Zero Turn

[timkins]

Looking at Cub ZT1 42” but am reluctant to take the jump. I purchased a zero turn several years ago and crashed it twice in the 3 weeks I owned it. I have a hilly yard and did not realize that to brake it you had to pull back on the handles as there were no brakes. Has Cub put brakes on the zero turns or do you slow them by reversing the drive train as before?

 

[bearthebruce]

Zero Turns which I know have no brakes save the parking brake. You slow by using the hydrostatic drive, easing up on the forward position, drawing the arms back towards yourself. The wheel motors slowdown and hold the machine in place. If you pull far enough, it will change direction and go backward.

May I suggest you go to the cub cadet ZT1 website and download an operators manual:
https://www.cubcadet.com/en_US/zero-turn-mowers/zt1-42/17AREACS010.html#manualsCollapse-17AREACS010

 

[RalphVa]

Looking at Cub ZT1 42” but am reluctant to take the jump. I purchased a zero turn several years ago and crashed it twice in the 3 weeks I owned it. I have a hilly yard and did not realize that to brake it you had to pull back on the handles as there were no brakes. Has Cub put brakes on the zero turns or do you slow them by reversing the drive train as before?

I saw a picture of a Cub on here that had a steering wheel to steer it and forward and reverse pedals and a parking brake. On the Ryobi ZT480e (electric), think the parking brake is it, a parking brake. Have to back it down steeper slopes. Little tricky and backwards thinking to pull back to let it go backwards when you're backing, somehow. Might be even trickery on the Cub because you'd have to keep switching your right foot on a pedal (both pedals were offset to the right) to either go down the slope or apply some forward pedal to stop it. HST might be better at stopping in neutral position than the Ryobi's motors.

I crashed the Ryobi once by skidding on a compound slope and learned not to take it on those if very steep. Actually didn't "crash": skidded into the neighbor's high grass where it leveled out.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I have two Cub zero turns and really hilly places. They work great for me. Main think is you want never try on wet grass! Mostly use the RZT50, lean way over otherwise just straight down where possible. I never pull levers back (spin backwards downhill).

 

[RickB]

My advise is to not buy another zero turn.
There are some folks that just shouldn't own certain things.

 

[bearthebruce]

I never pull levers back (spin backwards downhill).

Was not suggesting spinning backwards to slow down. Was explaining that the speed is controled by bringing the control arms back towards the operator.

We have a great Dane zero turn commercial mower. I mow some very steep hills and I have complete control of the machine for if I did not, at the bottom, I would get some very nice flying lessons! I creep down the slopes. I have a trail that lets me use a gradual climb to loop around and come back to the slope for a second pass. Cannot climb the slope. The wheels will break and spin every time trying to back up the hill.

I think the OP should practice on some gentle slopes and then move to more aggressive slopes once the control is mastered.

That said, if the hills are such that the machine cannot hold itself back, then another mower is needed.. or perhaps better said would be another mowing technique is needed/recommended.

 

[Rdrcr]

My ZT is amazing on steep slopes and hillsides...I wouldn’t own anything else for my property...

 

[Fuddy1952]

Was not suggesting spinning backwards to slow down. Was explaining that the speed is controled by bringing the control arms back towards the operator.

We have a great Dane zero turn commercial mower. I mow some very steep hills and I have complete control of the machine for if I did not, at the bottom, I would get some very nice flying lessons! I creep down the slopes. I have a trail that lets me use a gradual climb to loop around and come back to the slope for a second pass. Cannot climb the slope. The wheels will break and spin every time trying to back up the hill.

I think the OP should practice on some gentle slopes and then move to more aggressive slopes once the control is mastered.

That said, if the hills are such that the machine cannot hold itself back, then another mower is needed.. or perhaps better said would be another mowing technique is needed/recommended.

My RZT if you let go...it stops. Pull back any at all it goes back. Only brake is parking lever I have only used maybe once to slow it down. Z Force zero has forward reverse hydrostatic pedals like the 1250 does.
I mow incredibly steep places with RZT50. I ease over the embankment and ride it out, levers straight up. Sometimes it gains speed by itself. Center of gravity super low.
Even if I bush hog a pasture I go around edge first with zero. No worries of hitting a fence or a creek bank collapsing with weight.

 

[Frankenkubota]

z turn question. i just walked 2 miles, 9am, soaking wet, already!

Better that than cold, imho.

I have a gravely zt with the kawi motor with about 15 hours. about every 2 weeks i guess i must hook up the trailer, load the zt, drive a 2600 ft gravel driveway and cut my semi private driving range, tbn folks welcome.

my buddy who owns an exmark says i should just drive the 2600 ft on the zt, probably less than 10 minutes, cut, then drive back.

anyone have an opinion?

 

[RandyT]

10 minutes round trip isn't going to add any additional wear and tear than mowing for that 10 minutes would. And you would spend almost that or more hooking up/ loading/unloading/ reloading/unloading and unhooking.

