Zero Turn Rider Opinions

Toro 50", Kawasaki power, 14 Ga. steel deck or Ariens 50", Kohler power, 12 Ga. steel deck. I'm likely going to buy one or the other in the next week. I welcome your recommendations, before anyone suggests, I have no plan on getting a goat!
 
I've sold them both and I preferred the Ariens myself. Is that the Ariens with the stamped deck or the manufactured deck? The Ariens overall had better construction. So far I've had 3 Toros come back with electrical problems. No issues with the Ariens yes. This has been just this year. I know we had a few Toros come back last year too, but still no Ariens. Ariens are built very similar to their commercial grade Gravely counterpart.
 
I have a Scag with Kohler. I got the Kohler because I had nothing but trouble with the Kawasaki in my previous JD.
 
Got a john deere mower with the kawasaki motor that dropped a ring...and a kawasaki motor in my kabota that is still running strong. Both machines are about 10 years old.

Got a 14 hp kohler that I bought in my old craftsman mower back in '94 that is still running strong but the craftsman mower wore out from under it. That kohler will be used again in something I'm sure.

In my experiences I'd sure be leaning towards anything with a kohler in it.
 
Friend has an Ariens and really likes it. From what I have seen of it, it is a well made machine. Also, can never go wrong with a Kohler motor. One of the best made.
 
I have a Twin V Kawasaki on my 61 inch steel deck Husquvarna AND OVER MANY YEARS OF HARD HEAVY MOWING Ive had NOOOOOOOOOO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER other then Ive had to use some gumout carb cleaner a couple times. I LOVE MY TWIN V KAWASIKI no engine problems, still lots of power and uses no oil and never smokes. Of course, I change oil frequently and use Mobil 1. Years past most Kolhers Ive had started smoking and using oil way too premature, I never had good luck with them grrrrrrrrrrr.

John T
 
I will second the opinion on the liquid cooled v twin Kawasaki. My Cub Cadet has one. Plenty of power for the 54" deck and no problems in 9 years I have owned it and I bought it used.
 
Hustler made the first zero turn mower in 1961. They are at the top of the heap. They use slipper piston pumps. The same ones used in skid steers. Their pump to motor lines are steel (less heat retention) which is the killer of oil. All their decks are welded not stamped. They have removable dampners under the deck to adjust the suction. Next is Skag then Ferris and the rest fall under these. I just finished researching all of them. Two of them have suspension on the wheels and some have good suspension seats. Some have better seats than others. This is critical if you are going to stay on one longer than thirty minutes. Make sure whatever you buy has a pull from the top fuel tank with filter and an oil cooler. The more expensive ones have a fan cooled oil cooler which will double the life of the hydraulic components. For the money, the Bad Boy is probably the best buy for the cut, speed and strength of build. Some of them have a spoiler on the back which makes it look cool although it's worthless for helping cut the grass. Make sure that you actually go and try them before you buy. One other thing; the reason most use Kawasaki is there horse power rating. The Government has mandated a 10% tolerance on ratings but Kawasaki does not take advantage of this. If they say 30 HP then it's less than 5% rather than the 10% that is allocated as a tolerance. Most of them also offer diesel power but you can pay $12,000 for a 61" cut with that kind of power. Happy hunting!
 
I'd make sure you check out the ones made by Kubota also. Very well built and have nice features on some like the built in frt axle lift so you can service it.
 
I have heard about the ZERO issue with Kawasaki, BUT JD overhauled mine at 200 hours due to blowby, then it is doing it again at 400 hours.
 
I've had a JD with Kawasaki for about six years. I mow about nine acres, partially wooded, and I've really abused this machine, but it keeps on ticking.
 
If there is a dealer nearby check out the SCAG mowers. I have had a Freedom Z 49" for the past three years. No problems at all. Easy to change belts, blades, got the 26 HP commercial Briggs, Kawasaki available.
All the Commercial guys use these, also towns, schools etc around here in NC
 
I should have specifically mentioned that I'm in the residential market. The Toro SS5000 vs. the Ariens Zoom50.

My big concern is the deck thickness, Toro at 14ga and the Ariens at 12ga.

After that, the motor, Toro Kawasaki vs. Ariens Kohler.

The Toro has the 2 speed which is cool, Ariens a 4 point lift on the deck.

I'm just mowing my lawn.
 
I believe it"s the 2 speed on the toros what was giving us wiring problems. I guess I"m just partial to the ariens, but the features on it are still similar to the commercial zero turns except for the stamped deck. Having the thick deck is still a plus over the toro too. You can do a side by side comparison of the two on Home Depots website. I"ll provide the link.
side by side comparison
 
Thanks to all. how do you feel about a welded square steel frame on the Ariens vs. the stamped frame on the Toro?
 
You get what you pay for in that case. They only use the best there is. Farming all my life; I can appreciate that. I can't tell you how many times we took a brand new piece of equipment into the shop and beefed it up before we ever took it to the field because we knew it wouldn't hold up the way it was built originally. I never understood why people don't have enough time to do it right the first time but they always have time to do it again after it breaks.
 
Out of the two you listed go with the Toro. I myself have Super Z and Hustler and a Deere 737 but I cut commercially for a second job. As a home owner and only cutting one or two yards most of teh better name companies out there build a mower taht will give years of good service if you maintain them correctly.
 
I've got a Gravely, it is ok, but I won't buy another. Dealer I bought it from is gone, and I have to order parts over the net for everything, I just put a new belt on, and I need new blades, they aren't carried by anybody local. Plus it has limited resale.
 
I think a lot of my Country Clipper 60 inch. I've had a couple of others and they were not bad but no where near the mower this Clipper is. Good dealer to do business with also.
 
I have a Ferris, 72", 32hp. zero problems. 4 wheel independent suspension, deck moves with the suspension so you dont scalp.

I liked the Kubota with the hydraulic deck lift and the articulating front axle. I liked the Scad and the Toros too.

All of them are built like a tank. The Ferris at the time actually had the thickest frame. The deciding factor for me was the suspension. I broke my tailbone a few years back, after testing them all (each dealer brought one out) my tailbone wasnt sore after the Ferris.

Rick
 
There are 2 ways of thought to everything. Ferris uses a suspension system, Dixie Chopper uses big low pressure tires. American space program spent millions, to get a pen that writes upside down, under water, at low temps, in 0 gravity, etc. Russians used a pencil!
 
We have two Hustlers and would not buy anything else. Trouble free high performance. Change the oil and filters and sharpen the blade and lube. No other issues with either one. Ours are the "Z" model. Paid 7K for the last one a couple years ago. Think list price was about 9k.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top