Zero turn mowers

Stephen Newell

Well-known Member
I've been looking at zero turn radius mowers for next year. Tractor Supply usually has a Cub Cadet for around 2500.00 but it seems most places the mowers run eight to fifteen grand. I have probably eight acres to mow however I probably would never have more than a couple hours at a time to do any mowing. I don't know anything about them so I'm afraid if I go cheap it would be more aggravation than it's worth. Patience I have though, I've been mowing my place with a bush hog and it's heavily wooded so I have a great deal of trouble mowing around all the trees. This is why I think I would do much better with the zero turn. Also the bush hog gouges the ground pretty often. Should I go cheap or wait until another year when I can afford a better mower?
 
i think what you pay for is what you get is very applicable in this case. 2500 is going to get you a pretty light duty zero turn, the type best suited for suburban lawns. For mowing 8 acres, you would want something more durable and sturdy. I would wait until you can get a better one be it used or new.
 
My opinion is to look for a used well built commercial mower with low hours, you'll get a good machine that is typically built to go the distance. I do this as my real job, I buy low housed older exmark 60" and 72" for my business. Bought one last Friday for $3750 with 412 hours. It will last 2000 more hours before engine begins to get tired possibly. You might never even get to 1000 hours with a light duty mower and be frustrated along the way. I can help with specific models/engines if you'd like. My 2 cents.
 
I bought one of the Tractor Supply 60" Bad Boy mowers when they always go on sale in the spring (5k). 3 years now and I'm very happy. Very thick welded deck, Kohler V twin. Plenty of power. Uses the same transmission as most of the others of the same weight class. They told me on this site that it would cut my mowing time to less than half and I found that a bit hard to swallow but everyone was right. As with any zero turn it is hard to mow "quickly" without getting divots in 90 degree turns and when cutting around trees it makes a nice "doughnut" around the base like someone meant to groom it like that.
 
8 acres is alot. Youd have to cut it pretty regularly. Ive had my Cub Cadet Commercial for close to 12 years now, and other than stupid mistakes, too muvch oil in the engine, and hitting a metal stub that messed up my deck, its been a great mower. I also have one of the HD CCs, and we use it at my mother in laws and the smaller section in my yard, and it has been flawless so far in the 3 years Ive had it. Were it me, Id wait another year.
 
Dont get me wrong, 10 grand is a heck of a lot of (my) money to pay for a lawn mower BUT before you decide the Badboy is a bargain take a long look at and under it. Then go look under a Scag, Hustler, BobCat, Deere or similar H-D unit. Yes BB builds a H-D looking deck shell and they also use some thick steel around the back which gives the look of an H-D unit. However the engine, hydros, deck spindles are all non commercial grade pieces. There is a big difference in durability and price of commercial quality power train. 8 acres is a good bit of mowing, In my opinion your dollars would be much better spent on a low hour commercial duty trade in unit as apposed to a consumer type price driven throwaway, which is what a Bad Boy is,, with some bells and whistles added to fool the uninformed.
 
I went through the same dilemma several years ago, and bought a Toro zero turn from a box store (2500 give or take). Fast forward a few years (6), and I had a mower with a junk china built Kohler Courage engine with a cracked block leaking oil, and pretty much junk. Now, to some $2500 is not a huge price to pay for a 50 inch zero turn mower, but it is when it is literally a pile of scrap metal in a few years. I sealed the block the best I could, and traded it for a 52 inch Gravely (about double the price at the time and I am sure they have gone up). So far I do not regret my purchase, although it did hurt when I shelled out the $$. $2500 does not buy much of a zero turn mower these days, and after my experience I would run (not walk) from any zero turn mower that is not pretty much full commercial grade. So far the Gravely has been a good mower with only normal maintenance so far - oil changes, sharpen blades, and one failed hydro belt (I suspect I had a defective belt as it failed suddenly for no apparent reason stopping dead in its tracks). Now, I know Toro and Kohler probably build good mowers and engines, but after my experience I would have a hard time buying either due to the bad taste it left.
 
