Why are lawn tractors so slow?

[AuCivil]

Please don't take this as a malicious comment, but have you ever tried to mow at 12-13 mph?
My X739 does not have a speedo, but I rarely mow at top speed with it. At PTO rpm's the 3320 will easily do 12 mph, but I'd never consider that speed for mowing - especially without a seat belt to keep me in the cab.

No problem and you make a valid point. In reality, I don't want to mow at 13 mph but if the unit was able then it would cut that much better at 9 mph. I suspect that the X700 will not cut that well at the rated high speed of 8.5mph since it is being pushed to the limit.

 

[AuCivil]

I have owned 2 ferris ZTR,s and 1 Kubota 326 pro commercial model ZTR.I now own a JD X740 series (diesel)with commercial 7 iron 60 inch deck.This is my take,loved the ZTR but you will NEVER be able to mow at top speed unless you are on a rut/bump free lawn.How many times does that happen?I can tell you my X740 turns very sharp and maneuvers around my trees with ease almost as close as my ZTR did without the rear wheel spin ZTR,s have.

Why did you go tractor and will you go back to ZTR's?

 

[ovrszd]

I tend to agree with Kenny.

I think it's all about blade tip speed. I think the ZTR's blade speed is much faster than the tractor style.

As for stability, I ain't buyin that. I can haul butt across my lawn at max speed in high side with my JD2210 and cramp the wheel, it won't even lift a tire. Couldn't tip it over on a bet in flat ground conditions. Then if you talk hillsides, it will run circles around a ZTR.

 

[AuCivil]

I tend to agree with Kenny.

I think it's all about blade tip speed. I think the ZTR's blade speed is much faster than the tractor style.

I'm sure they spin the blades at the same speed if they wanted.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm sure they spin the blades at the same speed if they wanted.

What?? Missed your point?

Blade speed is all about ratios.

For example, my Son replaced the Onan engine in his old JD420 with a Honda V-twin. It turns a higher governed speed than the original engine. He mows as fast as it will run.

 

[coobie]

Why did you go tractor and will you go back to ZTR's?

Loved the ZTR,s when I was in a hurry to mow grass but thats pretty much all they will do efficiently.I am retired now(not in a hurry) and went back a true garden tractor that I can do more with,mowing,hauling garden carts,snow plowing,run a garden tiller and such.Never going back to a ZTR but they have there place.

 

[AuCivil]

What?? Missed your point?

Blade speed is all about ratios.

For example, my Son replaced the Onan engine in his old JD420 with a Honda V-twin. It turns a higher governed speed than the original engine. He mows as fast as it will run.

What I meant was they could gear the tractor PTO to spin the tractor blades at the same RPM as the ZTR. They could also increase the travel speed of the tractors. My question is - why do they choose not to?

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

No problem and you make a valid point. In reality, I don't want to mow at 13 mph but if the unit was able then it would cut that much better at 9 mph. I suspect that the X700 will not cut that well at the rated high speed of 8.5mph since it is being pushed to the limit.

As previously stated, I don't cut at full speed with my X739, but on my lawn, I think it actually gives a slightly better cut than the 7-Iron MMM on the 3320 and I think that is essentially the same deck used on many JD ZTR's. Anyway, whatever you decide - good luck and have fun.

 

[ovrszd]

Loved the ZTR,s when I was in a hurry to mow grass but thats pretty much all they will do efficiently.I am retired now(not in a hurry) and went back a true garden tractor that I can do more with,mowing,hauling garden carts,snow plowing,run a garden tiller and such.Never going back to a ZTR but they have there place.

That's my problem with them as well. I mow, push snow, blade the driveway, carry the BB, and haul wood in the tote box with my tractor. If all I wanted to do was mow on relatively flat ground it would be ZTR all the way.

 

[ovrszd]

What I meant was they could gear the tractor PTO to spin the tractor blades at the same RPM as the ZTR. They could also increase the travel speed of the tractors. My question is - why do they choose not to?

Not sure why they choose to run the blade tip speed slower. Not even positive they do. Just can't think of any reason the ZTR would cut at a faster speed other than a difference in blade tip speed. As to ground speed, my tractor runs faster than I can ride comfortably so more speed isn't necessary. Haven't looked at the specs, so can't say for sure how fast that is.