Just had the pleasure 0f operating my sons o turn mower . It proved that i am an uncoordinated old man with 2 left hands . that thing is as hard to control as a full auto.The trees even tried to move out of my way but i got them . It was like riding the roller coaster ,think got some whiplash of the neck .BUT i did gain much respect for the people that use them to cut lawns
I was able to keep the son in the house after i was done so that could not see the disaster his yard was ,i think i will be asked again

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age is just a number

I have felt your pain/embarrassment.
Had one for about an hour. Useless on hills or any slight incline. Also don't go near a split rail fence or a tree! Those post are easily broken and a tree can break the mower. Traded it for a zero turn with a steering wheel (Xmark), but they go around in circles really
well!

Definitely a learning curve to driving one! But after 7-8 years I’m pretty dang good on it now!

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Pass it on.
Mark

They take some getting used to.

Best to start off in an area without any obstacles.

I have close to 5 acres to mow. The 60" belly deck on my tractor will handle it. Trouble is, I can't take the beating from the terrain and rough riding tractor.

I have a 61" Ferris with four independent shocks. It cuts great, rides like a dream, and did take lots of practice to build my confidence.

You know if a youngster can drive it, you can too!

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

I fired my lawn service for using one on my four small, interconnected lawns. Driver would lock one wheel and spin in the same place every week. Each lawn got about a square foot of dirt with all the grass ripped out. In a hurry to make money, but they lost mine.

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I've owned one for 3 years now. I really like mine, but like others said you need to be careful on hills and slopes. They tend to nose dive down hills and pick up speed as they do it. I hear that the zero turn mowers with the steering wheels don't have this problem. I think my zero turn is kind of fun to run, but that zero turning while mowing can do some serious damage to a lawn too if you're not careful. Like anything else, practice makes perfect.

Our local vet died a couple weeks ago from a zero turn tipping over on him on a wet slope. Was very sad. I didn't realize that they could tip over. I used to mow that area when I was a boy.

Jersey Shore man killed in lawnmower rollover | Local | northcentralpa.com

Converted this year and I love mine, it does take some getting use to and then the trick, drive one handed so you can have a cold beverage. I finally learned how to preform that one.

When I bought my Cub Cadet RTV 42" wide mower, I first went to the 200'x300' open area in the back yard. I did my best imitation of the landscapers at work. It took maybe 20 minutes to master turning tight without ripping out the grass! In that first session I was mowing within a couple inches of trees and big rocks.

I had been mowing with a full sized Cub Lo-boy with a 60" (5') deck. Reduced my mow time by 75%, my gas usage by 50% and my trimming by 75%.

What zero turns don't do is anything soggy or steep edges and a double whammy on ditches!

Ivan

Hint - if you feel a sneezing fit coming on . . . STOP. Zero turn mowers and chain link fence or wire fence do not play well together.

Got mine a year ago, 54" cub. Have 4 acres so it was, I thought, a good idea...hmmmm broke a headlight out in the first 10 minutes but, it got better and was only 12.00. Now I cut the grass in 1/2 the time of my toro wheel horse with a 48' deck, use less gas and trim closer to the trees and fences. Very happy, now.

Was looking at several zero turn mowers, including X-Mark and Cub Cadet. Besides worrying about learning to use the levers, I also had much difficulty getting on and off of them due to health conditions. We ended up buying a 54" Cub Cadet with the steering wheel and, other than a very rough ride, I'm happy. Still have some difficulty getting off of the mower, but it's much easier than doing that with the lever zero turns.


As far as the lawn being very rough and jarring the old kidneys and back, we are thinking of having it disced up this fall to smooth it out. We have roughly 2.4 acres.

We have a Bad Boy zero turn and it's cut mowing time in half. Our main yard is about an acre with lots of trees, flower beds, a couple of backyard ponds and some out buildings. That said, zero turns are helpless on hillsides, steep banks and wet ground. I use a John Deere utility tractor and rotary cutter to mow down by our farm pond, the pasture and steep or hilly areas. Our total area for weekly mowing is about five acres.

As an aside, one of our neighbors has slid a zero turn into his farm pond twice and had to get one of his farm tractors to pull it out. Zero turns are nice but you have to be aware of their limitations and like most machinery, they can be dangerous.

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"In God We Trust"

I have a friend that has a John Deere lawn tractor with 4 wheel steering. Anytime he hears someone talk about buying a zero turn he invites them to try his JD. I am surprised how many of those do not buy a zero turn

I lost an old friend either to a heart attack/stroke while driving a zero turn or to the mower tipping over on him. Never heard a final decision on his death.