If your acreage is choppy with rocks, ruts, holes etc. a zero turn may be a handful and not very comfortable to use. I've mowed in woods before with one. It's like being inside a pinball machine when you hit a rock or root. Flying debris can bounce off trees. 30hp to the blades at full throttle when you're low to ground like that .... ouch!! And if the ground is rough, probably all the better to go for a commercial grade mower.
 
Bought a Snapper commerical 10 years ago and have replaced a starter relay and one front tire. Kawasaki engine and independent hydrulics. $5250 then. Probably close to $6000 now.
 
As already stated go Commercial , I purchased my Ferris Commercial about 2004 ($5K) .Mow about the same or more as you,sure saves a lot of time . Remember to get brand name USA made hydro pump & wheel motors & all should be great.
 
I think I have heard more "negative" about the cub cadet than any mower I can think of, but I've never had one. I have had 2 Simplicity's and one Ferris, and they have all been super. I trade @ every 7 to 10 years because I worry about the Hydro's going out and those things are sorta expensive. Just sayin'.
 



buy a ford 4000 with an 8 foot mower and get it done it hours.. instead of days. YOur grandkids will be still using it long after your gone. Use a reg zero turn around the house for 1/4 acre or less.
 
son bought a snapper zero turn for 3 acres. It is great for a lawn but -- well he's already had several parts fail. I think it it 3 years old
 
I had a feeling there was a reason the Cub Cadet was so much cheaper. Looks like I will have to use the bush hog for another year.
 
heres a 4500 hustler in kentucky. i have a hustler 295, 1981 i think. has a 72 inch mower and a heated cab. also got a snow blower and grading blade with it. i picked it up used, not running cheap from a hospital. didnt take much to get it going. it is a heavy duty mowing machine. looks like this one has the 4 cyl ford industrial engine. mine has a flat head 2 cyl teledyne continental engine.
poke here
 
heres a couple pics of my 295 hustler, butt ugly but its a mowing machine!!

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I researched this extensively two years ago and found the top two. Number one is Walker, for several reasons. They have the same engine list as everyone else except thier diesel. The reason they are on top is the transmission. Although it is a hydrostat, they use a geared transmission that is heavy built and is more controllable. They have one leaver for speed and two small leavers between your legs that control turn and you only need one hand to guide it. The deck raises up completly vertical to change blades and there are no belts with a timed blade deck. This means you will never see a skip in between the blades. The deck is detachable so you can use other implements such as a snow blower, blade or power broom. The deck is out front so you can mow under and around trees and bushes easily. They also have all the other mowing attachments like bags and blowers with the grass bags being hydraulic dump. You can also get single or dual tail wheels. The next is Hustler. It was the first zero turn mower. What sets them apart from the other mowers of the same kind is they use slipper piston hydraulic pumps. The same that are used for skid steers. They also use metal lines running from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motors which makes the oil disipate heat better. Other than that they have the same selection of engines as the rest. With 8 acres to mow, you don't need anything but I/C grade. Residential mowers would not last and you would be unhappy. Maintanance and heat are the biggest enemies of any piece of equipment. Do not by a mower with a pressed deck. Make sure it's welded and re-enforced. Some have spring or air-ride seats or shocks. I would stay away from shocks and try to minimize the long ride with a good seat.
 
SCSU St Cloud uses Xmark (about 10 of them) and they are beaten about the head neck and shoulders by student workers. They survive very well. Jim
 
I have had good experiences with Toro. I had a small 3800 that just would not quit. I cut about 2 acres at the house with it for 10 years, and several other properties. Used it as a bush hog sometimes. Engine, a B&amp;S, finally gave out. I upgraded to a Toro Z Master. Much heavier machine and I hope to run it until I cant cut grass anymore. I think you will be happier with a commercial unit, either a used or new one whichever fits the budget. I got the Z Master from a CL ad. It had 670 hours and I gave $1700.
 
Oliverguy must have been at Ted Everitts last Friday. They sold about 100 mowers. I have a Scag and it is great. I have had several zero turns. I think Scag, Hustler, Exmark, Maybe Ferris are the best that I have been around. From the people who have had them, I don't think I would include Deere with the top commercial mowers. I have talked to people who buy and sell used mowers and they all say John Deere are not good.
 
Yes I was. Probably 8 of mine have came from there. Just got the aerator and sod cutter running today that I bought there!
 
