Z930R - Zero Turn Purchase - Comments and Rules of Thumb?

[rmonio]

I just purchased a Z930R for my property. I don't have much in the ways of heavy grass/hills so this should be sufficient.

Any gotchas on driving/handling/management that you can share or point me to?

Thanks!

 

[WinterDeere]

Nice mower. Your first Zero turn, or transitioning from something else? Which size deck did you get?

 

[rmonio]

It's my first Zero Turn and I'm transitioning from my riding mower (X320).

I also bought the mulching kit to help in the fall.

Thanks!

 

[WinterDeere]

Basic theory:

1. Do two perimeter passes, clockwise to shoot all clippings onto your own lawn rather than street/neighbors.
2. Do two passes around each building, counterclockwise to shoot all clippings away from building/patios.
3. Pick a property line as your alignment, and start making stripes.
4. Learn to do K-turns (or "Y-turns") at end of each strip. You do not pivot on the spot, that will tear a divot out of the lawn at the end of each stripe.
5. Use a different property line or diagonal for each mowing, preferably having 4 different directions (N-S, E-W, NE-SW, NW-SE) to even out wear and rutting.

There are many finer points, but this will get you started. Oh, and learn to use mower deck lift pedal at every bump, esp. if deck is 60" or over. After some practice, you may choose to reduce your perimeter passes to one, after you've learned more efficient K-turns. It's a matter of care versus speed, and I tend to do just one perimeter pass but two passes around buildings.

 

[BigBlue1]

You'll love it. I know I have after moving from my JD x758 to a Bad Boy Rogue zero-turn.

As mentioned above, the turning requires a bit of finesse to avoid tearing up the grass. I try to mow in rectangles and at every corner what I do is: go past the end of the uncut section not quite a mower length. Reverse straight back and immediately start to turn to the left. As the mower nears about 45* then transition to forward, still turning to the left. That works well for me to not tear things up, normally. No idea if that style of turn has a name.

 

[workinonit]

Basic theory:

1. Do two perimeter passes, clockwise to shoot all clippings onto your own lawn rather than street/neighbors.
2. Do two passes around each building, counterclockwise to shoot all clippings away from building/patios.
3. Pick a property line as your alignment, and start making stripes.

He won't be shooting any clippings with a mulch kit on his. I wouldn't own another mower without it.

 

[WinterDeere]

He won't be shooting any clippings with a mulch kit on his. I wouldn't own another mower without it.

Agreed. For some reason, I read that post as it being a kit he'd be installing only in the fall.

I tend to like mulching (Gator type) blades on a standard side-shooter deck, as I can use that to simultaneously shred and shoot all leaves towards the woods that boarders my property, in the fall.

 

[workinonit]

I just mulch all of mine. Pretty amazing how they disappear.

 

[rmonio]

Agreed. For some reason, I read that post as it being a kit he'd be installing only in the fall.

I tend to like mulching (Gator type) blades on a standard side-shooter deck, as I can use that to simultaneously shred and shoot all leaves towards the woods that boarders my property, in the fall.

I bought the kit vs. the mulching deck as the components are not removable on the deck. I had figured I would use it in the fall when I have leaves to mulch.... but I guess that depends on how things progress.

I'm just surprised by how fast these things go. wow.

 

[workinonit]

All of my mulching kits have been permanent. I guess you could take them off but you wouldn't want to. I love mulching everything.