affordable zero turn mower

Rich Iowa

Member
Good morning everyone. I'm looking for suggestions on a zero turn mower. Nothing fancy needed, just a well built basic mower that won't give us much trouble. This will be for a dog rescue I volunteer at, think it's time to replace the two old riders that were worn out before being donated to us. We mow about 1-2 acres with plenty of gates and trees to contend with so a 42" deck would be the largest I think is needed. I've ran Grasshoppers at a previous job and really like them but think those are going to be out of our price range, plus over built for what we mow. Thoughts on the smaller Toro or Snapper zero turns? Other brands to consider? Thanks!
 

I have a residential use Husqvarna (cz3815) that has treated me well for about 5 years. It was probably purchased new from Lowes or similar. The big plus for me is that I picked it up on Craigslist for $1200. Not sure I'd have been willing to pay full price for a new one, though.
 
Just a thought. Some of the major mowing companies make special deals for various organizations. Might not hurt to ask if yours qualifies.
 
Don't buy Toro. I bought one and it's been back to the shop twice before it had eight hours on it. It won't hold up to normal use.
 
My first ZT actually was for my wife. She wanted to mow the lawn. I asked here what would the neighbors say....that I was too lazy to do the outside chores?????? I found it awkward initially, getting used to the levers, but that subsided quickly: 44" Hustler Fastrak with an 18 hp Honda. Bought it New in 2005. Put tires on it, a couple of spark plugs, oil and oil filter, still the same air filter (cleaned regularly)....that's it. I have others too but for a 42-44 machine, here's my reply.
 
We bought one of the smaller JD's at HD a few years ago, it was inexpensive and seems to be OK. In the past we used a Husqvarna lawn tractor, still use it at the cabin, very good machine. 18 years old, only a couple of belts. Zero turns don't follow the contour of rough ground as well as a tractor, as most dot have articulating front axles.
 
(quoted from post at 04:57:16 05/25/18) Good morning everyone. I'm looking for suggestions on a zero turn mower. Nothing fancy needed, just a well built basic mower that won't give us much trouble. This will be for a dog rescue I volunteer at, think it's time to replace the two old riders that were worn out before being donated to us. We mow about 1-2 acres with plenty of gates and trees to contend with so a 42" deck would be the largest I think is needed. I've ran Grasshoppers at a previous job and really like them but think those are going to be out of our price range, plus over built for what we mow. Thoughts on the smaller Toro or Snapper zero turns? Other brands to consider? Thanks!

Country Clipper. Made right here in Iowa. Corydon? Mine is the 42" cut with joy-stick steering and stand-up deck. Mow just under 2 acres. Lots of trees, bushes, flower beds, etc. Going on 5 years now with only routine maintenance.
 
What were the problems?

My wife has worked the hell out of a Toro ZT5000 on several acres for the last five years with not one problem.
 
Surprisingly, my Cub Cadet RZT50 has held up very well. It only has like 150 hours on it, if that many, and hasnt had any problems other than a bad battery. It was on sale for like 2500 or something when it was purchased.
 
We have the misfortune of owning a Cub Cadet RZT-S for 3 seasons now. It's a real POS MTD mower. the blades bent the second time we used it. Replaced them with Sten blades which work better. The deck level won't stay adjusted. The tires sidewalls are weak. The hydro-trans gets hot so we have to take frequent breaks. I've had to replace both mandrels. And all this for only $3k. The only good thing I can say about it is the Kohler engine has been holding up. For a less expensive unit you may want to look at Poulan which is owned by Husqvarna. just stay away from anything made by MTD!!!!
 
Rich,Get a Bad Boy MZ 42 in. Zero-Turn Mower,it is a well built machine that will give years of trouble free mowing.I have a 25 year old 60" Dixon and a 3year old 60" Bad Boy Nothing ever but blades and belts replaced on the Dixon still used regularly, and Nothing but regular maintenance on the Bad Boy one tough built cookie like the old Dixon.(was a Dixon dealer for years)
 
IIRC you are the one that had problems with hitting a 1" stick. I have mowed a few times since you post and I have chopped up several that size or better without a hiccup on my JD F725. Everytime I hit one I was thinking of you !
 
My next door neighbor had a Country Clipper and had almost no repairs on it, over 10 years old. His brother in law owns a lawn care outfit and has 2 Toro Z turns. Next door guy was working on the Toros frequently, and had to lend the Toro owner his Clipper until he got the Toro fixed. I've seen another Toro he fixed, and in my opinion, they are POS's.
 
SpaceCadet -My Cub Cadet TANK is just two years old but has close to 100 trouble-free hours on it, 27 hp
Kawasaki always has a little more HP for tough spots, twin Eaton hydro's 54 in welded deck, pivoting frt
axle, spring suspended seat, cut my mowing time from 4 hours with 982 Cub Cadet Super Gardrn Tractor with
50 inch deck to only 2-1/2 hours. It cost more than $3000, but don't bash the whole brand because you
bought a cheap residential mower.
 
