Zero Turn Mower Questions

[WinterDeere]

I swap out and then sharpen my Gator blades each year, just because I feel like "I should". But honestly, other than one or two very tiny nicks, the edge is still as sharp as factory at the end of a season. My seasons consist of about 70 hours of mowing + 30 hours of running the machine without the mower running.

 

[GrandpaSmurf825]

Hi GranpaSmurf - yes I run Gator blades - I bought a 9 Pack 12 years ago and still some new ones! They are the .250" thick version - so I swap them out usually 2x per year and have a set sharp ready to go all the time.

This only happens on specific grasses where little grass is present so I double cut those small areas mowing the other direction takes care of it.

Yes, your Cobalt is almost identical to my machine - here's a few pics from 2025 - 15 yrs old.
View attachment 5711572View attachment 5711573

Looks like it's in excellent shape. I have had mine for 9 years now. Under 300 hours I think. No reason to get rid of something that doesn't have anything wrong with it. I had my Dixie Chopper for 16 years. Blew a head gasket on it at the end of the season. I bought this mower new and repaired the head gasket and sold the Dixie Chopper.
Everyone has different mowing conditions and I chuckle when the statements are made that "brand X" will mow that in X amount of time. I've been all over the country and know that the grass is different here than in Maine or Florida, or you name it. You have to compare mowers on your conditions. What I can say is that 10 or 12 MPH top speed is nice. However there isn't any brand that will mow our thick spring grass flat out at 10 or 12 MPH. We are right beside a park and they have a 9xx Deere and an Exmark. He doesn't run flat out I can assure you. Later in the years as the summer heat takes over he probably can.

 

[RjCorazza]

So I was curious about my mowing speed today. I have an app I use for when I'm spraying, so here it is. This is 90,000sq feet of lawn, and a 72" deck.

This was at a little faster pace than previous weeks, because the grass was only 7-8" tall. It has been 10-12".

View attachment 5711548View attachment 5711549

Beautiful !
I have tracked my mows before, and maintaining an average of 4mph is really moving!

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

I am glad my mower moves pretty quickly, but until I can fix the seat belt, I am not going to get in a big hurry. When I got a zero-turn, I suddenly realized how much safer a tractor was.

 

[Yander]

I’d have to be running over 6mph. When I say leisurely, I mean 3+.

Oh, wow, Gramps!

 

[Yander]

The great thing about mowers, they are simple machines. After 7 years, I've never needed a dealer for my Hustler. The only mower service I've needed in the past 20 years, was an engine replacement on my trail mower, which I did myself. Dealers are nice, but if I think Im really going to need them, maybe I need to buy a better brand

Great point! A quality ZTR is not a throw-away machine, and any part on it can be replaced. Many use the exact same hydro pumps, engines, etc. You can basically buy one, and it will last you for life. Even if you have a mechanic do it, they are low-cost machines to work on. Even the engine is easily swapped out. The frames on them are like tanks and will really never be hurt unless abused.