Zero turn

[dsdjones]

I want to buy a zero turn to mow about 6 acres. I have been advised that it is better to buy a 'commercial' grade machine rather than something from one of the DIY stores like Lowes.
For commercial machines I have looked at Exmark, Hustler and Scag. I demo'ed a Hustler and was pleased with it and would like to patronise my local dealer who offers Hustler and Scag; however, I understand Exmark is the 'gold standard'.
What does anyone think? Is there much difference between the 3 brands I have mentioned?
Thanks.

 

[Dargo]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( however, I understand Exmark is the 'gold standard' )</font>

Not really. In a direct comparison side by side, I found the JD 777 to be heavier built than the Exmark by a noticable amount. Also, the Ferris and Kubota models wouldn't be considered any less quality. I don't think you will be unhappy with any of the ones you mentioned or the ones I added. I've mowed this year with new models from each. I'd actually consider the Exmark and Hustler slightly lighter made than the others. The Ferris seems to have the strongest spindles and they have suspension, the JD models have one of the strongest decks and the frame is stronger built than Exmark, and the Kubota really seemed to be a strong competitor and was the most competitively priced diesel model.

I brought most every model to my house and used them here. After all of the testing, I ended up buying another Grasshopper. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I've had one for the last 5 years and was going to add another zero turn mower. After using a front mount deck for all those years, I just couldn't go with a mid mount model. I guess that is why around here the Grasshoppers seem to be the closest to what you considered "the gold standard" by commercial operations, the highway department, and our school corporation. None of the commercial models I tried would I consider bad. Try 'em out and buy what you like. Oh yeah, I'd have to say that you are correct about not buying a residential model to mow 6 acres with each week. They are cheaper at the start, but in 10 years, you'll have as much in the residential model as you would in the commercial unit and you will have the time invested to make the repairs to keep it going that long with that much use. Good luck!

 

[Nasty135]

dsdjones,Welcome to TBN,
Commercial will cut good for a long time for 6 acres, But as for Exmark being the gold standard, That is just someone's opinion, I personally would rather have either one of the other two before the Exmark.... But thats just another someones opinion... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I just don't like the horizontal shaft requiring a 90 degree turn of the belts to operate the mower and blades..that is for the gas engines, the diesels are probably different /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
on all the ZTR's ...

Oh and BTW this post will probably get moved to the Lawn and Garden section

 

[RalphVa]

Be sure to check how easy/difficult it is to remove/replace the mower blades. On the Scag I bought for our 4-5 acre church property, all 3 blades were through-bolted, and the deck could be lifted with a hand crank. It look about 2 minutes to crank up, unbolt and about the same to rebolt and crank down after I sharpened the blades. Sharpened them every mowing.

The spindles also were easy to unbolt to change; had to change one out in the 3 or 4 years I used it. Not sure about the steering mechanism. Heard it had to be fixed a few years after I moved to Singapore.

Ralph

 

[crb478]

I have a 52 inch Exmark and I am extremely happy with it. Whether it is better than the others or not is subjective at best. I was told that Exmark handles over 60% of the commercial accounts in the US, but I can not verify that that is accurate. I know that my zero turn is faster than using my tractor with a 5ft finish mower and that is uses very little fuel while giving a better cut. The most important thing to me is that I am not nearly as tired when I finish mowing. I no longer need a small push mower to help trim up, just a weedeater. Some of the other ZTR's I have seen do seem to be a bid heavier, but mine does not flex at all so I am not sure that the extra weight is a advantage.

 

[Richard]

I understand the Ferris brand has a modle that has a suspension?? thereby allowing you to scurry through some areas much faster than you otherwise might on a machine without said suspension. (Never seen one myself, just what I've been told)

That said, are there other brands that have a similar suspension or as was suggested to me by the person pushing Ferris, is Ferris the only brand that has a suspension?

 

[Holzster]

dsdjones

last weekend I bought the Kubota ZG20 from my local dealer. First off I am real happy so far.

Just to let you know about the Kubota the ZD is gas & the ZG is deasel. I went with the gas because it was cheaper & like you I wanted it for a few acres & not a few acres a day.

I looked at the scag brand they are the bigest commersial ZTR mower out there. I do have a Kubota L4330 so I was familiar with Kubota so that did have a part in my decision.