I have a small yard and as long as the mower will last, I'm gonna use it. The trimming is what beats me up.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

I saw a program on TV and a man was teaching a woman to drive a zero turn. He told her it was just like pushing a shopping cart. I had never thought of it that way but it is. Larry

Don't mean to thread drift but I wish they made zero turn cars. Getting tired of watching idiots drive up on the sidewalks to make a u-turn on my street.

Once you learn how to properly operate a zero turn mower, you'll never go back to a conventional garden tractor type mower. Nothing cuts better or faster than a good quality commercial grade zero turn. Uphill, downhill, off camber, around trees, etc.....easy peasy. I can even operate mine one handed and still cut straight lines and make turns with no problem.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

I'm old school, give me a hydro garden tractor any day of the week.

I have had my 48" Husqvarna for about 3 years now and I love it, The best thing I can recommend is to replace the drive tires with AG tread type tires, they really don't tear up the lawn and give much more control on slopes or wet grass. I use mine around the house and on a few small pastures, it has cut my mowing time in half. I don't even think about steering it now it is just second nature to me. I have mine set to cut at 3" and it misses most of the rocks. I was looking at the independent suspension Ferris but a little too rich for my blood.

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GARY
SWCA #2897, SWHF #436

I bought mine about two weeks ago. I got a Gravely ZT 52 HD with the Kawasaki engine option. I would have bought the 60" deck but would have had to get a wider trailer. I have to laugh at myself coz the day I bought it was the very first time I've ever even sat on one! I figured how hard could this be to conquer! I mean, I can ride a unicycle backwards (under control) to this day and can fly an airplane. So I took the plunge. I've always been waiting on the excuse of I "need" one. We just bought a 2 1/2 acre lot locally that is flat with no obstacles so here's my chance. I've driven the machine around in my current lot and feel pretty good so far. I kept changing my mind on which model I wanted. This mower is the closest to a commercial mower that's still considered residential. I love new toys.

Roger

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Eph 2:8-9

I've been using my Ariens 40" since 2005. Trouble free and I cut rentals too. Kohler one-banger. Super motor.

I finally wore the rear tires out. Picked up some cheapos at Northern Tool. These tires really rip the lawn and will slice and dice the turf. Original tires did not do this.

I'm wondering if these tires are made for a conventional mower? Do zeros require a special tire?

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Death? Smile back...

You can get rear tires with no tread (completely smooth like slicks), all the way to aggressive tread. Obviously, the more aggressive the tread, the more turf you're going to tear up, especially while turning (even you you utilize the 'Y-turn' method). On finely manicured turf, the less aggressive tread the better. Usually something in the 'middle of the road' as far as tread patterns go, will allow you to operate on multiple style turfs with minimal damage to the grass. And, don't neglect proper air pressure, too!

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

If I keep my lawn well mowed I have no deer visiting

If I let it go a bit my buddies show up to visit.

I much prefer seeing the deer hang out than mowing grass.

Maybe I should do one lot a week.

I guess I'm a old school tractor guy. I use a John Deere 455 diesel tractor that is all wheel steering, goes around trees and such just as well as any zero turn I think. Power steering and hydro. Also it just sips fuel, mow five acres and, it barely moves the fuel gauge. I guess each to his own liking.

Best mowers ever. I know about mowing as I have lived my entire 62 years in Florida where the grass grows pretty much year round and fast during the long summer. I have about 3 acres that I mow and have had riders for years including rear engine Snappers that are great riding mower but none as good as my zero turn. My wife mows more than I do these days because she loves using it. We mow around tree's and steep ditches and high grass and weeds with no issues.

I bought one two years ago exactly like the one Memphis bought. I was wearing out lawn tractors before that. With my Gravely 0 Turn I can cut a lot faster, use less fuel, and get closer to stuff. I will never have anything else but a 0 Turn unless somebody comes up with something better.

I've had a Country Clipper for about 12 years now. I mow close to 5 acres at my house and up until about a year ago I also mowed a little over 4 acres at my mother in laws place.
Never had any problems with the Country Clipper. It has a Kohler v-twin that purrs right along, a 60 inch mowing deck, and a cup holder. Best of all, it steers with a joystick. Took some getting used to but I wouldn't trade it for anything else. Sure make it easier to enjoy a cold beer on a hot day.

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Expect no quarter.