My ZTR has a 50" deck, and weighs 1200 pounds. I use it to mow the bottom of ditch lines. It is hard to slide down a hill if you are already at the bottom. About the only way to flip a ZTR would be to slide off a wall like the victim in the op's post. If you did manage to flip a ZTR without sliding off a wall, it would take a slope far steeper than any other machine we have would take. I don't think a ZTR could stay on a slope steep enough to turn it over even if it was pavement. Locking swivel wheels might not turn it into a real slope mower capable of 45 degree slopes, but it would certainly be better than just swivel wheels.you might be right on the lower center of gravity for ZTR's 60" or larger, but there are plenty of smaller ones that have both narrow & short wheel base...add the rider weight and sometimes hyper sensitive hydro, and you have a dangerous situation on a wet slope. my only point i guess... but i still don't buy locking ft swivel wheels, too dangerous.
That may be true. There is a mild slope in the backyard that gives my sister fits on the ZTR. She can accomplish mowing it much better on a regular riding mower. I can mow that hill and much steeper hills on a ZTR without problems as long as it is dry.
Also a good reason to frequently lubricate the latch. I try to do that at least once a year for our machines as otherwise the latches stick.