Shows how much I know, when you said Walker I thought you were referring to the kind you stand on. I'll have to look and see if they are available in my area.
 
ferris you close come test unit you can ride all day with no issues or backache 3200 series has been ex. cellent last unit has been mowing race track area . they love the machine, are you close come test ride one have demo units, they have the best ride. otherwise can throw all brands together cause all have same working parts.
 
Buy a better mower. Dad has an excel hustler 60 inch with the small wheels in front of the deck and larger in the rear. he bought it used in the mid 90's maybe ? His two complaints are that it is uncomfortable ( he will be 75 in april and has has back surgery and both hips replaced) and it now goes through deck belts at least twice a year. Probably a bad idler. Change ng the belt on it is a major pita. I know I should figure out why it's doing this but usually at night after work when I help him put a new one on. I forgot another issue. It has shredder blades
 
Also my brother has a ferris. I don't know the model. It is set up a little different than dad's hustler. He loves it. Easy to use and has held up well. Has swing out handles for steering and a flatter platform where your feet are. Imho out of the two the ferris is a little better. More comfortable. Both are heavy built and have lasted a long time.
 
I would rent one first. Try a front mount deck type mower then try a mid mount deck mower. I like the front mount mower better because you can get under tree limbs and closer to ditches to mow. The front mount mowers get more traction also. So it all depends what you're gonna use it for.
 
Well, it is fun to spend other guy's money. My wife inherited a Woods with a 60" deck and a Kubota diesel. It has a 4 wheel chassis with two casters on the rear, and front wheels are drivers - each own hydrostat with individual handle. Deck is separate, on it's own casters. Other implements like snowblower, rotary broom, and others can be attached in place of mower. I have removed deck and used it without any implements to pull fertilizer spreader, etc. It's one top notch machine. Commercial quality, with a price commensurate. That said, I love it. However I could not have afforded it to buy. Donno what I would buy if I was in the market. Son has a JD - 48" deck. does a good job, but ride is not great. Woods ride is better, but still rough.
 
I have mostly oak and hickory trees on my place which there is no low limbs. The cedar trees in the area mowed the lower limbs have been cut off enough to drive my tractor under. I do have an issue like a ditch, it's my pond and I think it's probably too muddy with either type mower. I mow it with my tractor where I back down to the pond but there is a lot of occasions it's too muddy for that. My biggest problem is I have a tree every 20-30 feet to mow around. I normally just drive the tractor forward and zig zag all over the place trying to get everywhere. The tractor won't turn a radius around a tree.
 
Buy a BAD BOY for 4995.00. You will be glad you did. I work on zero turns from time to time. There are good ones, great ones, and junk. I personally feel the BAD Boy is one of the best values on the market.I have owned one for 3 years, mow close to 5 acres and have had zero problems.
 
I have a 2005 44" Hustler Fastrak with a Honda 18 Vtwin I bought new. Batteries, gas oil and tires. That's it. Oh I added a couple of Cub Cadet springs which made the ride softer. Saw them on one of those CCs at a Tractor supply. Nice and soft riding. Can't comment on the rest of the CC. Never had one.
 
If interested get a Bad Boy sales brochure. Tells about the company's origin and goals. My Branson tractor dealer sold them too. Never had one so I can't comment.
 
I was waiting for my sweetie at the doctor's office one day and a lawn maintenance contractor type guy was mowing with a Ferris. For rugged terrain it looked to be up to it's ravings. The springs were getting a good workout but the operator seemed to be floating pretty good....apparent in the speed at which he was mowing. Pricy, but I guess you get what you pay for. Those running gear springs cost money. If you have a bad back, worth looking into. I did but no purchase now.....have too many mowers as it is. Gotta wear some out before I consider another but that brand will get a look.
 
I had the Kohler 20 hp single Courage on a Husqvarna 46 conventional. Between 500 and 600 hrs I trashed it for the same cracked block and loose bolts all over everywhere, oil everywhere. Bought a crate $600 BS Vtwin off ebay and haven't looked back.
 
I really really like the cab. My pet peeve is discharged grass getting in my eyes and nose. Goggles and medical masks are not an option so I just get selective on how I mow. With the deck out front of you for me the cab would be a must.
 
