Zforce 44 or CC 2544 series?

[MowingDebt]

Is the Fabricated deck really worth the extra money? I understand the fabricated deck is made by hand and welded for extra strength and durability. The stamped deck is made from one piece.

I am just wanting a long-term mower for myself and to help out at the church (6 acres). I am still wondering how I got from wanting a basic mower to the point I cannot live without "the TANK" I drove it around on the lot and well its fast and very mobile. I was a bit disappointed in it being a commercial mower with a residential deck. (Cost control) Add a little here and subtract a little over there? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

M-48 is way out there! My wife would kill me! Is the financing on the residential ZF48 (fabricated deck) a ripoff. They offer 24 month payments at a introductory rate of $59 a month. I could pay it off in that time with my tax refunds unless the democrats get elected! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MowingDebt]

Is the Fabricated deck really worth the extra money? I understand the fabricated deck is made by hand and welded for extra strength and durability. The stamped deck is made from one piece.

I am just wanting a long-term mower for myself and to help out at the church (6 acres). I am still wondering how I got from wanting a basic mower to the point I cannot live without "the TANK" I drove it around on the lot and well its fast and very mobile. I was a bit disappointed in it being a commercial mower with a residential deck. (Cost control) Add a little here and subtract a little over there? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

M-48 is way out there! My wife would kill me! Is the financing on the residential ZF48 (fabricated deck) a ripoff. They offer 24 month payments at a introductory rate of $59 a month. I could pay it off in that time with my tax refunds unless the democrats get elected! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Spiffy]

It takes a serious press to shape something as big as a deck in over 10gage steel [JD's 7iron - a well respected 7 gage deck - is the only one I know of]; even moreso if you want depth. Therefor the welded decks when looking at heavy gage steel; also the depth isn't limited to the press capablities. Further if any baffles are used, they need to be fabbed and welded in anyway.

I only have experience with a fab deck from the past year, but I do think it is better. The deep deck seems to stay much cleaner; I scrape out a thin layer after mowing several acres, instead of lump after lump of packed grass on any other deck I've seen. Also, it gets closer not needing a large reinforcement edge, but still "laughs" at hitting anything inside or outside. Of course, I do remember the old stamped deck on the CC garden tractor was still holding pretty straight despite looking like swiss cheese after 10 years.

The ZF48 deck doesn't look all that deep [though it may be decieving], so unless you have twigs and gravel or things that eat up a deck, I'd say the ZF50 is the better buy.

The M50 has "IZTs on steriods" but still not a true commercial drivetrain, so that's the other cost factor besides the deck. I can imagine it in apps where the ZF50 would look good, but with some rough spots needing the larger tires and frame (or perhaps as they advertise it: entry commercial).

I'm not sure if you do that 6 acres all at once and by yourself or part of a 3 or 4 mower team. In the former case, I'd want the commercial drivetrain, even if it is overkill for the actuall hours you'll likely put on in a year.

<font color="red"> edit: re-read; If you're still looking at the 3acres/week you first posted; I think the ZF50 would be a 10 year machine. Still the chance you have areas demanding a fab deck of the 48 or the larger tires of the M50. If both apply or if you're looking at the M50 purely from financing, I still like the M48, but it probably is overkill for 3 acres of decent lawn </font>

 

[Spiffy]

It takes a serious press to shape something as big as a deck in over 10gage steel [JD's 7iron - a well respected 7 gage deck - is the only one I know of]; even moreso if you want depth. Therefor the welded decks when looking at heavy gage steel; also the depth isn't limited to the press capablities. Further if any baffles are used, they need to be fabbed and welded in anyway.

I only have experience with a fab deck from the past year, but I do think it is better. The deep deck seems to stay much cleaner; I scrape out a thin layer after mowing several acres, instead of lump after lump of packed grass on any other deck I've seen. Also, it gets closer not needing a large reinforcement edge, but still "laughs" at hitting anything inside or outside. Of course, I do remember the old stamped deck on the CC garden tractor was still holding pretty straight despite looking like swiss cheese after 10 years.

The ZF48 deck doesn't look all that deep [though it may be decieving], so unless you have twigs and gravel or things that eat up a deck, I'd say the ZF50 is the better buy.

The M50 has "IZTs on steriods" but still not a true commercial drivetrain, so that's the other cost factor besides the deck. I can imagine it in apps where the ZF50 would look good, but with some rough spots needing the larger tires and frame (or perhaps as they advertise it: entry commercial).

I'm not sure if you do that 6 acres all at once and by yourself or part of a 3 or 4 mower team. In the former case, I'd want the commercial drivetrain, even if it is overkill for the actuall hours you'll likely put on in a year.

