ZTR Mowers - opinions???

[Dirty Harry]

I'm looking to replace my current (12+ year old) JD garden tractor with a new(er) mower and have pretty much decided on a Zero Turn Radius style. I have sort of narrowed the playing field (cutting field?) down to either a Woods FZ23B Mow'n Machine or a Scag Turf Tiger; both have a 61" deck option available, which is what I'm interested in.

I'm trying to learn all I can and the 2 choices I've selected are based on in-store inspections and a LOT of reading online from the companies and current/former owners. Anyone here have one of these or another brand/model of ZTR they'd care to chat about? I have almost 4 acres that I regularly mow, so I truly need a unit this size. If you have options or experiences - good or bad - I'd love to hear them!

Thanks, folks!

[Bud]

I moved up to a zero turn mower 2 years ago for the 4+ acres that I mow.

I did a lot of research, and coincidentally did look at the Scag Turf Tiger, which ended up being my #2 choice overall.

I ended up with an Exmark Lazer - Z 60" with a 28 HP Kawasaki. It is a fast beast and gives a great cut.

I went with the Exmark over the Scag for 2 reasons. The engine (28 hp Kawasaki versus 27 hp Kohler), the service/attitude of the dealer, and what really tipped the scales was noticing what all of the commercial lawn care guys around here use.

Good luck on your search.

[jeffery9076]

i have read several forums on different mowers some of the scag turf tiger got really poor reviews with hill climbing and sliding i am currently looking for a back up mower. i would advice getting into a several lawncare websites and read forum and parts available.

[Groundhog]

Hello,

I bought a used Walker ~12 years ago, and still think its great! They have larger decks available. I have repaired things over time, but it is made extremely well, and I think it is easy to repair. They have some nice attachments also. I have the snow blower attachment and it is top notch! Expensive, but made in USA!

[liflod]

I retired my old Dixon a couple years ago to buy an Ariens(2350?). My machine has a 50" deck and a 23 HP Kohler. I did a lot of research before I bought it and in the $3500 price range, I decided it was the best buy in the price range. The biggest difference I found in the mower designs I looked at was the way the Ariens mounted the mower deck. Its not a commercial machine, but as close as my budget would allow.

I 50" zero turn mower will out cut a 61" tractor style mower.

[Dirty Harry]

I have read a few less than favorable reviews from Turf Tiger owners regarding the increase of repairs shortly after the warranty expires (of course) and the high cost of parts. I have seen nothing but good stuff (though not very much so far) on the Woods. Still looking. Checking into pro lawn care boards for info is a great idea. Thanks, Jeff!

I also see a lot of Gravely ZTRs around here, in addition to the Scags. The Gravely is built like a tank, but then for about $9500, (for the model I priced that's comparable with the Woods), it should be. The Grasshopper brand was all the rage a few years ago, but I don't see many of them around any more.

My hang up is that I need/want a front-mounted deck design, not a mid-mount unit - which is what 98% of ZTR mowers are. That's why I was immediately drawn to the Woods series, plus they look to be extremely heavy-duty. I guess I need to start calling around to see if I can demo some different makes & models to see what will work best for me.

[Noel Woods]

I've got a Big Dog ZTR X1060, Its got a 60" deck with 27hp Kawasaki. It is powerful, quick, and really maneuverable. Its laid out well for service, and its really about the finest ZTR I've driven, and I looked for two years before I bought it. It mowes my 3+acres in half the time of the old rider with 25HP and 54" deck. The real surprise is that now I have also cut my weed eating to a minimum because this thing really can make some tight turns. Looking back at things, I should have bought the thing years ago. Its just so superior to a rider, as well as being a fun and comfortable machine to operate.

[nairb35]

Ok I will throw in my 2 cents.I bought a Badboy pup zt mower last year. Not the same as the electric badboy buggys. It has a 60 inch mower with a 30hp Kohler on it. It took my 2 acres down to 45 minutes instead of 2 hrs with my 48 inch John Deere. I would agree with Noel, I wish I would have bought it a long time ago. I can mow at 8 mph. It's so fast it has a rear spoiler to keep the rear wheels on the ground. I realize Dirty Harry that you want a front mount deck but I think a front mount would be slower than a mid mount deck. Good luck happy hunting!

[Dirty Harry]

Well I have some news on my ZTR search.

There's a guy where I work who's got a 1997 Grasshopper 721D (3 cyl Kubota diesel) w/72" floating deck that has 903 hrs on the clock. He & his wife lost their house and moved into an apartment; now they must unload all the stuff that goes with the house. I am going to try and get him to bring it out to my place sometime this week or next so I can take it for a test mow on my land and see what it can do and how it handles. That's the best way I can think to insure it'll be the right machine for me. He wants $3200 for it. Based on what I've seen in my hunting online ($4-6k for similar machines w/more hours), I think this sounds like a very good deal. Any thoughts???