We have checked with a few mowing companies. They like the idea of getting publicity and tax deductions, but still want to charge full price. Fortunately there are a few of us who enjoy mowing so that's not a problem.
 
I sure appreciate the helpful advise everyone. Like I said, my experience with zero turns is with commercial Grasshoppers which I liked a lot, but definitely more mower than needed or we have in budget for. Sounds like there a plenty of other good options out there for me to look into. Thanks again.
 
If you have somebody to run it look at an older Exmark Metro, or Encore walk behind with a sulky. I say older Metro as the old Exmark, and the Encore are mechanical gearbox and belt drive. No hydrostats to leak, and they are extremely manuverable. We have a 52" cut Metro with sulky that cuts 3+ acres since mid 90's and only blades, belts, and one spindle assembly. Once you get used to it you can cut around a 4" diameter tree, and the sulky gets you low enough to go under low branches.
 
Every time I miss picking up a stick and hit it the mower destroys the deck belt and it won't even run. The thing is made to use only on manicured lawns instead of the way the rest of us use one. The thread I started not long ago most people said they didn't even bother picking up sticks. I at least tried to pick them all up.
 
whats your budget?
I love buying new with 4 year warrenty from JD. at the end of 4yrs, i sell and get a new one! been doing that 12yrs. notice i didn't say trade, i said sell them on CL, in the spring!
 
(quoted from post at 20:14:33 05/25/18) It cost more than $3000, but don't bash the whole brand because you
bought a cheap residential mower.
heap? IT WAS 3 GRAND! Was purchased from a dealer, not a big box store. It too has a 42" fabricated (welded) deck. The Cubs made by Yanmar 'may' be ok, but not the stuff designed by MTD.
 
ZTR mowers are among those things where "good" and "affordable" seem to be mutually exclusive. You have to get north of $3K before you find mowers with fabricated (rather than stamped) decks and commercial-grade transaxles. Maybe you can get by with a residential-grade mower, if you don't have a lot of rocks and stumps to contend with.

Yes, you can pick up a used commercial mower for half the price of a new one. But that used mower is likely to have at least a thousand hours on it, and a used top-of-the-line Exmark will set you back as much as a new low-end commercial unit.
 
(quoted from post at 19:23:16 05/25/18) I sure appreciate the helpful advise everyone. Like I said, my experience with zero turns is with commercial Grasshoppers which I liked a lot, but definitely more mower than needed or we have in budget for. Sounds like there a plenty of other good options out there for me to look into. Thanks again.

Before I bought the Country Clipper, I mowed with a rear engine Snapper. Had never been on a zero-turn. The price of the Country Clipper was very comparable to what I considered lesser-quality machines, and the Country Clipper has the stand-up deck and the joy-stick steering. With the joy-stick, you always have one hand free to move tree branches, etc. The stand-up deck allows for blade sharpening without the need to for ramps or any other kind of lifting device.
 
Bought a Hustler 42" for the wife three years ago
https://www.hustlerturf.com/products/raptor
been very happy with it, get Flex Forks for it or any other zero turn you buy
Will not buy any Cub Cadet products after having engine split the case at 127 hrs on a 42' zero turn mower and nothing from Cub Cadet for repairs.
Was very well known and documented problem that Cub Cadet would not repair.
 
... the Country Clipper has the stand-up deck and the joy-stick steering. With the joy-stick, you always have one hand free to move tree branches, etc. The stand-up deck allows for blade sharpening without the need to for ramps or any other kind of lifting device.

Those look like a couple of super neat features! If my 28 year old Honda ever gives up, those Clippers will be one brand to look at for sure.
 
My 42 year old Kohler powered Case garden tractor is still chugging along with no issues whatsoever.
 
I just killed my lawn by not watering it; no more mower problems!

Manicured lawns are a really bad idea....especially bigge ones.
 
I bought a Hustler Raptor from Lowes a couple of seasons ago. It was the only mower I could find with a fabricated deck and a 23HP Kawasaki motor in the $3000 price range. I have been very pleased with it. I have lost one belt that got a stick hung up in it and have problems with thorns in the tires. Other than that, it is great. It has also cut my mowing time in half.

Cliff(VA)
Hustler Raptor
 
(quoted from post at 20:39:18 05/29/18) I think "affordable" = one season &/or junk!

Not necessarily, I also bought a Hustler from a big box, on it's second season mowing a couple acres. Only trouble I have had is if the grass is too wet it plugs up the discharge shoot but can't blame the mower for a stupid operator. 1 inch sticks do not bother it other than help knock the stuck on grass off the deck that is there because the operator mowed when it was too wet.
 

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