Would a zero turn be faster than a B2601?

[Username Taken]

It's hard to justify throwing away a perfectly good attachment in order to purchase a ZT. Especially when they're $3,500 in the Big Box stores.

But if you're starting from scratch, and I know everybody's got different circumstances and needs but I cut my 5 acres with a Deere 62 inch MMM for three years and I hated it. Hated, hated, hated it.

Did I mention that I hate MMM's? If not, I should tell you -- I hate them. They're noisy because most (99%) of them are stamped decks, they rattle to beat ol' Billy and they like to tilt to one side because the linkage invariably gets bent up. they're a sooper PITA to put on and take off, and when you have them off, it's a PITA to store them. And putting them on is no cake walk either. Yeah, they have the drive-over decks which are nice -- For the first year or two until THEY give you headaches. And they will.

And yeah, unless you want to catch your deck on every stump, stone, rock, sidewalk, curb, tree root and furrow on your property, you need to take them off when you're not using them.

But if you already got one, I'm not going to tell you to throw it away and get a Z-Turn. I'm saying that if, for some reason, you gotta start over, get a ZT or, a good 2nd choice (in some cases 1st choice) a pull behind finish mower. There's virtually no money difference between a MMM and Z-Turn

Or, if had money (like some in here do ) I'd buy a high-end Deere or Ferris. But never a MMM.

 

[tradosaurus]

Zero Turn tires

I installed tires similar to these on my zero turn and I don't get stuck in slightly damp grass.

 

[tradosaurus]

It's hard to justify throwing away a perfectly good attachment in order to purchase a ZT. Especially when they're $3,500 in the Big Box stores.

But if you're starting from scratch, and I know everybody's got different circumstances and needs but I cut my 5 acres with a Deere 62 inch MMM for three years and I hated it. Hated, hated, hated it.

Did I mention that I hate MMM's? If not, I should tell you -- I hate them. They're noisy because most (99%) of them are stamped decks, they rattle to beat ol' Billy and they like to tilt to one side because the linkage invariably gets bent up. they're a sooper PITA to put on and take off, and when you have them off, it's a PITA to store them. And putting them on is no cake walk either. Yeah, they have the drive-over decks which are nice -- For the first year or two until THEY give you headaches. And they will.

And yeah, unless you want to catch your deck on every stump, stone, rock, sidewalk, curb, tree root and furrow on your property, you need to take them off when you're not using them.

But if you already got one, I'm not going to tell you to throw it away and get a Z-Turn. I'm saying that if, for some reason, you gotta start over, get a ZT or, a good 2nd choice (in some cases 1st choice) a pull behind finish mower. There's virtually no money difference between a MMM and Z-Turn

Or, if had money (like some in here do ) I'd buy a high-end Deere or Ferris. But never a MMM.

I never understood the appeal of a tractor with a midmower unless you lived in the city on less than 2 acres and needed the loader/bucket.

 

[2manyrocks]

Another consideration is having two machines to maintain vs one B2601.

Might also consider that the B2601 has a pretty long life diesel engine. Some of the lower tier gas engines on the ZTRs aren't that great when it comes to reliability comparatively speaking.

 

[Blue hood]

Bob 123

You ask about cutting the mowing time at half, but that depends where you are located.

If you are in Florida you can cut your yard every 2 weeks in winter, and every 7 or 8 days in the other seasons.
That's about 46 times per year.

But if you are in the north, where you have cold winters, snow etc. you will cut your yard only about 36 weeks a year or an average of 24 times per year (12 in pick season and 12 in other seasons).

Theoretical cutting:
24 times x 80' = 1,920 total minutes using your B2601
24 times x 40' = 960 total minutes using a zero turn.

You think that saving 16 hours per year it's worth buying a zero turn ($$$$) or you are just infatuated owning one ?

 

[Tony H]

Yes you will win with a ZT. It's not necessarily the ground speed that makes the mowing faster, it's the lack of backing up and the lack of large radius turns.
Your 'one engine' to maintain is a legit thought. That's something you will have to decide

 

[Midniteoyl]

Zero Turn tires

I installed tires similar to these on my zero turn and I don't get stuck in slightly damp grass.

I have those and they tear things up easier in the turns, so gotta be extra careful.

 

[Blue hood]

Bob 123 said on his first statement:

"When i mow i do not back up i mow at a angle to reduce the wasted time backing up."

If he master how to mow with his B2601, What's the need to purchase an equipment that will be payoff in 6 to 8 years ? To safe $300 to 500/year of his time ?

 

[jfh0jfh]

Zero-turns are't good on rough ground/ hills - we have both. We tried a couple (friends' units) and went w/ an AWD front-mounted mower (Kubota).

Also the zero-turns were tippier on our hills.

 

[tradosaurus]

I have those and they tear things up easier in the turns, so gotta be extra careful.

You have to be careful with the turf tires too.