<font color="red"> edit: re-read; If you're still looking at the 3acres/week you first posted; I think the ZF50 would be a 10 year machine. Still the chance you have areas demanding a fab deck of the 48 or the larger tires of the M50. If both apply or if you're looking at the M50 purely from financing, I still like the M48, but it probably is overkill for 3 acres of decent lawn </font>

 

[MowingDebt]

I have 1 acre and I help at the church (6 acres). I mow at the church by myself once every two weeks. Me and another guy rotate. He uses his mower and I will be using mine. I cannot afford the M-48 so the option is between Toro (not sure about Toro because their prices are not listed on their website) or CC M50 or ZF50 or 48.

 

[MowingDebt]

I have 1 acre and I help at the church (6 acres). I mow at the church by myself once every two weeks. Me and another guy rotate. He uses his mower and I will be using mine. I cannot afford the M-48 so the option is between Toro (not sure about Toro because their prices are not listed on their website) or CC M50 or ZF50 or 48.

 

[Spiffy]

<font color="blue"> I mow at the church by myself once every two weeks. Me and another guy rotate. He uses his mower and I will be using mine. I cannot afford the M-48 so the option is between Toro (not sure about Toro because their prices are not listed on their website) or CC M50 or ZF50 or 48. </font>

Six acres every other week; that clears things up.

I've looked at the Toro websight a couple times. Like most brands: while the exact features are mixed a little different to hit each price, most ZTRs seem pretty competetive. I think they use the charged IZT a lower price than the M50, but with a lower engine quality and tire size (ZX 48" I'm thinking of).

Which dealer you prefer is a good place to start your decisions, unless a certain machine has the exact combination of features you need.

Back to the 6 acres; I'm still not sure whether you have any challanges demanding the heavy deck [ZF48] or heavy frame and larger tires [M50], else every other week with weekly mowings should be well within the realm of the ZF50. If you did half every week, I think it'd be really obvious, but being paranoid I'd want a continous duty drive train for six acres at once. But you said the M48 is out; and if the 6 acres doesn't have too many areas really putting strain on the trannies, again I think the ZF50 should be fine.

 

[Spiffy]

<font color="blue"> I mow at the church by myself once every two weeks. Me and another guy rotate. He uses his mower and I will be using mine. I cannot afford the M-48 so the option is between Toro (not sure about Toro because their prices are not listed on their website) or CC M50 or ZF50 or 48. </font>

Six acres every other week; that clears things up.

I've looked at the Toro websight a couple times. Like most brands: while the exact features are mixed a little different to hit each price, most ZTRs seem pretty competetive. I think they use the charged IZT a lower price than the M50, but with a lower engine quality and tire size (ZX 48" I'm thinking of).

Which dealer you prefer is a good place to start your decisions, unless a certain machine has the exact combination of features you need.

Back to the 6 acres; I'm still not sure whether you have any challanges demanding the heavy deck [ZF48] or heavy frame and larger tires [M50], else every other week with weekly mowings should be well within the realm of the ZF50. If you did half every week, I think it'd be really obvious, but being paranoid I'd want a continous duty drive train for six acres at once. But you said the M48 is out; and if the 6 acres doesn't have too many areas really putting strain on the trannies, again I think the ZF50 should be fine.

 

[Spiffy]

Doesn't really apply to this thread, except that I noted earlier how well I like the canister air cleaner, but I just saw a M48 on Ebay. The canister air filter must be an option in the Tank line or perhaps it starts on the 54 or the 60; the 48 on ebay definitely had a standard filter instead.

Also realized since you mentioned Toro, you're looking at other than CC too. In that case I know Snapper makes a homeowner machine with a commercial drivetrain: Snapper 450 . Unless they've changed since last year, I also know their "everyday sale price" is several hundred less than "list." I'd bet Ferris and Simplicity [Snapper's parent company; actually all under Briggs now I believe] have similar machines too. Not sure whether it has the features you want, but yet another approach to a consumer/commercial machine (like CCs M60 or ZF60).

 

[Spiffy]

Doesn't really apply to this thread, except that I noted earlier how well I like the canister air cleaner, but I just saw a M48 on Ebay. The canister air filter must be an option in the Tank line or perhaps it starts on the 54 or the 60; the 48 on ebay definitely had a standard filter instead.

Also realized since you mentioned Toro, you're looking at other than CC too. In that case I know Snapper makes a homeowner machine with a commercial drivetrain: Snapper 450 . Unless they've changed since last year, I also know their "everyday sale price" is several hundred less than "list." I'd bet Ferris and Simplicity [Snapper's parent company; actually all under Briggs now I believe] have similar machines too. Not sure whether it has the features you want, but yet another approach to a consumer/commercial machine (like CCs M60 or ZF60).