I have 4 acres country yard to mow, some rolling. It is time soon for a zero turn. Takes me 4-5 hours now, with 2 riding mowers at the same time. A borrowed Exmark Commmercial 60" does it in less than 2 hours. In local experience/opinions, all I see are Exmark vs John Deere. And neither has an outstanding dealers around here. So it comes down to brand preference. Each brand has a loyal following of folks I have asked about. What do ya'll think? Let me hear some experience and or opinions, thank you, Paul
- Thread starter ncpapaul
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EVILBOWEVIL
Member
Hustler Super Z if you want a real strong, fast machine
Ron
Ron
Watch what the pros use, I have seen Exmark, Hustler, John deere-Diesels large machines that are likely $15k.
Look at the websites of all the ones you are interested in, compare warranties, engine size, HP, The ridgity of the deck and blade drive system.
You really need a guy on this site that has a landscape business to fill you in on all the pros-cons of each brand.
I dont own a zero-turn cause I only have a 1/2 acre of grass to cut.
Look at the websites of all the ones you are interested in, compare warranties, engine size, HP, The ridgity of the deck and blade drive system.
You really need a guy on this site that has a landscape business to fill you in on all the pros-cons of each brand.
I dont own a zero-turn cause I only have a 1/2 acre of grass to cut.
I have a 1997 model Woods. It is nearly identical to a Grasshopper of the same vintage. It is well built with a lot of iron in it. It has the two larger drive wheels in front with the single crazy wheel behind. The deck sticks out in front of the "tractor". If I were to buy a new one it would have the big wheels in back with the deck underneath. Most of them are made that way now.
The higher $$$ one are probably all good. The cheaper ones are not geared to heavy commercial use. I kind of like the looks of the Country Clipper. It has the single joystick instead of two levers. That way you can wave to the neighbor driving by and not turn donuts in the yard.
The higher $$$ one are probably all good. The cheaper ones are not geared to heavy commercial use. I kind of like the looks of the Country Clipper. It has the single joystick instead of two levers. That way you can wave to the neighbor driving by and not turn donuts in the yard.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Sold 65 ex-mark a year untill KUBOTA came out with their zero turn. Shaft drive deck, and hydraulic lift for just a few more bucks, a no
brainer for most folks that look hard.
brainer for most folks that look hard.
Bought a Swisher 2660 (26 hp B&S, 60 inch cut) 3 years ago; it's not a true commercial mower, but is much heavier than what's sold at the big box stores (welded steel vs. stamped sheet metal deck). I mow about 3 acres with LOTS of stuff to mow around; it replaced a 42 inch cut hydrostat conventional mower and cut my mowing time in half; I LOVE it. Found it on sale at Amazon with free delivery; less than $4,000 delivered to my front door.
I agree----I looked at virtually all mowers in my area and the Kubota was the best mower for a little more money.
I liked the Ferris but, too many belts. I liked the Bad Boy but it had non greasable spindles.
I might add that a big plus for me is GREASABLE DECK BEARINGS. Just consider that these bearings take the biggest beating of anything on the machine. Lubricated for life means nothing to me as long as I am able to use a grease gun.
I have a Dixie Chopper and like it, however, get a make with a good local dealer.
I discovered that one of the marks of a good commercial grade zero turn mower is a fabricated deck ot thick steel. John Deere claims they have good enough stamping machines to make their decks of heavy steel by stamping instead of fabricating, which appears to be true.
Another mark is a floor board which hinges up to expose the deck belts for easy changing. Belts do wear out. Cheaper mowers have the floor board fastened to the frame to stiffen the lighter frames.
You need an air impact wrench to easily loosen the blade nuts for removal for sharpening. The mowers cut much better with sharp blades.
KEH
I have a Dixie Chopper and like it, however, get a make with a good local dealer.
I discovered that one of the marks of a good commercial grade zero turn mower is a fabricated deck ot thick steel. John Deere claims they have good enough stamping machines to make their decks of heavy steel by stamping instead of fabricating, which appears to be true.
Another mark is a floor board which hinges up to expose the deck belts for easy changing. Belts do wear out. Cheaper mowers have the floor board fastened to the frame to stiffen the lighter frames.
You need an air impact wrench to easily loosen the blade nuts for removal for sharpening. The mowers cut much better with sharp blades.
KEH
The ExMark is popular around this area. I've never ran one, but they are well built.
I have a Grasshopper and like it. Son has a Kubota and likes it.
The "deck under" mowers like my son's Kubota will slide forward going down a steep hill. The "deck out front" mowers like my Grasshopper, will hold back on a hill real good. I can nose my Grasshopper down a steep hill to the edge of a creek and back away. My son can't do that with his Kubota, but he can go straight up a hill that I will spin out on. We can both mow the same area, we just have to go about it differently.
I hope you enjoy your new mower.
Paul
I have a Grasshopper and like it. Son has a Kubota and likes it.
The "deck under" mowers like my son's Kubota will slide forward going down a steep hill. The "deck out front" mowers like my Grasshopper, will hold back on a hill real good. I can nose my Grasshopper down a steep hill to the edge of a creek and back away. My son can't do that with his Kubota, but he can go straight up a hill that I will spin out on. We can both mow the same area, we just have to go about it differently.
I hope you enjoy your new mower.
