pgrimes
New member
I also have a Grasshopper diesel w/62" mower deck. Just make sure to get a 2016 or later Grasshopper--I broke the frame on mine mowing over hills of cow paths on my old dairy farm. The 2016s have the newer frame (engine cage) that was replaced on mine. The Kubota engines and the later T6 transmissions used by Grasshopper are bulletproof with regular maintenance.I have a Grasshopper 428D that’s been a good machine. What few parts I’ve needed were surprisingly affordable. But with that being said I like a Kubota ZT better.
I also have a Kubota F3080 w/72" deck. I like the diesel engine and 4WD of the machine, but the deck is driven by an offset PTO shaft that drives a right angle transmission which drives the belts of the mower. If I can get the transmission to hold oil after it is rebuilt with new bearings and oil seals, maybe I will be happy with it--73" is indeed much faster mowing than 60+". However, there is nothing like a zero turn to mow around my 130+trees.
I've finished mowed this place for over 33 years. I've owned everything. I've broken most everything. The Grasshopper will survive me, but the results are not in on the Kubota. Keep your head up and don't let the mower world get the best of you.