Zero turn in favor of a BX 60" MMM

[jambx]

I have had my BX22 TLB since 2003. It does everything I have asked it to do and more for my 2 acres. I have been extremely happy with it even though I have the urge to get bigger - calming myself down when I am working a very tight area (which is more often then not) where even a small B would have a hard time.

I had purchased the 60 MMM to cut the 1.5 acres however I find myself constantly taking it on and off to do loader work, hill my garden, work in the woods etc and we all know how fun installing the MMM on a BX is. Although I have not seen any a finer cut than the BX I am now thinking of selling the MMM in favor of a dedicated machine (i.e. zero turn).

Does anyone have any experiences with zero turn machines and could point me in the right direction (brand name etc)? I am not looking to go with a commercial unit but I would want it to have enough grunt to pull my cyclone rake as well.

 

[Charlton John]

I was in the same situation last year. I mowed w/ my NH SCUT and was just sick of taking the loader/deck off everytime I wanted to do something diffferent. Not sure about the difficulty of the BX MMM but on the N.H. it was a pain in the neck, only took 5-10 minutes but was a pain. I recenlty upgraded to a Kubota CUT and actually purchased this MMM as well. Mowed w/ it for 10 minutes and then asked the dealer to take it back on a full refund) 2k and I put this towards a ZTR. I have a Toro time cutter Z 50" deck 25 horse. This is actually their biggest residential model before getting into the commercial series. This is good for cuttting up to 3 acres. Not sure if you would need one this big for your cutting but I do know the 25 horses I get would have no problem pulling your rake. I paid 2900 for mine. They do make smaller models (horse power) based on mowin sizes. Maybe one of these will fit your bill. Good Luck

 

[KeithInSpace]

There are a great many machines out there. It's all about what you want to spend. Before I got my BX, I had my eye on a Cub Cadet ZTR for ~$3,000. Whatever you do, get one with hydraulic pumps that drive the wheels. I've heard about problems with the ones that use belt drives. I have no clue which is used on what company's machines, but it is just one of those things...the first big difference between a mickey-mouse machine and a "real" ZTR.

I've heard that the Kubota ZG series have a "lifetime engine replacement plan". I think their fairly reasonably priced against the ZD series...probably start in the $6,000 range and would be an exceptional machine.

For the record, I've started leaving my deck on for all but the most extreme dirt work. For the basic "use the loader to move those 10 CY of mulch" or "scratch around with the BH over there" types of tasks, I leave the MMM mounted. Hasn't been a big deal. I need to have a solid 4 hour task to justify removal of the MMM.

 

[AndyinIowa]

KeithinSpace brought up a good point. I see too many people swapping attachments when they really don't need to be connecting or disconnecting.

My MMM can stay on for 80% of my tractor work. For many people, I think its more of a 'I don't want my tractor to look like a lawnmower unless its mowing lawn' mentality. I look at it that I have an additional 250 lbs of low CG ballast on the tractor...

As far as dealing with less ground clearance, its a matter of being aware of your vehicle limitations while operating.

IowaAndy

 

[Tom_H]

If I had the $$, I would have a ZTR and a B3030. I don't have the $$ though and I also have to take MMM on and off all the time. Necessity is the mother of invention and I can get my MMM on or off in 3 min. or less with little effort. The secret lies in these things:

1.) a smooth concrete or asphalt pad that's at least 4' x 9'; garage floor is fine.

2.) a custom dolly built to exact specs.

3.) a well developed technique of getting the PTO coupling docked.

I can point you to several of my prior posts if you want the lowdown on # 2 and 3. If you just want to get the new machine for the fun of it, or to mow faster, go for it. If you prefer not to spend the $$ and you have #1, reply or p.m. me and I will give you links to all the info you need to make MMM on/off a breeze.

 

[Billy_S]

I have had my BX2230 for almost 3 years now. My yard is about 3 acres. I have about 10 acres of pasture that I mow with a rotary cutter a few times a year. I also have about 20 acres of woods that I might drag the RC through every now and then. I do have a FEL that I use for moving stuff around and mucking horse stalls. Clearance, in the horse stalls and, to a lesser degree, in the woods, is an issue with the MMM installed.

I am going to agree with those who advocate leaving the MMM on most of the time. If you evaluate the non MMM work you are looking at, much of the time there really is no reason to remove it. That said, I like to sharpen my blades a few times a year and do that on those occasions when I have to remove the MMM.

 

[Will_C]

I have had a BX 2200 since 2000. I too, left the MMM on for many FEL tasks. I removed the FEL whenever I did not need it.

This past spring, I bought a Toro 52" commercial ZTR. I mow a total of 4.5 acres between 2 parcels. The ZTR is much faster, even though the deck is 8" narrower.

I kept the BX, and now keep the loader on all the time. Even though it is a simple job to attach/detach the FEL, I find it very handy to have the FEL on whenever I have a 2 minute job for it.
If you can swing it, I would vote for keeping the BX and geting a ZTR. It is a nice combination!!
Will

 

[Carl Bill]

I bought a BX1500 to do some FEL work on 1.25 acres. Now we own 3 acres and I just bought an L2800HST. I will be getting a 5' finish mower for now and when I get the 3 acres in shape with the L2800, I will either sell or trade the L2800 for a ZTR (Kubota is on my short list already) or sell the BX 1500 soon and keep the L2800 and buy a ZTR later.

I really like the BX1500 FEL, but I needed a bigger tractor to do a bigger project and the L2800 is probably barely big enough. When it is all done, I should be in good shape to mow with a ZTR and save a lot of mowing time.

I would hate to be without a tractor with an FEL even if I had a ZTR for mowing. So one of the two tractors will stay whatever ends up happening.

Soon after I got the little BX1500, I needed to fill some holes in the yard that the dog had dug. I grabed a shovel and the wheelbarrow and was headed to a dirt pile I had out back... and then I though, WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING!?!?! I have a new Kubota with a loader!! And the task was done in minutes! I sold the wheelbarrow in a grage sale the next spring. Don't need one of those back-breakers anymore!

 

[KeithInSpace]

II sold the wheelbarrow in a grage sale the next spring.

Don't own one. Never brought it over from my last house.

My shovel's getting pretty rusty, too. I guess I could use it or sandblast/paint it. Dunno. I hate using the thing. I'd get rid of it, but someday, there could be a hole that the BH doesn't fit into.

Sorry. Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

 

[dex3361]

If you have any slopes beware of the zero turn mowers. They do not do banks very well. They will pull the front of the mower down hill if you are going across the hill. They tend to pull out of control downhill. They do very well going up hill and backing back down(kind of scary though). I bought a 26HP 60 inch cut commericial machine and had it a week and took it back for the above reason. I went with a used (100 hours) BX1500 with a 54" MMM and I am very satisfied with the way it works for my situation. If you are mowing level ground the zero turns are great but not on slopes. So it would depend on what you are mowing, but for me the BX machine fit the bill.