Advise - Looking at Zero turn Mowers

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TOM BECKWITH

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Looking at buying a zero turn mower - 50"-52" range commercial grade. Any suggestions on GOOD or BAD brands, engines, etc. Cutting about 5 acres and the old 1952 8-N with Woods mower is about worn out

Any comments on the newer ? Japan built? Briggs - been told they are VG. Kohler, Kawisaki?
Get me on the right path. THANKS
 
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I've got a Land Pride 52" with 20 horse Honda engine. Had it 6 years and I live on 10 acres and mow it all with it. I believe Land Pride was bought out by Hustler. Has a thick deck and a hitch which is hard to find on a Zero Turn. I have a leaf vac and mulcher I pull behind in the fall. Awesome mower.
 
I have to put a plug in for the ExMark mowers with the Kohler motors.

We have a convict detail that cuts eight hours a day with one. They will easily last ten years in these adverse conditions.

If the convicts can't tear them up......that speaks volumes!
 
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Tom,
I saw an interesting commercial for an International "CUB" 0 turn the other night...I'm going to look into them myself...Looked good...Had a steering wheel that you can control with one hand...Leaves the other unocupied for holding a beer....
JIM.......................
 
I have a Toro Zero Turn, Briggs & Stratton 17 HP motor. Has performed flawlessly for 10 years.

I am just now putting a new motor in as we speak.

I Highly recommened Toro and B&S. You won't be dissapointed. It does it's job, and it does it well.
 
I like power equipment about as much as I do revolvers. I just bought a Bob Cat Predator Pro w/34 hp Kawasaki engine and 61" deck. I used a Dixie Chopper for 10 trouble free years, then I bought a Grasshopper 226V and used it 3 years but was dissatisfied with the briggs pro 26hp engine so I traded it in on the Bob Cat. I mow 4 yards a week for a total of 5 acres. Pays enough to keep me in a nice mower. I'd stay away from any Briggs other than the Vanguard. Kohler and Kawasaki dominate the industry with Generac and Honda also good.

I'd go with a Bob Cat fastcat or a Hustler fastrac for entry level commercial. There are some good deals on craigslist for commercial mowers. Scag and Exmark are good too. really most all the mid grade zero turns are pretty good. They've been around for 30 years now and the new ones are pretty much state of the art.

Most of the pros in my area use Hustler, Exmark, Dixie Chopper, Scag, Bob Cat. $4000 is the sweet spot on used commercial machines with around 500 hours. I paid $5000 plus my mower otd for the Bob Cat Predator Pro demo with full 5 year 500 hour factory warranty. MSRP is over $11k.

Here's a link to the one I bought. I pick it up tomorrow.

New 2013 Bob Cat Predator Pro 34 HP 61" Zero Turn Commercial Mower | eBay
 
I have a Bad Boy TSC sells them now I've got the 60" deck I got the Kohler engine no prolems any reason you want a small deck remember bigger gets done faster. Bad Boy makes different type, sizes, and engines, gas and diesel. I've got the ZT series $5k

Bad Boy Mowers
 
Here are some possibilities on Craigslist nearby. Just like buying guns. Cash is king and one offer is better than a thousand lookers. :D

Bob Cat FastCat demo
Bobcat Fast Cat Pro Zero Turn 52"

This Hustler in Columbia looks good.
54" HUSTLER SUPER Z ZERO TURN MOWER

This Kubota gas in Charlotte looks good.
2010 kubota zg222 zero turn mower

another Kubota gas in Charlotte
Kubota ZG20 Zero Turn 20HP Kohler 48" Cut Only 321 Hours!!!

Here's one I almost bought before I worked out a dealer trade-in.
Bob cat zero turn
 
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Tom, I do about 8 acres every 3-4 weeks and got rid of the 8N years ago. Went to a Kubota 3130 tractor and it was like going to a Mercedes. Between me and the boys we own 3 Kubotas and have had no problems. I would suggest looking at the diesel zero turn that Kubota sells. Personally I like the 3130 because I can cut the pastures for about $3.50 in fuel. With just over 1/2 tank of fuel this year I have bush hogged a neighbors horse pasture (2 and a half hrs), my uncles pasture (8 hrs) mine (3 hrs) and put the garden in. With the old 8N I would go through a tank of fuel (gas) just cutting my pastures. Love Kubotas
Larry
 
I had the loan of a mid-range Husquvarna for about 1 1/2 years. It was, as they say, a learning experience. Also had a Bobcat front loader for a much shorter time.

Anything that's driven by hydraulic motors is gonna suck fuel. Depending upon service intervals (IIRC, 750 hours for the Husky) for the hyraulics, that can get real interesting. You'll need a lift to do it yourself or transport to the dealer.

Inspect the idler pulleys on the deck carefully. Anything not made of steel will shatter (which they did when the lubed for life bearings froze). The Husky service replacements were steel-priced like gold. Look for grease fittings on idlers, blade spindles and front wheel assemblies and pivot shafts.

Finally, if you mow something that has various types of thorny bushes about, you'll now hit the thorns with your bod about the same time as the mower deck gets the grass.
 
I personally wouldn't buy a mower if it didn't turn. I got a mower that has 2 turns LEFT and RIGHT, and it can do them both backwards.
 
International does not make Cub Cadet any more. They sold it years ago. Cub Cadet is now nothing more than an MTD or Murray painted a yellow and cream color. IMHO they are overpriced junk. I have a like new, less than 9 hours on it Cub Cadet setting in my barn now going on 2 years with no relief from the factory on it tossing drive belts. The local dealer of them always has a ton of Cadets be it 0 turn or lawn tractors waiting to get repaired. Stick with John Deer, Grasshopper, Hustler or Bad Boy or ExMark. IMHO the opnly reason Cub Cadets are being sold is folks do not know they are not the original Cub Cadets as made by International Harvester, but by the worlds largest producer of lawn care junk MTD, and sold at premium prices.
 
Toro with Briggs engine = JUNK! Dealer serviced, less than 200 hours but out of warranty a month= Tough from both Briggs & Dealer.
 
Please do yourself a favor and at least look at Ex-Mark "LazerZ" series before you buy. They are not cheap but I don't think you can wear one out. I'm starting my 5th. year with one that I mow a 10 acre yard with average every 3 weeks.
teesur.
 
Can't go wrong with any of those. I'm sure happy with my new Bobcat 61" with the 37hp fuel injected Kawasaki. I watched them take it out of the crate Thursday and then cut a little over 2 acres in just under an hour.

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