Zero turn, small compact or an economy rider?

[dkb1215]

Ferrari,

That looks like a cat fish. Do they taste very good when they get that size? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yea, now that's a real fair cost and productive comparsion )</font>

Gotcha... You did say 'ANY' /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

 

[1075]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have been learning little things for years....and still glean things every year...by experimenting and reading and applying new methods.....I have learned so many little things that really make a difference...I really do not want to sound like a know-it-all about this subject.....If there are people here who want to learn along with me, I will be glad to help you all with what I have already learned...it is free !!!
It is not hard and really not expensive like many people think....I have people come by all the time and say "Man you must spend a fortune on you lawn"...And I say no not really!

...but if there are those here who want to learn along with me...PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I already have so many little tricks that I can share with you!......Like I said before, it is only 1 out of 100 that even cares, and wants to cut this way....
Thanks
)</font>

Count me in, I would love to pick up as much knowledge as I can.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mark

 

[Calpyro]

Hello,
I bought a Toro Z Master 100 ZTR to mow my one acre lawn and three acres of high weeds. For the most part, it has worked very well. I equipped it with knobby ATV tires for better traction in the hilly spots and mud. Additionally, I fabricated a small deck behind the seat for a fifteen gallon herbicide sprayer. I will mow and then come back and hit all of the weeds with herbicide. I sold the mower attachment for the tractor, I just don't use it anymore because the ZTR is so fast and easy. In fact, if have perfected the one-hand steering technique while I hold cold ale in the other.

 

[dkb1215]

Calpyro,

Your Toro ZTR looks good. I am selling my tractor 72" mowing finish mower to my sister because of the speed and quality of cut with the ZTR is far better than the tractor finish mower ever produced. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Moon]

Nice looking ZTR Calpyro. I haven't sold my 72" RFM yet, but since I got the ZTR the RFM has been sitting idle.
Just this week I mowed my 4 acres in 1 1/2 hours. Best time yet. Best time with the 72" RFM was 2 1/2 hours. Plus the cut is much better. I have grass growing in better because of the lighter weight of the ZTR. My L3010 was a wee bit heavy for mowing I guess, but it did the job. I'm also cutting at 3 1/2 inches. I find myself mowing more often cause the lawn does look better, and its so easy and kinda fun to mow. This last time I did the diagonal lines. Looks better than ever, and it was faster. I'm sold on the ZTR for mowing, but, if I could only have one it would be the tractor for sure. A tractor and a ZTR make a nice combo if you can swing it.

Moon of Ohio

 

[Calpyro]

I have a tractor and ZTR combo. It works really good for me. Having the herbicide tank on the ZTR is a really big time saver. I mow first and then go back and spray. I have got my yard perfect for mowing. all of my difficult spots around trees and obstacles are sprayed regularly, so I don't have to slow my mowing speed. Also, it so easy to spray, I rarely procrastinate getting out there to do it because it is so fast. Truthfully, it is so fun, I look forward to doing it. I put on my stereo head phones, grab a beer and go tear it up. Don't tell my wife. She thinks I am hard at work.

 

[Snowman9000]

I'm late to the party, but here are my experiences.

I have a JD755 with a 60" RFM. I have a Simplicity 50" garden tractor, and a 52" light commercial Toro ZTR. I don't have too many trees to trim around. I cut somewhere between 3 to 4 acres. 10-20% of the yard is rough.

The ZTR is the fastest, even in open areas. Once I got used to it, then tried the tractor again, I couldn't believe how unsuited the tractor seemed for the job.

The Simplicity has the nicest cut quality, I'd give it 10 of 10. The ZTR is right there, I'd give it 9.5. The RFM, I'd give a 3. It's suitable for a park or large acreage, but not that good for a finished yard. The ZTR has a high blade speed, not only is the cut great but the clipping dispersal is great too. In that respect it's better than the garden tractor. The ZTR can do the best job if the grass got a bit too long between mowings.

The ZTR is the roughest ride. Of course, it's moving twice as fast as the g.t., so that's part of it. Actually the g.t. rides better than both the others, which is a real surprise when you look at tires sizes on the JD tractor. If you have a rough yard, you probably won't enjoy using a ZTR.

You have to be more involved when using a ZTR. It simply takes more attention to go straight and to turn, especially since you'll likely be going faster. It's not like you get stressed out or can't think about other things, but it definitely takes more of your attention than a conventional machine. If you mow to relax, the ZTR might not be as relaxing as you're used to.

The ZTR covers me in debris while mowing. I am allergic to pollen so that's not so cool. I have to wear ear protection with the ZTR, and with the tractor too. The GT is not bad at all.

