O/T Woods Zero Turn Mower Question

John B. · Jan 2, 2015

I have two woods zero turn mowers. One I have been tinkering with since August. The other is my main mower.

My main mower has a 48" deck with a 14hp Briggs and Stratton V-Twin Vanguard the other one has a 52" deck with a 18hp Kohler Command V-Twin.

My question is. Do you think my 14hp will pull the 52" deck instead of the 48"??

Goose · Jan 2, 2015

I'd think a 48" deck would be stretching it with 14 hp.

Guess it depends on what you're mowing.

Goose · Jan 2, 2015

Shoulda added we have a 50" Toro zero turn with a 23 hp Kawasaki engine.

Drew970 · Jan 2, 2015

My Woods literature shows the biggest deck for a 5140/5160 (both B&S 14 hp) is a 48" deck. The 18 hp models could have up to 61" decks.

JayinNY · Jan 2, 2015

I'd say no, your running the hydros and a 52" deck on 14 hp. I have a 14 hp toro walk behind on a 44" deck, and 2 52" toro walk behinds with 18hp engine. A ex mark Ztr 23 hp with 52" deck a 60" Ztr 27hp with a 6.5 hp blower engine for the vacume. My brother has the same 60" mower 27 hp but has a deck mounted blower, He said the motor drops on its knees when he starts up that blower and you have to mow a little bit slower because it's drawing horsepower. I also think these engines nowadays way over rated, I've got a John Deere 112 10hp engine on a 48 inch mower deck, never seemed underpowered.

fixerupper · Jan 2, 2015

My 18 HP Grasshopper is plenty busy pulling a 52" deck.

RayP(MI) · Jan 2, 2015

My Woods has a 60 inch deck, powered by a 22 HP diesel. Adequate power. Don't think you will hace enough HP for that application.

GarryinNC · Jan 2, 2015

Kubota G1800 is 16 hp and can have either a 48"( what I have) or a 54" deck. They are 3 cyl diesel. I think it will work okay in 'normal' grass.

notjustair · Jan 2, 2015

I would say no. However, if it was an old engine maybe it could get close. You know how riding mowers usually had a much smaller HP engine and did just as much work - the horsepower ratings now are a crock. I have a 14 horse flat head Kohler in a Deines zero turn. I have mowed in the pens with it and can't bog it down no matter how tall the weeds are. It is a true 14 horse. The 20 horse we have in our Cub Cadet should be rated a 10 horse.

Deines mowers have always said that it takes most of the power to run the hydros and the deck is just a small percentage of what's left. That being said, the smallest engine they offered with a 52 inch deck was 18 horse.

Mark-Mi · Jan 2, 2015

No, it would kill the old 14 HP

John, it has been interesting reading all your posts on the Woods. I have owned A Woods 18 HP Kohler powered with 52 inch deck since new in 1995. Great mower. Also own A Woods F-25 25Hp Kohler with A 72 inch deck. Could use a little more HP.

LarrySTN · Jan 2, 2015

In regards to your John Deere 112 never running out of power, this mostly is true, but compare apples to apples. Most of todays zero turn mowers have a blade tip speed near 18,000 feet per minute. The John Deere 112 isn't half that blade tip speed. High blade tip speed takes a lot of power, but allows you to mow at more than 10 MPH and do a very nice job. The John Deere 112 cant even go 10 and if it could the mow job would be horrible. On the mowers from that era the mow job isn't acceptable even at 5 mph. As far as horse power old engines vs the new engines, put that 14 hp on a modern Z-Turn and it would have all it could do to turn the blades up to speed, let alone mow. The new engines are much closer to their rated HP than the old. The test procedure has changed considerably due to a class action law suit concerning engines not making rated power.

MarkB_MI · Jan 3, 2015

My 52" Ferris has a 27 hp B&S. 23 hp Kawasaki is optional, which tells you Briggs inflates their ratings quite a bit. I'd say the answer to your question is "no".

O/T Woods Zero Turn Mower Question

John B.

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Goose

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Goose

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Drew970

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JayinNY

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fixerupper

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RayP(MI)

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GarryinNC

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notjustair

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Mark-Mi

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LarrySTN

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MarkB_MI

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