCameron]

I had actually read through your thread where you originally posted those talking about problems getting your deck dialed in....I just cant believe thats the cut one should expect with a 3k mower deck on a 20k tractor? Its not rocket science right?

 

[PapaPerk]

Heres some comparison shots from when I was fighting with cut quality on my BX http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/219707-problems-bx-fine-cut-rck54p23bx-9.html BX pic ZD pic. Same lawn. As you can see the ZD is much better

How tall is the uncut grass in the BX photo? That's pretty tall grass and you didn't appear to be mowing it down very low. The ZD pic looks like the grass is much shorter.

 

[PapaPerk]

I had actually read through your thread where you originally posted those talking about problems getting your deck dialed in....I just cant believe thats the cut one should expect with a 3k mower deck on a 20k tractor? Its not rocket science right?

I personally mowed with my friends B2620 with 60" deck during the summer. It mows quite well and I was moving fast. However a lot depends on the grass. If you have very fine grass that is damp... The front tires may tend to cause tracking in the grass like shown in photos above.

My ZD mows well no matter what. However it must have the high lift blades. Without the highlight blades it will track just as badly as the B. Scooby, did you try high lift blades on your BX? That's the stock blades on the ZD deck.

 

[Scooby074]

How tall is the uncut grass in the BX photo? That's pretty tall grass and you didn't appear to be mowing it down very low. The ZD pic looks like the grass is much shorter.

Height of cut was around 3 to 3.5". Same height was set for both the ZD and the BX. Problem was severe striping (under the path of the tires) on the BX. Start was around 7" in both sets. A pretty heavy cut for sure. But the striping with the BX was there even when cutting 1".

In the BX pics, the "low" grass was approx the cut height setting, while the stripes were a few inches higher. The BX deck doesnt generate enough lift to raise the pushed over grass to allow it to be cut. The ZD is much better in that regard, more lift and much less weight on the front wheels to crush the grass in the first place.

 

[Scooby074]

I had actually read through your thread where you originally posted those talking about problems getting your deck dialed in....I just cant believe thats the cut one should expect with a 3k mower deck on a 20k tractor? Its not rocket science right?

Yeah.. not a great cut. It took a lot of messing (and money on blades) to get it even close to right.