Looking at the ZTR mowers I could tell right away that the Scag & Kubota's were built a LOT better. higher gauge streele.

A couple of things I liked abou tthe Kubota is that - the warrenty will be real easy with my dealer. I liked the hydrolic mower deck. I could get a hard top canapy to shade me when I am mowing (I do not know why but the movement of a soft top bothers me). the engine is WAY easy to get to just lift the cover & lift the seat & you have full access. The Kuboata has a PTO clutch. And a real cool feature a built in jack to lift the front end to get under the desk.

One thing i did do is when I bought it I had the dealer deliver it. I show me the ins & out right on my property not ontheres.

I did find one thing wrong though - I can not get my wife off of it. I have maybe 2-3 hours on it she has over 15!!

I hope this helps - when you are looking for a commersial mower do not forget about OARAGE POWER!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Holzster]

here is a link to the mower I bought.

http://www.kubota.com/h/products/ZG20.cfm

 

[Dargo]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( is Ferris the only brand that has a suspension? )</font>

Ferris makes a ZTR for another company as well that also boasts suspension. After trying several mid mount ZTR's, I'd imagine that all ZTR mid mount mowers will have suspension in a few years. Maybe I just have a crappy lawn, but I can't possibly mow at full speed on a mid mount ZTR. The mowers may be able to take it, but I can't. The suspension is such a simple idea and so effective! It not only reduces the violent ride on the driver, but on the entire mower. It would seem to have to extend the life of the mower. Mid mount ZTR mowers are inherently very rough riding; all of them. The commercial brands I tried seemed to be built tough enough to take the pounding, but like I said, I'm not. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I don't see how Ferris could patent suspension for ZTR mowers. Therefore, just wait and see if most don't have suspension in a few years. They don't pull ground contact implements like tractors, so suspension is very possible and effective. The suspension mid mount ZTR mowers ride about the same as a front mount ZTR mower.

 

[SkyPup]

We love our ZD-21 lifesaver, they don't come engineered for anything more heavy duty that this rig.

 

[rfawkes]

For the price of a commercial mower you can hire someone else to mow your lawn for the next 10 years.

 

[SkyPup]

Or you could just purchase 7 or 8 new top-line consumer mowers and dispose of the worn out used one every other year........

 

[Chris527]

Hi,

Last Year I was in the same boat as you find yourself now.
After doing a lot of research and test riding, I purchased a Skag tiger cub. It is commercial grade. The thing that made me go with Skag was the comfort of the ride. Mowing 6 acres is a lot of seat time , I myself mow 4 acres every 5 days or so and it has been a pleasure on my lower back. I had a crank seal blow out this spring and the dealer loaned me a Gravley with the same HP and size, I can tell you I felt every bump and dip and got off that gravley a little sore for sure. Good luck on your purchase.

Chris

 

[tjkadar]

We bought an Exmark LazerZ XP with a 72" inch deck and a 27 hp Daihatsu motor. We probably cut about 15 to 20 acres with it per week. The mower has been fantastic. The full suspension seat gives you a very comfortable ride and makes it as comfortable as our larger tractor... maybe even more so.

Changing the blades is fairly easy and quick. You do have to jack the entire mower up and use some type of jack stands to hold it up, but it isn't too bad. The quality of the cut is great and replacement blades won't break the bank.

This is our second season with Exmark and it has over 500 hours on it. We've had no issues with it to this point. She's a good mower and we look forward to many, many years of service from her.

 

[Nat]

I too, did a lot of research before buying. I found that there are not as many different ones as you would at first believe as so many are made by the same company, but sold under different names. for example Great Dane makes a great mower, and also produces the same mower for John Deere. Scag does the same thing. The units sold as lower priced units also have cheaper hydralic moters and pumps. Look at the hydralic moters on a Z-turn at Lowes and the look at the drive motors of a Great Dane, or a Kubota. I ended up with a Kubota ZG-20 because I trusted the dealer. I felt like he was telling me the truth, not what he thought I wanted to hear. The hydralic PTO clutch will last a long time, and I wasn't sure the electric would hold up as well. Maybe they will last longer, but I got what I wanted, and I liked the built in jack. Good luck with your search, later, Nat