Paul
John M
Well-known Member
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- Nunyafn business
Ive had my Cub Cadet Commercial for 4 years now, and have had 0 problems with it. THis is not one of the box store CCs. TheCC Coomercial is built better/stronger and has a welded deck. Best part is there are 4 dealers within 40 miles of me.
oldoloverlover
New User
Have JD 737. runs great w/no problems. Use it both for lawn and roadside.
Zach Bouchard
Member
Kubota diesels in our area run the same amount as a JD gas. The kubota has hydraulic deck lift too. We have a kubota at my work, zd28 I believe, and it is an excellent mower. I highly recommend checking it out.
I have 2 exmarks, I use 5 days a week for commercial mowing. I have no complaints about them. One is a 23HP Kawaskai 52" and the other is a 27hp Kohler 60" No problems yet with the hydro system. Kawie has 2600hrs, Kohler has 2200, second motor. A word to the wise, get a Kawasaki. The Kohler moter has no crankshaft bearings, and failed at 1700 hrs.
Got a friend who does lawncare for a living and he says nothing beats a SCAG. Personally I got a deal on a used Great Dane with a 61 inch cut. Being a mechanic by trade, and knowing the approximate cost of replacing the various hydraulic drive parts, I'd take the great Dane over the others any day because the pump and drive motors are all seperate and replacible individually instead of all together in a single transaxel unit.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I'll second the Dixie Chopper, it hauls @$$! Mine does 15 MPH, and it will cut up to about 10MPH, if the lawn is smooth enough!
BillinCentralMO
Well-known Member
We have a Hustler and we love it. Takes all the work out of mowing. We don't have many hills so I have little experience on slopes. For relatively level or gently sloping lawns I could not reccomend the Hustler too strongly. All the others look cheap and tinny to me , now that we have a Hustler.They have many models. I think ours is the "Z" and ran about 8K last year when we bought it. We had used a relatives Hustler. When they took it back we had to get our own. I hear ya about cutting with a regular riding lawn tractor. That's a long bumpy day. The Hustler cuts our backyard in 12 minutes. Took about an hour and 40 minutes with the old Sears lawn tractor.
Opinion?
Rather than spending 4 hours (or even two hours and the price of a new mower) cutting that much lawn: Unless the polo team or soccer league or golf group is using your lawn, cut about half an acre around the house (firebreak and space you actually use) and put crops or shrubs (or shrub crops) or trees (or tree crops) on the rest, or hay it (well, technically that falls under crops).
Or fence it and graze it and eat whatever you graze on it.
I just can't get into wor$hiping the lawn mon$ter for the sake of a lot of green space that's not used. Of course, perhaps you actually use it, I don't know - I do know that's a whole lotta lawn unless there is some active use of it as a playing field or the like. I've seen it go both ways - folks I assume have horses (or got tired of maintaining that much lawn and barter with someone) who hay (or have hayed by others) what was obviously an old formal lawn (must make for one smooth, flat field), and folks a few miles away that mow many acres of former pasture/hayfield into rolling lawn to no obvious purpose other than buying more gas for the lawnmower.
Around here Bunton's seem to be popular with the lawn care pros, though that's mostly the walk behind (or stand on a sulky behind) versions - don't see many of the sit-down zero-turn units in commercial service here.
Rather than spending 4 hours (or even two hours and the price of a new mower) cutting that much lawn: Unless the polo team or soccer league or golf group is using your lawn, cut about half an acre around the house (firebreak and space you actually use) and put crops or shrubs (or shrub crops) or trees (or tree crops) on the rest, or hay it (well, technically that falls under crops).
Or fence it and graze it and eat whatever you graze on it.
I just can't get into wor$hiping the lawn mon$ter for the sake of a lot of green space that's not used. Of course, perhaps you actually use it, I don't know - I do know that's a whole lotta lawn unless there is some active use of it as a playing field or the like. I've seen it go both ways - folks I assume have horses (or got tired of maintaining that much lawn and barter with someone) who hay (or have hayed by others) what was obviously an old formal lawn (must make for one smooth, flat field), and folks a few miles away that mow many acres of former pasture/hayfield into rolling lawn to no obvious purpose other than buying more gas for the lawnmower.
Around here Bunton's seem to be popular with the lawn care pros, though that's mostly the walk behind (or stand on a sulky behind) versions - don't see many of the sit-down zero-turn units in commercial service here.
Stephen in SoKY
Member
Like Paul I think highly of my Grasshopper. Do try both the front mount & mid-mount styles to see which suits your needs the best. I prefer front mounts but your situation may be diferent. I'll say this, in the odd times my Grasshopper needs working on, it's the most convenient mower to repair I've ever seen.
I(we) mow around 6.5 acres, We have a 757 Deere it mows great, Only zero turn I have ever used, That being said it is the roughest riding thing I have ever had (and has the suspension seat) whatever you get, get one that you can stand to ride Spring time is'nt to bad, August and September are not.
I agreee with the poster about using the area. I had about 3.5 acred of lawn I was mowing. Once a week, 3-4 hours and about 3 gallons of fuel.
I put a three board horse fence arouna a small front yard and reseeded the rest.
Now I hay that once in early Sep, and then keep it trimmed with the 9 foot sickle and the SH. Man that mops up the whole deal in about 45 minutes.
Gordo
I put a three board horse fence arouna a small front yard and reseeded the rest.
Now I hay that once in early Sep, and then keep it trimmed with the 9 foot sickle and the SH. Man that mops up the whole deal in about 45 minutes.
Gordo
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