ZD 331 Kubota

[EddieWalker]

It was really a tough choice between the two. Prices were about the same and both have good support, so it came down to which I liked better and had more features. Your price compares very close to what I saw with the diesel costing about $2,500 more then the gas engines.

In the gas engines, I really liked the water cooled Kawasaki engine.

Eddie

 

[Apples]

The extra weight of the diesel engine over the drive wheels, gives the mower better traction. Eddie how are you making out with your goals for 2008?

 

[Stan Wilhite]

Hi Eddie, I'm almost 55 and have been around gas and diesel engines a long time. On average there's a much longer life span of a diesel compared to a gasser. The problem is, that usually the mower itself will be all to pieces before the diesel dies....so what's the point of the extra $ ?
If those guys told you that there was only a slight life span difference (on average) between the gas and diesels, I'd be doing business somwhere else FOR SURE!
I also think they vastly underrated the life of a well maintained engine (gas or diesel). I have a 1974 154 cub low boy w60" deck that has 4000 hours on it with no engine work at all. The maintenance of all machines is the key factor.
Good luck, Stan

 

[harpoonalt]

I had a part time lawn business with an Exmark walkbehind with a 17hp Kawasaki engine. I kept track of hours for maintenance puposes. In the 5 years I had it and about 700 hours of use, the oil was changed every fifty hours and greased weekly. The guy who bought it has since put another 1200 hours or so on it in his business and it's still running strong. I believe maintenance is key to the hours you can get. I met some local guys in the business who mow probably 1000 hours a year and have mowers for years without major problems. Abuse and neglect can cause failures in one summer as well.
Look around on some landscape trailers. You'll see some pretty ratty looking mowers with original engines that are still going strong with a ton of hours. Buy quality, maintain it well, and you will have a mower for a very long time.

 

[Kays Supply]

Messick, what would be a save weight to pull behind a ZD326? I have a small 4 wheel wagon and it is just too handy not to use the ZD to pull it.

 

[arobin05]

Has anyone priced one of the new ZD331 Kubota zero turn mowers? If so, what kind of price were you quoted? My local dealer has a customer appreciation day coming up and if I can make it I was going to see what kind of price he gives. I was hoping for a quote to compare it to.Thanks in advance for any info.

I need one for a government buy. BRAND NAME OR EQUAL TO Kubota ZD331. PRICE INCLUDES ALL SHIPPING AND HANDLING FEES. CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE ALL SPECIFICATIONS FOR PRODUCT.
FORT BRAGG NC 28310
Thanks,

Alvin Robinson
The Robyn Mark Company

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Messick, what would be a save weight to pull behind a ZD326? I have a small 4 wheel wagon and it is just too handy not to use the ZD to pull it.

Simply, Its not safe to pull a wagon with any ZTR... thats why they don't put hitches on them. If you do it... as light as possible. I would not pull firewood around or anything like that.

 

[ae_ted]

that confuses me a bit. IF a ZD should not pull even a small trailer, Then how would it do pulling it's own weight which is considerable. Yes a real heavy load, I understand is bad, but a small load or trailer, that scares me a bit.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

that confuses me a bit. IF a ZD should not pull even a small trailer, Then how would it do pulling it's own weight which is considerable. Yes a real heavy load, I understand is bad, but a small load or trailer, that scares me a bit.

My concerns come less from strainging the transmission, and more from the tendency of trailers and ZTR's to jacknife easily.

 

[Hektor]

Any thoughts on the side or rear discharge decks?