ZD18/21 Grass Catcher

DavidInNH · May 1, 2002

Does anybody have experience with the grass-catcher on the ZD18 or ZD21? I saw an estimated price of $3,600 on Carver's and then stopped by the dealer to look at one. The salesman claims that it takes 16 hours to install. I got to see one in the final stages of installation and talk with the tech. I now understand why its so expensive and takes so long to install.

- add rear PTO to drive turbine
- add subframe to mount everything on
- add 5th wheel in rear to prevent backflips
- add weights on front
- add wheel weight on left rear to compensate for very heavy duty turbine on right side
- wiring, safety interlocks, etc.

Has anybody got experience with this combination? I've never used a grass-catcher on anything and I'm wondering if this solution is complete overkill. It all looked very, very solid - the turbine vanes were pretty impressive.

I looked at a Ferris that had a little dinky turbine mounted on the deck, driven by a belt tacked into the deck drive pulley system. It just didn't look very solid. The Kubota tech said that its tough to ever get the deck on those types of systems to cut level - I can believe that.

-david

BHarrison · May 2, 2002

Sooo... is it $3600 installed, or $3600 dropped on my foot? Man are they proud of those things. Is it really worth it? Have you tried the mulching kit?

I wonder how many of those Kubota has sold.

DavidInNH · May 2, 2002

Its $3,600 installed. I haven't tried a mulcher or a catcher - I'm just starting to look at ZTR's. I had a Ransome's front-deck many years ago and it was awesome. When I bought my lawn tractor, everybody steered me away from mulchers. I went with a rear-discharge. My grass grows enough that it looks pretty ugly if we don't sweep. I bought a pull behind sweeper. You have to be moving pretty fast to use it so you either mow dangerously fast or make two passes. My neighbor has a JD mower with a grass-catcher that seems to do a nice job. So - I've had some experience with dedicated lawn mowing machines and I THINK I want a grass catcher and I've just started lookiing around. I have only driven the Ferris and ZD21/18 so far. I was really surprised - the diesel Kubota was MUCH quieter and smoother than the Ferris. But I'm still having sticker heart-attack over the ZD and the catcher.

-david

BHarrison · May 2, 2002

I guess you are. I was doing good to purchase the ZD21 in the 1st place.
Here's what I'd do.
Try the ZD21 bone stock. I was very surprised how few clippings I have. I mow back and forth therefore cutting clippings twice.
If you still have clippings, try some mulching blades. $40.00
If that doesnt work, try the mulching kit. $300.00
Then if you still have clippings, you've exhausted all other options & you may need a bagger. (Then you could sell the lightly used mulching kit to some schmuck like myself)

Again, I was really surprised at how few clippings are noticible with a bone stock ZD21. Hope this helps

DavidInNH · May 2, 2002

Thanks, that sounds like a plan. Do you have any pointers to the mulching kit? I've heard that they are often implemented with synchronized, counter-rotating blades and that when they get un-synchronized, things get real exciting/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif.

-david

BHarrison · May 2, 2002

Not with the ZD. Theres no way the blades on a ZD can contact. I believe the TG1860 rear discharge has a counter rotating blade, but even then I don't think the blades can contact. The only thing I know about the mulching kit is that it's a pain to install, costs about $300.00, and doesn't come with the blades. ($13.00 ea)
I haven't needed one enough to justify the cost. I live in South Louisiana and you can watch the grass grow around here. I cut once a week (Bahia/Bermuda) and you can't see any clippings. I have thought about getting that high speed gear box for my deck. I think if I up the blade tip speed, and get some high vac blades, I may be able to do some striping. I don't know of anyone who has successfully striped with a ZD unit.

DavidInNH · May 2, 2002

Yeah, I know what that grass is like down there - I spent most of my life within an hour of Houston. My wife has a lot of family from your neck of the woods. Believe it or not, my NH grass grows almost as fast, the season is just a lot shorter.

What's the deal on a high-speed gear box?
What is striping?

Thanks,
David

BHarrison · May 2, 2002

The high speed gear box replaces the current gear box with one that is geared higher. More speed, less power. (I have plenty power to spare.)

Striping is done by bending the blades of grass to reflect light. Light one way, dark another. Out the box, the ZDs dont stripe because there's not much vacuum in the deck area.