Zero Turn Lawn Mowers

[cndrdk]

Several months ago I was in the market for a Zero turn mower and all I looked at had good reviews/features. I settled on a Toro 42" (fabricated deck). I put a mulching kit on it and it works great. I have a sloped yard and I've never noticed it slipping or anything, maybe lighter weight than a large one.
I purchased mine directly from Toro and they shipped it to an authorized Toro dealer near me. Dealer delivered it (full tank of gas) and went over everything about the mower with me. Even instructions on operating it watched me operate it giving me suggestions.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Problem with the zero turn is that you can't hold your beer while cutting. I like a steering wheel on my mower, just like old blue. One hand on the wheel and one hand for the beer
ANother confession, I have a piece of string that I use to hold the handle in the on position for my push mower so I cna stop to move stuff without having to restart the mower. If God forbid I have an accident, my instructions are to get rid of the string-then call the ambulance

 

[Glockman9mm]

John Deere make some real tanks when it comes to mowers, but they also make some that aren't. I hear it's not wise to buy the ones in the Big Box stores. They're not the same as the ones you buy at a John Deere dealership, but they carry some super light weight Zero turns too. I was surprised to see that they made anything like some of the smaller ones I saw.

I’ve worked at one of your major home improvement stores in lawn and garden. I can for certain in my area say your claim is false. The John Deere garden tractors and zero turns were brought in, supplied and assembled for the store from the local JD dealer.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I had always used lawn tractors until three years ago. I bought some property adjoining mine which added about three more acres to mow. I bought a Zero Turn Gravely 52" with a 23 HP Kawasaki. I've had zero trouble with it and can mow in about half the time that the 42" lawn tractor did. The Gravely has a cup holder but it is useless. Put an open beer in it and the vibrations will cause it to spew like a geyser. As Caje mentioned earlier, you can't mow and imbibe because it takes two hands to run the ZT.

 

[4barrel]

Problem with the zero turn is that you can't hold your beer while cutting. I like a steering wheel on my mower, just like old blue. One hand on the wheel and one hand for the beer

I have a coaster with a small rope you can hang around your neck and holds 2 beers. That way it doesn't go flat or spill.

 

[bgrafsr]

How does your mower work on a slope? My friend has one and he says it works great. The seat on your mower is a lot better than the one I have on my RZTL. What was the price on your mower?

No slopes, except for a small part in the front yard by the road, so I'm just careful there and have no problems. Okay. I just pulled the receipt for our mower. It is a ZF S 54 with a 25hp Koihler 7000 Pro V-twin engine and fabricated deck. We paid $4,699.00 with tax. I had a 3 bag grass/leaf catcher added this year, and when it goes back to the dealer in the fall I'm going to have a 2nd gas tank installed.

 

[Eric300]

Problem with the zero turn is that you can't hold your beer while cutting.

Oh, contrire mon frere. You sure can...if you're good! I can hold both control arms in one hand, and still operate my Z Turn with no problem. Just move my wrist to the L/R to control the direction.

Tip 1: Get some of those can covers that clip onto the top of your can. Won't spill that way, and you can drink on the fly without spilling all down your chin. It also keeps the grass clippings, and bugs out of the can!

Tip 2: Buy bottled beer! Put it in a koozie so it stays in the cup holder.

But then again, I'm a 'Professional'....LOL

 

[bgrafsr]

Problem with the zero turn is that you can't hold your beer while cutting. I like a steering wheel on my mower, just like old blue. One hand on the wheel and one hand for the beer
ANother confession, I have a piece of string that I use to hold the handle in the on position for my push mower so I cna stop to move stuff without having to restart the mower. If God forbid I have an accident, my instructions are to get rid of the string-then call the ambulance

 

[BAM-BAM]

ANother confession, I have a piece of string that I use to hold the handle in the on position for my push mower so I cna stop to move stuff without having to restart the mower. If God forbid I have an accident, my instructions are to get rid of the string-then call the ambulance

I use a velcro ONE-Wrap cable tie....... the one with a slit in one end on the handle..... only need to wrap the velcro around the "deadman" (shut off) when needed!

