Zero turn, small compact or an economy rider?

Soundguy · Jun 17, 2004

I think the big oposition to the ZTR's by people who already own tractors is the utility issue. The fact that we own a tractor generally means we do tasks that a dedicated super lawnmower can't do.. not that our tractors would outmow.. etc. On completely open ground, and no obstacles.. I believe the tractor would come in a close second to that ZTR mentioned due to the loss on the turn time... add obstacles and the ZTR is going to get an even bigger advantage. Throw in one 10x10 clump of 1.5" sapplings and the ztr stops dead. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif ... just had to add that one in...

Soundguy

Bob_Skurka · Jun 17, 2004

( You want to cut cutting time down.....Then get a B-2910 with a 72" MMM ...that is 6 feet of cutting and with a finishing mower at that ...and the zero turn mowers are just a toy compared to a tractor .....I just got a new B-2910 with this set-up .......can't beat it with a STICK!
)

I'm voting right along side GATORBOY on this one. A ZTR will out cut a B2910 every day of the week . . . AS LONG AS we are talking about mowing a smooth lawn. There is no way a tractor can keep up with a dedicated mower, even if the mower has a 24" SMALLER deck.

I used to mow with a NH with 60" RFM and a Cub with a 54" deck. I switched to a Ventrac 3000 with a 52" deck --not a ZTR but pretty darn close-- and it now takes almost 90 minutes LESS TIME mowing with that Ventrac! A ZTR would not work for me because of terrain issues, and a ZTR would be faster than the Ventrac, but my terrain prevents the use of a ZTR.

I would also have to agree with SOUNDGUY and say that much of the problem with tractor owners and ZTRs is that we use tractor for dozens of things and a ZTR is pretty much limited to just mowing. So the utility factor does come into play. Personally I think another factor might be that some of the ZTRs, while very fast, only give marginal cut quality.

FERRARI · Jun 17, 2004

You can cut grass fast , or you can cut it good....I have no problem cutting around trees and other things with HST .....and when you cut fast and high ( most people cut too low and encourage weeds and discourage real grass ).....I have neighbors that cut so fast, that it is funny to watch them bounce around, and if they ever fall off their tractor won't stop for 10yards even if it is an HST !
BTW ...Do you know anyone who has a 19 year old Zero cutter that still cuts good?

Bob_Skurka · Jun 17, 2004

No, but I bought a Ventrac, which is considered by many professions to give one of the highest quality cuts in the industry. The other premium quality cutter would be Steiner. Both are used extensively for mowing at golf courses, national monuments and other high profile places where the quality of the cut is expected to be exceptional. The fact that it also cuts fast is an added bonus. Most Steiners and Ventracs have both articulated and occilating frames so that all 4 wheels stay on the ground even on rough terrain so the "bumping" ride that ZTR units provide their drivers is mitigated to a very large degree. In fact, the ride on the Ventrac is smoother than the ride on my B2910 or my TC24D.

cowboydoc · Jun 17, 2004

I pretty much agree with Ferrarri. When I was testing them a couple years ago the 455 that I ended up buying was only about 5 minutes slower than the ZTR. I have a couple acres to do and it really wasn't much of a time saver. The big kicker was cut quality was pretty much the same as well and all I heard was how much better a ZTR will cut over anything else.

Bob_Skurka · Jun 17, 2004

Well I've said it before, it really depends on what you are cutting.

The more turns you make, the longer it takes with a tractor. My VP of Operations just got a ZTR, mows his 1.5 acres in 45 minutes and claims he can shave more time as he learns to use the machine better. He had been using a small JD lawn tractor and it took just under 1.5 hours, so he cut his time by 50%.

But for mowing open spaces, nothing beats a big tractor with a bigger deck.

By the way, I think a lot of the ZTRs do a pretty poor job as far as cut quality goes. The service that mows the "lawn area" at my office uses SCAGs and they run them at such fast speeds that they seem to tear the grass and they don't seem to have high suction decks/blades to pull up the bent over grass. At least they can't pull it up at the speeds they run.

dkb1215 · Jun 17, 2004

I have 5 acres of bahia grass on a very bumpy hill that I mow with Branson 3510 4wd and 72" finsh mower. It takes me exactly 5 hours to mow it in 3rd gear traveling around 6 to 8 miles a hour. I just used a Hustler ZTR 60" mower last week traveling at a avg. 10 miles a hour and completed the mowing in under 3 hours. The ZTR was much rougher riding than my tractor bot the ZTR was much more fun to mow grass with. , no compasion. The Hustler's cut 30% better looking than the tractor and I was able to get to places than the tractor could not go to "under trees, Fences, etc. If you want to much fast and cut better get a ZTR. I love my Branson Tractor, I just don't want to spend 5 hours mowing grass on it. Gatorboy is right on this one!!!

Soundguy · Jun 17, 2004

( have 5 acres of bahia grass on a very bumpy hill that I mow with Branson 3510 4wd and 72" finsh mower. It takes me exactly 5 hours to mow it in 3rd gear traveling around 6 to 8 miles a hour )

Dang... and I thought I was doing bad. I mow 10 ac.. well probbaly 9 once you count he couple small stands of trees, etc.. more or less rectangle shaped and otherwise open except for the dense trees in a few stands. I mow it with my NH 1920 in 3rd rang, 3rd and 2nd gear. Mainly flat.. a few ridges and bumps.. and an occasional low spot or mole hole. I do it in about 4 hours give or take.

Soundguy

dkb1215 · Jun 17, 2004

Soundguy,

The fives arces are from new constuction, very very bumpy the Branson is in 3rd Gear 2 range 4th gear 2nd range makes the tractor fly up and miss spots the ZTR seems to hug the land better. The ZTR will also cut grass at 15 miles per hour but it is a very jolting experience.
Whatever make or model tractor you drive it will not cut better ot faster than a ZTR. I don't mow flat sandy land like the Orlando area. My father in law has two tractors for mowing, one with a bush hog for cow pasture {35hp} and one with a 60" finish mower for his lawn {25hp}. It takes him 1.25 hours to mow 2 acres dodging trees, shrubs and other objects, I mowed it in 30 minutes and did a better job doing it with a ZTR.

Go Figure /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MessickFarmEqu · Jun 17, 2004

We just picked up Ferris zero turn mowers this season. They actually have a suspension on them that smooths out both the operator and the deck. I was really surprised, its a great feature, you can mow must faster when your not being jostled around. Their 27hp/61" is great, its about $8600, the diesels are over priced IMO.