ZD21 Zero Turn Mowers

[littlediesel]

Kubota has recently changed their deck design on the ZD21 and ZD28 zero turn mowers. They went from a stamped deck to a welded deck. Does anyone have any experience with the new welded deck design? Do they mow better than the stamped deck? Any info would be appreciated!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Jon

 

[cnoel]

I don't know that they actually mow better. They do have a more user freindly mulch kit that works VERY well and is easier to put on and off than most. They also have a spindle type rotating guage wheel that is nice if you have any burms or steep angles to mow up or turn into. The fabricated decks are supposed to be stronger than a stamped deck, unless you're a commercial mower, I doubt it would ever be an issue.
You cannot put the fab. deck on a mower that cane with a stamped deck, either. That's what I know, F.W.I.W.
Christa

 

[littlediesel]

Christa,
Thanks for the info. I believe your absolutely correct. The welded deck does not mow any better than the stamped deck. I did have the opportunity to demo a welded deck model today, and have concluded there is no difference between them.
I think this was a marketing campaign by Kubota to keep up with the competition.

Jon /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Buddy]

I owned the ZD-21 with a stamped deck. We sold it and replaced it with the new Pro deck and it cuts much better. The stamped deck discharges full length clippings and the Pro deck discharges more finely chopped clippings. I am a commercial cutter and to me it was worth the move up.
The caster wheels on the corners of the deck is a HUGE improvement over the stamped deck if you don't want to tear up turf all the time.
BUddy /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[littlediesel]

Buddy,
Thanks for the info!!! I was looking to hear from someone who has used both the stamped and welded deck! Did you trade up to another ZD21 with a 60" deck??

Thanks again,
Jon S

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Kubota introduced the "fabricated" deck in order to meet the desires of the commercial cutters. The stamped decks have performed very well. However there are some nice features on the new decks such as (1) swivel anti-scalp rollers, (2) 5.5" deep deck which allows faster cutting in tall, thick, wet grass, (3) a baffling system which forces clippings into the second and third blade where it will be recut and discharged more evenly, (4) a smaller discharge opening which forces the grass to be re-cut by the third blade prior to final discharge, (5) easy to attach mulching system, and (6) 7-gauge steel is used in all areas of the deck. The ZD21 and 28 will only be offered in the Pro-Deck model after depletion of current stamp deck inventory (ZD18 will still have stamped deck). Currently Kubota is offering an added sales allowance of $300 on the ZD21F-60 stamp deck in order to deplete inventory.

 

[HappyOne]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

What is the difference in the ZD and ZD Pro. I am considering a ZD18F and wonder if going up to the 60" deck would put it closer to the price of a ZD21. Then the welded deck starts to creep in. I see from this thread that Kubota is phasing out the stamped 60" deck. Does this mean that it will be available for the ZD18? If so at what cost?

Dealer will be open Monday, and I can get all my questions answered then, but for now I'm sure one of you have the answers! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I started out looking at all the others, and by the time I added it all up, the Kubota looks like the best choice.

Thanks!

JamesKubota (soon to be two Kubota's /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

If you are considering a ZD18 you should go on up to a ZD21 with the 60" stamped deck. It is the best value at this time because of the $300 sales allowance.

 

[HappyOne]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

I spoke with my Kubota dealer. He says the ZD18 can only be had with the 54" deck. I can get a ZD21 pro with a 60" fab deck for $900 more. Didn't see much of a discount on the stamped deck ZD21 only $200 less than the pro. Looks like they are making a real good deal on the ZD21 Pro to me!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

That is a very fair price spread ($900) on the ZD18 and ZD21 PRO. Go for it!!

 

[HappyOne]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

For those of you who have used a ZD. How is the ride in the rough stuff? Still waiting on them to come in locally so I have not been able to try one. Did ride a Ferris with full suspension. Nice ride, but a ZD18 can be had for the same money.

 

[WVBill]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

Sounds like there are several folks out there who are either looking for or recently bought a ZTR. How 'bout posting your thoughts / opinions of the various makes/models out there?

I'm realizing that my Craftsman Garden tractor/mower won't last forever and I want to be ready with a decision before it dies. Also, I'm realizing that I might be able to cut my 4 hour weekly mowings down to 2 or so.

So come on, what have you seen that you liked or didn't like?