They also work well for rolling up extension cords!!!!!

 

[BAM-BAM]

As I wait for my ZT to be delivered...... can someone tell my why the control arms have a 12-15 inches range of movement when you only move the arms an inch or two???????

 

[Nimrod44]

I have a zero turn Cub Cadet with the steering wheel. The big difference is the front wheels are controlled and turned by the steering wheel so they won't follow a slope as much as the caster front wheels do.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Tip 2: Buy bottled beer! Put it in a koozie so it stays in the cup holder.

But then again, I'm a 'Professional'....LOL

Good choice, one of my favorites.

 

[Alton]

Shiner Bock in Michigan AWESOME! When I had a standard rider it took me two hours and two beers to mow. Now I mow in 45 minutes leaving 1 hour and 15 to drink beer in front of my pool in the shade.

 

[kraynky]

Would you look at the response you get here within one day about mowers! LOL! We do like our mowers don't we? I bought a top of the line Yard Man from a big box store when I built my house in 1994. I drove the **** out of it for 20 years, and it was still a great machine when I let my wife talk me into a zero turn.

They do mow faster and wider and I get the work done a lot faster, but I dunno, I kinda liked that time outside by myself........

Anyway, if you take good care of them and don't miss the regular maintenance, just about all will ast a good long while. I bought a small John Deere tractor (LX255 42") to get between the trees, and a 60" Bad Boy ZT Elite to cut the rest. That's been about 5 years or so ago, and I extremely happy with both.

Find one you like, in your price range and take good care of it. Mow slopes un and down, or on a slight angle, NEVER SIDEWAYS. They will all flip over a kill you. Be careful and enjoy.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I have a zero turn Cub Cadet with the steering wheel. The big difference is the front wheels are controlled and turned by the steering wheel so they won't follow a slope as much as the caster front wheels do.

I've been thinking about one of those. How do you like yours?

 

[Wdbutcher97]

I’ve worked at one of your major home improvement stores in lawn and garden. I can for certain in my area say your claim is false. The John Deere garden tractors and zero turns were brought in, supplied and assembled for the store from the local JD dealer.

Thanks for correcting me.

 

[Mike1647]

I inherited the Workmaster from my father-in-law. I have been cutting with it for 20 years now. It does not have power steering and my shoulders really made using it unpleasant. I don't really want to sell it but it would help pay for the Ariens. As others have mentioned, the main issue I have had with it so far is getting away from my wife. She loves it.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"One of the most successful businessmen in my area died because he was mowing with a Scag Turf Tiger paralell to his lake, the mower slid sideways into the lake and the lapbars held him in. He drowned."

If I ever become a successful anything, I'm paying someone else to mow the lawn. I know some people find it relaxing and enjoy it, but other people are me.

 

[bgrafsr]

Would you look at the response you get here within one day about mowers! LOL! We do like our mowers don't we? I bought a top of the line Yard Man from a big box store when I built my house in 1994. I drove the **** out of it for 20 years, and it was still a great machine when I let my wife talk me into a zero turn.

They do mow faster and wider and I get the work done a lot faster, but I dunno, I kinda liked that time outside by myself........

Anyway, if you take good care of them and don't miss the regular maintenance, just about all will ast a good long while. I bought a small John Deere tractor (LX255 42") to get between the trees, and a 60" Bad Boy ZT Elite to cut the rest. That's been about 5 years or so ago, and I extremely happy with both.

Find one you like, in your price range and take good care of it. Mow slopes un and down, or on a slight angle, NEVER SIDEWAYS. They will all flip over a kill you. Be careful and enjoy.

Typical garage, room for everything except a car or truck.

 

[TheHobbyist]

John Deere makes a great product, that's what I have.

Your list is solid: JD, Ariens, Bad Boy, Cub Cadet. Someone mentioned Gravely which is a good one too.

Always check online prices and promotions. It's good to support a local company, but you can buy from the MFG, and it will be distributed by your local service provider. IIRC, this saved me around $800.00. YMMV.