Forgot to mention in my previous post about the seat. Some people have touched on it already. Get a good seat. I invested in a $500 suspension seat and it makes a big difference. This one is adjustable for your weight, the back tilt is adjustable, and so are the armrest. Its like riding on a cloud almost.
 
I like the cab when mowing in the woods. I can crash rite into tree branches and not get whipped!!! And if it's cold and windy, I can turn the heat on and mow in a tee shirt!!
 

Gonna jump on the professional wagon.

I brought a Gravely 260Z in 2001 $6800 its been trouble free to replace it today you are looking at 12K to replace it 15 years from now it may be 20K. Its worth at lease haft what I gave for it but its not for sale I spec it will last mower I buy.

Anything less is not going to hold up....
 
I've had aBad Boy for 3 years now has about 200 hours on it. I've replaced the battery and blades is all it's needed. I would never go back to another mower. It will surprise you how much ground you'll cover in an hour or two and cut close enough to the trees that they don't need to be trimmed. The Bad Boy was about $500 higher than the same size Cub Cadet but the heavy welded deck is what sold me. Tony
 
I bought a 930 Deere a few years back and can not be happier. I will mow circles around the Kubota diesels we have. The only trouble is how easy you can get stuck! I have had to call my 9 year old to bring the gator to pull me out.
 

2X what Oliver guy said. I bought a used Ferris with 1500 hours 23 HP eight years ago. Still runs just fine. I have landscaper friends that have one or two big Exmarks for big lawns and a bunch of Walkers for most regular lawns, Most of the Walkers look very worn. I assume that it is because they last for a long time.
 
Gotta hit this unique critter again, the Hustler with a cab. Does anybody know if that unit came with a snow blower for you northern tier guys? Surely somebody "moxy" enough to come up with that design would be smart enough to envision winter operations.

Couldn't help but notice the paint worn off the front of the mower from grass hitting it. How many bales of hay do you have to run through your hay balers (square or round) to beat the paint off that bad.......5000?
 
yup, i have the 54 inch snow blower for my hustler. it has a hydraulic chute control so you can swing the chute 180 degrees from inside the cab. i have a grading blade also. they had a hydraulic sweeper attachment, a flail mower, a hi lift grass vac, a utility scoop, a side mount 48 inch range wing mower deck, v blade, tractor mounted edger, and a tractor mounted cultivator available too. the cab on mine has a rops in it. mine is not good on steep hills, even with the chevron tires. it has the crazy wheel tail wheel and loves to locate the very bottom of a road ditch.
 
and if you want to see a real neat critter, hustler made a hillside mower. it is 6 wheel drive, 3 tires on each side, kind of like the old bananna splits buggy. had a hydraulic self leveling cab so you would be level while working on side hills. heres a link to a pic of the rascal
poke here
 
We have two zero turns both CC THE commercial model called the Tank. One with the Kawasaki and the other with the Honda. Very heavy duty and trouble free. Think the one with the Honda is a little better. Bought the Cub Cadet with the Honda used--200 hours. Would only buy the COMMERCIAL models of anything.................
 
ExMark,,, nobody does it better! I have 4 of them oldest is a 2003 mower, a 52" the other 3 are 60", things wear out, but you can replace the parts ect and they keep going.
 
I've seen this topic discussed many times in this and other posts. A lot of posters stress the need to get a mower with a welded deck rather than a stamped deck. I'm sure they're very tough, but are they really necessary for most users? I'm willing to be educated/corrected, but it seems to me the important consideration is how the mower is going to be used, and on what kind of terrain. I would think that if you're mowing lawn grass on a smooth surface, the molded deck will do just as well as the heavy welded deck, no matter if you're mowing a half-acre or 15 acres. If a welded deck is the primary or only reason for buying a commercial-grade machine, what's the point if you're going to be mowing lawn grass on a table-top lawn?

I have a JD 425, Kawasaki engine and stamped deck, that I've had for 8 years. I mow about 10 acres regularly, and three or four more acres less frequently. I can't imagine anyone who abuses a machine more than I do--I use this JD like a small bushhog, mowing open ground and in the woods. I've slammed the deck into hidden tree roots any number of times, and I've never had deck problems. It serves my needs just as well today as when I got it. It will wear out/tear up someday, I know, but it will have served my purposes. The flimsy seat-mount is my biggest complaint, but my experience is that the problem is not confined just to John Deere.
 