 

[Hay Dude]

Kubota must have a really good hydrostatic system. I mow an incredibly steep bank with my ZD331 and even when going straight downhill, if I let go of the sticks, it gently comes to a stop.
*Wet grass can make things tricky* and there is a possibility of some turf burn if youre not careful.
I never use the brakes except for parking. Just pull back on sticks.
I wonder if the OP would be a good candidate for a Kubota “F”?

 

[bearthebruce]

my buddy who owns an exmark says i should just drive the 2600 ft on the zt, probably less than 10 minutes, cut, then drive back.

anyone have an opinion?

Our driveway is a half mile with a 400 ft drop in elevation. I drive our Great Dane on that driveway all the time to get to where the mowing needs to be done. Then I mow for an hour or two and head back up the mountain. Been doing that monthly for 3 summer's. I can't see where it harms the machine.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Get a faster zero turn! Mine will cover 2600 feet in less than 3 minutes. The Scag Cheetah will do it in less than 2 minutes.

For those of you who cannot go down hills without sliding and losing control, get different tires. I used to have that problem until I put Carlisle AT-101 tires on my mower. Night and day difference. I can start and stop on all my hills without issue. And the AT-101’s do less turf damage on turns than the original turf tires.

 

[RjCorazza]

I wouldn't hesitate to drive the ZT for a half mile on gravel transporting. I will say that running about 5 miles per week on pavement wears out rear tires, but I would rather replace the rears every 500 hours than load and unload for 16 lawns all within a mile of each other.

 

[5030]

I saw a picture of a Cub on here that had a steering wheel to steer it and forward and reverse pedals and a parking brake.

My wife has one, she don't like toe 'oars' on mine (CC 60" Tank'. Hers has a steering wheel, brake pedal and go pedal, just like a conventional mower but is still a zero turn. Quite nice actually.

I think hers is an RZT?

 

[DK35vince]

For those of you who cannot go down hills without sliding and losing control, get different tires. I used to have that problem until I put Carlisle AT-101 tires on my mower. Night and day difference. I can start and stop on all my hills without issue. And the AT-101’s do less turf damage on turns than the original turf tires.

+1
Put AT 101's on both my mowers.
The stock turfs were useless.

 

[Hay Dude]

I tried a very similar tire to the Carlisle AT101’s for 2 years and I had to take them off. The were Carlisle Power Traction? Something like that.
NO DOUBT they get better traction, BUT if you aren’t careful, you can tear up poor quality or shallow rooted lawn grass. I basically have one huge customer and the resident in charge of grounds is of course an “expert” and carefully watches and checks everything. Even though the lawn quality is suspect, you have to treat it like a country club. Lol
He tells me he doesn’t like the tires and in certain spots, turf tearing does occur. Hes not incorrect, but real fussy.
They would be great if you are a homeowner and don’t care and the traction is worth the higher incidence of tearing. They are also safer on bad hills.
Turf tires spin out much more than AT101s, but its more of a “smear” or a “burn”, whereas I found the AT101 bar-type tires actually rip the lawn and leave a dirt mark if you’re not extra careful.
I have become so good at running the ZD331, that Carlisle turfs are all I need. I use the F3860 on the psycho slopes now anyway.

 

[Frankenkubota]

I wouldn't hesitate to drive the ZT for a half mile on gravel transporting. I will say that running about 5 miles per week on pavement wears out rear tires, but I would rather replace the rears every 500 hours than load and unload for 16 lawns all within a mile of each other.

thx all. yes, the 2600 ft ride up the driveway was all of 7 minutes one way. It takes me that long to remember where i put the trailer!

The drive is much smoother than what i'm cutting so no problem there either.

thx

 

[5030]

I tried a very similar tire to the Carlisle AT101’s for 2 years and I had to take them off. The were Carlisle Power Traction? Something like that.
NO DOUBT they get better traction, BUT if you aren’t careful, you can tear up poor quality or shallow rooted lawn grass. I basically have one huge customer and the resident in charge of grounds is of course an “expert” and carefully watches and checks everything. Even though the lawn quality is suspect, you have to treat it like a country club. Lol
He tells me he doesn’t like the tires and in certain spots, turf tearing does occur. Hes not incorrect, but real fussy.
They would be great if you are a homeowner and don’t care and the traction is worth the higher incidence of tearing. They are also safer on bad hills.
Turf tires spin out much more than AT101s, but its more of a “smear” or a “burn”, whereas I found the AT101 bar-type tires actually rip the lawn and leave a dirt mark if you’re not extra careful.
I have become so good at running the ZD331, that Carlisle turfs are all I need. I use the F3860 on the psycho slopes now anyway.

View attachment 707959

Boy am I glad I'm not heating that 'barn' in the winter. Bet your fuel bills are huge.

 

[Hay Dude]

Boy am I glad I'm not heating that 'barn' in the winter. Bet your fuel bills are huge.

Thank the Lord for natural gas (for the time being) and 2x6 walls with R-19 insulation
Even my stand by generator is NG. I’d make my toaster NG if they offered it….lol