[micmac]

Harry,

I'll throw out another manufacturer. Wright mfg in Fredrick MD. I've never driven one but a friend who is ultra research driven bought one and loves it. He had several dealers bring commercial products out to has place to demo. He said the Wright with it's rear seating and easy egress in an emergency was the only one that would do the off camber side hill stuff easily. I'm sure they aren't cheap and most likely have limited dealership but here you go:

Wright : Sport

I have a Husqvarna ZTR with the 25 hp Kawasaki. I would say it does a decent job but not the best. Also it tends to slip going downhill.

[jeffery9076]

my new toy

JOHN DEERE 657 COMMERCIAL GRADE 54" CUT ZERO TURN STANDUP LAWN MOWER 123_100 - Amphibious ATV Pictures

[Dirty Harry]

Well... I ended up buying that 721D Grasshopper. Been cleaning and doing some basic upgrades & fixing (replace missing/rusted hardware with s.s. stuff, greasing, etc.) the last week or so. I spent some time this morning installing new foam strips under the main deck shield to eliminate the metal-to-metal rattling, then I took a big piece of Dynamat sound-deadening material leftover from a Jeep project and lined under the engine cover & the main deck shield - WOW! I have to say it REALLY quieted the machine down! Now that it's got a new set of blades it purrs along nice & quiet and just mows and mows like a DREAM! Thanks to everyone who offered feedback. After a couple of weeks' worth of puttering with it, I think I got myself a really good steal of a deal.

[jeffery9076]

nice zero turn mower

Grasshopper was my 1st choice just would not fit on my cart. And just a bit big for my yards i mow. nice mower and alot of attachments. check out the plugger or soil fracturer.... it does not leave plugs behind awesome attachment. Had a question on the tires do they chew the lawn up at all. grasshopper i believe and a few others use these tires. i still turf the lawn here and there with my john deere if going to fast or going down a hill and turning to sudden. My john deere stander tires are filled with water or something not quite sure and are some type of turf tires. LOOKS like a nice mower to me. I assume its diesel how big of a cutting deck. and would appreciate dimensions length and width since i could not find this on the internet. sweeeeeeeeeeeeet mower

[Dirty Harry]

Jeff -

My GH tractor is a 1997, model 721D w/Kubota 3-cylinder diesel. The deck is a year 2000, model #9572, 72" cut. It's the last year that particular deck model was offered before it was superseded by model 9772. The story I got from the 2nd owner is that the original owner wanted a bigger cut and had the dealer come out and retrofit the 721D with the wider 72" deck on it. The 721 is normally only offered in 44" 48" 52" and 61" widths. I guess the dealer had some concerns that the 721D wouldn't have enough power to run the deck without problems, but I can tell you that it's fine. However, I very rarely mow when it's wet and I never let my grass get longer than 6" before I mow so it might bog down if the lawn was really tall and/or really wet. The overall machine dimensions with the 72" deck are: 74" wide, 10.5' long, 4' high.

The main reason I wanted a front mount is the tractor's ability to run a variety of different attachments. That ability, plus the over-sized deck it has were BIG selling points for me, otherwise I would have stuck with my good old reliable John Deere. I plan on buying either a 60" dozer blade and/or a 60" snow thrower for winter snow removal. If I can snag a decent shape used thrower I'll really be able to justify buying the 'Hopper because it'll be capable of working year 'round and truly paying for itself, instead of just sitting half the year like my Deere does.

I've seen all of their attachments, and that Aero-vator is very, very cool. I already have a 48" drum lawn roller with big triangular spikes for aerating my lawn in spring and fall though, so I can't really justify the GH unit... at least not right now. Maybe someday? (Shhh... don't tell the missus!) LOL.

As for the tires... yes, the bar tread Goodyear tires will dig up divots if you let one side stop when turning. The guy I bought it from says the key is to keep BOTH sides moving, just slow one side way down but do not actually let it stop. I plan on scrounging around to pick up another set of rims and mounting a pair of Carlisle All-Trail tires, identical to the ones I put on the rear of my John Deere GT235 a few years back.

They are gentler on my lawn than chevron style rubber, but they still have far more 'bite' than standard turf tires. I upgraded my Deere's rear tires because it kept slipping on ditch banks and getting hung up on uneven ground and on anything wet. The Carlisle All-Trails fixed about 95% of my traction problems, so I am hoping they'll work well for the 'Hopper as well. They are offered in the exact same tire size as the bar treads, so fitment won't be a problem. If I have both then I can run the All-Trail wheel/tire set-up in summer for mowing and then simply swap them out to the bar tread wheels for wintertime snow removal.