My next door neighbor has a Country Clipper with the joystick steering since 2003 and has had very little go wrong with it...
 
(quoted from post at 13:17:53 02/09/17) I've seen this topic discussed many times in this and other posts. A lot of posters stress the need to get a mower with a welded deck rather than a stamped deck. I'm sure they're very tough, but are they really necessary for most users? I'm willing to be educated/corrected, but it seems to me the important consideration is how the mower is going to be used, and on what kind of terrain. I would think that if you're mowing lawn grass on a smooth surface, the molded deck will do just as well as the heavy welded deck, no matter if you're mowing a half-acre or 15 acres. If a welded deck is the primary or only reason for buying a commercial-grade machine, what's the point if you're going to be mowing lawn grass on a table-top lawn?

I have a JD 425, Kawasaki engine and stamped deck, that I've had for 8 years. I mow about 10 acres regularly, and three or four more acres less frequently. I can't imagine anyone who abuses a machine more than I do--I use this JD like a small bushhog, mowing open ground and in the woods. I've slammed the deck into hidden tree roots any number of times, and I've never had deck problems. It serves my needs just as well today as when I got it. It will wear out/tear up someday, I know, but it will have served my purposes. The flimsy seat-mount is my biggest complaint, but my experience is that the problem is not confined just to John Deere.

I have seen plenty of stamped decks that are rusted right through. There are low places that will hold moisture. After the first four years nothing gets the care that it got when 2-3 years old, so grass sits on it holding moisture, so it is rusting 24-7. They also crack where fasteners go through, then the cracks slowly lengthen.
 
I bought a new Bad Boy commercial grade 60 inch mower in 2010. It has the water cooled Kawasaki engine. I use it to mow four acres, including around the barns. In six seasons of mowing all I have ever had to do is change oil once a year and replace blades and a couple of belts, and a belt tension spring once. Very reliable. I think this thing will outlast me.

Mine is a Bad Boy Lightning Z 60 inch with the suspension seat. I tried out some other brands before buying this one, and the only other one I would consider would be a Ferris.
 
MTD aparently makes a couple of grades of Cub Cadets. The homeowner grade which you typically see but also a commercial grade. My neighbor and his wife have a small lawn mowing business and have two commercial Cub Cadet ZTR's. They seem very well built and the neighbors say they are very reliable. Cuc Cadet also sells commercial grade riders also. The commetcial grade stuff is only available at dealers only.
 
say this one more time get you a unit you can stand to RIDE, in the commercial series all colors or brands are all powered by same trannies and engines, Ferris 3200 full suspension and suspension seat you will never regret.sure wish you were close you could go for test drive.
 
I've only been on one once. I had a customer ask me to put it away for him and it was all I could do to steer the thing into the building. I know with practice it would get a lot easier. I just feel with all the trees I have I really need that type mower. A lot of the mowers shown on this thread I would never be able to raise the funds for but I think I got my question answered to wait for a better mower. I doubt if I will try to get a used mower. I have enough old junk around here to work on.
 
(quoted from post at 18:44:33 02/11/17) I've only been on one once. I had a customer ask me to put it away for him and it was all I could do to steer the thing into the building. I know with practice it would get a lot easier. I just feel with all the trees I have I really need that type mower. A lot of the mowers shown on this thread I would never be able to raise the funds for but I think I got my question answered to wait for a better mower. I doubt if I will try to get a used mower. I have enough old junk around here to work on.

Exactly why I got a used commercial. so that in five years I would not be working on a junk that I paid twice as much for.
 
I work for a small engine shop and the Cub Cadet, MTD are really junk. Plus the warranty sucks!! They pay for nothing and the time it takes to get their OK to do a warranty repair is terrible. The ones that really good by price are Toro Time Cutters (have a new model this year with a heavy duty welded deck) , Hustler and of course the Cadillac, Exmark. A lot of our commercial guys buy Hustler because they get a very good unit for half the price. The other brands we don't see much of. I do know Country Clipper is very good along with Skag and Bad Dog.
 

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