One specific question: With the engine behind the operator and right on top of the rear wheels in some models, isn't there a tendency to unintentionally "do wheelies" in these things?

 

[equipman]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

WVBill
Speaking of the Kubota ZD's, they are great machines. We haven't seen problems occuring with them other than people don't check and clean the radiator screen often enough. With a temp gauge, you should be able to get a feel where the normal operating temp should be and clean the screen when it starts to change. With the decks on, you won't get wheelies, but take that deck off and look out. The "pro" deck with the swivel anti-scalp wheels is an improved deck, but no problems with the air tunnel deck either.
Lewis

 

[Dozernut]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

We have a ZD21 Kubota with a 60" welded deck and now have 25 hours on it. The CEO (wife) chose this mower to replace her aged ZTR Dixon. She loves it and I seldom get to operate it. It is smooth on the rough areas and mows at an astounding speed. The ZD21 mows incredibly well and does not clump the grass like the the Dixon does. I really like the swivel wheels on the leading edge of the mower deck, no more gouged lawn. The mower sips fuel and it sure is nice to fuel up out of the big diesel tank with the pump. An added bonus is that diesel for non-road use is about 50 cents cheaper per gallon than gas.
The bad points to the mower are few, but a five foot deck is too wide to mow ditches that we used to be able to do with ease with the 42" deck of the Dixon. It will not handle tall grass or weeds, which tends to pull down the motor and stall the unit. So that type of mowing is better left to the rotary brush mower. It is a very good mower and I would buy it again as it has cut our mowing time and it leaves a manicured looking lawn.

 

[littlediesel]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

JamesKubota,
The ride in the rough is better than most garden tractors. Kubota has used a premium suspension seat on the ZD series. I believe the thought process is that most commercal cutters could be on their mowers 8 hours per day.

Overall this is a great mower. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jon

 

[HappyOne]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It will not handle tall grass or weeds, which tends to pull down the motor and stall the unit. So that type of mowing is better left to the rotary brush mower. )</font>

Dozernut, can you elaborate on this point? When you say tall grass, are you talking about several weeks of growth on a lawn?

I have sections of my "extended lawn" that may get 8" or so before it hit it again. With the big kubota, I just drop down a gear and it cleans it up nicely (mowing to 4"). I expect to mow more often with a faster mower, but just want to get a clear picture of what you mean.

James

 

[Dozernut]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

We had a low section of lawn by the pond that was too wet to mow. The rain would just not stop. So it was three weeks before it dried out enough to get a mower in to mow it. This section had been seeded in Red Clover and it was thick and loving the moisture. The Red Clover was just too much for a finish mower, any finish mower. The ZD21 could not handle the thick clover so I had to use a rotary mower on the L4810 to do the initial cut. There is nothing wrong with the ZD21, just me! I was trying not to drop the backhoe on the tractor to put on the brush mower.
Why Red Clover, fast growing and good erosion control. A plus(?) is the deer, rabbits and wild turkey that we watch all the time, love it.

 

[MReeter]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

Does anyone know what the blade tip speed is on the Pro Decks? I can't find any numbers on the Kubota site.

A download just says "The best BTS in the business" but shows no numbers. I have an older brochure that lists the 60" stamped deck at 17,500 FPM and the 72" at 18,500 FPM..

I was just curious if these numbers are the same on the Pro Deck.....Many Thanks,Mike

 

[BHarrison]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

I just rolled 100hrs on my 01 ZD21, and I've loved every hour. The suspension seat is a god sent. The only thing bad I have to say revolves around Kubotas revisions on the unit, and turning their back on owners of the original ZDs.

As far as cutting through high grass, two days ago I cut through 2.5' high bahai down to 2" (2 passes) . If the clippings were not there, it would have looked a golf course.

Kubota makes great equipment. Great equipment. But as a company, ...I dont know. It's a darn good thing their product out weighs the bull sh** factor.

Sometimes I think about buying a B series Kubota, but with the new revisions on the ZD, mine has little market value on the street, but I know it'll do what I bought it to do for many, many years to come.

/Rant

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: ZD Zero Turn Mowers

Blade tip speed on Pro decks:

60" - 17500FPM
72" - 18500FPM

Taken from Kubota's newest literature on ZD Pro's