No matter how good I've gotten, the ZTR still chews up grass sometimes on turns. Fortunately our yard and my standards are forgiving on that.

The tractor's biggest operational problem is lack of clearance under smallish trees and such. Truly a pain in the neck.

All that said, I'm seriously considering getting rid of all 3 and buying a sub-CUT. My 13 year old son is big enough to do the mowing, so if it takes a bit longer it won't hurt me much. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif And I can cut my maintenance and storage down to one machine instead of 3.

 

[tough451]

For speed and quality of cut you cant beat a ZTR. Some times people may go to fast and give a bad cut but that aint the mowers fault. For people new to ZTRs you cant actually do a zero turn without tearing up the grass it's more like a 3pt turn but it doesnt take long to master.

 

[JJT]

Guys, Thanks for all the info. Well today I did it, I purchased a Kubota ZD21, zero turn, with the pro 60" fabricated deck. I stopped at the dealer at 8:30, left at 9, and the delivery truck followed me home. I mowed the back yard in 20 minutes, (normally a 60 minute job), and that's at half throttle until I get used to the mower. My wife then tried it out, and I couldn't get her off the machine. I wish I'd done this years ago. The zero turn is fantastic, and the diesel ZD21 is an absolute dream. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Snowman9000]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( mowed the back yard in 20 minutes, (normally a 60 minute job), and that's at half throttle until I get used to the mower. )</font>

Congrats on your purchase. You better check the manual about break-in. I don't know, but diesels don't like to be lugged down. I suspect maybe you should be running it at full throttle now.

-Don

 

[cubrun]

Hi Calpyro,

I have a Toro ZTR like yours and I just purchased a sprayer similar to yours (Agri-fab, 15 gallon). I also wanted to mount the sprayer like you did and I was wondering if you would be kind enough to share the design for it?

Sincerely

John

 

[DAP]

Chris, NONE of the heavy duty JD mowers in the lawn class (LX, GT, etc.) have this 'notch'. Key start with choke lever, warm then full bore and off you go.

I believe the JD Garden class tractors are the same.

To muddle this whole notion, frank_15 above says the opposite. I can tell you this though, my LX288 with an 18hp Kawasaki Twin w/ hydro has no notch.

I suspect that if we stop comparing model numbers and start comparing engines we will get to the bottom of this.

Perhaps we both need to get out a little more! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Calpyro]

Sorry for the late reply, I simply made an angle iron frame and mounted it upon the steel engine guard with four angle iron upright supports. A piece of aluminum plate serves as the deck. I connected the electrical with two alligator clips to the battery. That's it. Took about an hour.

 

[Soundguy]

I don't have a JD.. too much money per inch of cut. I have a murray... and it has the notch. A B/S 'silver series' cast iron sleaved engine. 12.5 hp. It sees light duty, as I fenced real close around the house, and made most of it pasture.

Still.. the mower is about 7 years old now... yearly oil changes, air filter, and gas treatment + frequent blade sharpening / replacement has made this thing last.

Besides a battery and maintenance items.. this little machine has been great for a 'cheapy' ( I figure 700+tax for a new mower makes it a cheapy.. ). I'm convinced that most machinery if well cared for will last. My 21 " push mower is a no-name job.. I got it at a pic-n-sav store here in florida.. As far as i know they are out of business.. I got it.. oh.. 11 years ago. It's been through a few blades and a couple air filters.. and one wheel. Has a tad bit of surface rust on a couple spots where something dinged the deck.. otherwise the little B/S engine starts on the first pull every time.. all that and it only cost 89 bucks...

You just have to use machinery within its limits.

Where I live, most people have about 3ac lots.. my three closest neighbors are all on their second lawnmower since I've been there ( 4 years ). One guy had a big huskie and wore it slap out.. Now he just got a new cub cadet and a trail mower...takes him a couple hours easy to mow. The other neighbor had a sears.. it blew up.. he was mowing his lot and a vacant one next to him... seems like it took him about 6 hours to do it... now he's got a ztr... Other neighbor had a smaller jd mower.. it died.. and now he has a bigger one.. still takes these guys hours out there baking in the sun to mow. One guy had a tractor right when i moved in.. an older case.. compact.. nice looking unit.. 5' mower range or so.. he sold it and got a ztr.. again.. hours to mow.

I have to hide my laughing. These guys are just working these lawnmowers to death.. they need a tractor... With the money they are pumping into these mowers every few years, they could have a compact or sub compact tractor and mower that would last a couple decades. A BX series kubota or a tc18.. etc would be decently cheap along with a 5' finish mower.

Soundguy