Anyone own a Z Series zero turn

Hotflashjr

Well-known Member
Location
Western MA
Ended up with a lot more to mow this year with a rental property and now helping out a neighbor. I currently have John Deere X380 rider with 54 deck. I need to cut my mowing time down and the Z530M seems to be able to just about cut my mowing time in half.

I have never owned a zero turn and really like a garden tractor. The dealer is of course trying to get me to buy the upgraded R but it really seems just to be a better seat and a few other odds and ends that do not make up an additional $1000.

Anyone run one of these new zero turns and have any experience with them?
 
I got a Z425 quite a few years ago and really like it. You can travel as fast as you want and it leaves a perfect cut. And it is much more maneuverable than a tractor which is great if you're mowing around a lot of trees, landscaping objects, etc. However, zero turns aren't good on side hills. But if your land is reasonably flat, for mowing, a zero turn will beat a tractor hands down.
 
The only downside of the zero turn is if its wet you have to take it easy turning or you will tear up the lawn. Other than that theres no comparison. Get the Zero Turn!!
 
Pay the money for the better seat. Unless the areas you are mowing are smooth as glass, the limiting factor to the speed you will be able to mow will be your ability to stay in the seat (and tolerance for the beating you will take) and not the machines ability to cut.
 
Had a couple Deere tractor mowers, good ones from an implement dealer not the cheaper ones from a home supply store. I loved them because they lasted, especially my water cooled one. But even with a 48" deck, it took me 3.5 hours to mow my farmyard, so I was looking at a zero turn to cut down my mowing time because I had to wait for the weekend to have enough time to do it all and sometimes that wasn't often enough, it also screwed with any weekend plans I might have.

I wound up buying a 54" Hustler Fast Trac, nothing against Deere and I still have my tractor mower, but a buddy sold this brand and gave me a deal. But a couple things I learned which apply across the board, is first, get a good quality machine. Mine is just below professional grade and has independent drives for both rear wheels, the seat is top shelf, construction is heavy duty and stands up well to the harder use of a farmyard where the lawn isn't always perfectly manicured.

Second, my buddy advised getting a rear discharge, which I did and love it. Not only does this allow you to mow close to things on either side, which speeds up the process, but you don't lose the power the side discharge uses moving already cut grass from one blade to the next until it is discharged. Not every manufacturer offers this option and I'm not sure if Deere does, but I'm convinced it is the way to go, especially if you have a fair amount to mow.

Timewise, it's a no brainer. They say it should cut a third off of your mowing time. I went from 3.5 hours to 1.25 hours, almost two thirds off of what I was spending. I think the increase in timed saved is due in large part to the rear discharge, because I've got a lot of trees and things to mow around and that saves a lot of extra turning time. In the 3 years I've owned it, I've saved just over 200 hours of my time. If I base the worth of my free time on what I'm paid at work per hour, the mower has just paid for itself.

So yeah, go for the Zero Turn, you won't regret it if you get a quality one. This is really a case of you get what you pay for.

This post was edited by NoDakInMN on 05/01/2023 at 09:16 am.
 
I own 2 Grasshoppers, one I bought new in 1998 with over a thousand hours on it and a newer used 623. Mowed before with a JD400 which I liked very well but the z-turn cut mowing time by half at least.
Both Grasshoppers are the front deck units which is handy getting under some bushes but won't go around a tree like the mid mount units. Talk about heavy construction the Grasshopper's are right up there with the best in my opinion.
 
I bought a Ferris zero turn 2 years ago. I previously used a JD X320 with a 54 deck. No comparison! Buy the zero Turn! I should have years ago! Best thing that happened is that my daughter loves to run the zero turn and I rarely have to cut grass now!
 
Sam, your comment made me think----I have noticed many many more females mowing with a zero turn than I ever did with the traditional riding mower. Guys, take notice, getting a zero turn may get you out of cutting the grass if you have a significant other!
 
I bought a new Ferris 61 inch deck this year. I wanted something that rode better than my old JD F932 front deck. Full suspension and the premium seat, and it will mow wide open and stay on the ground. The problem with the zero turns is traction,I have a road bank that I have mowed for years, and I can not mow it with my new mower. I kept the JD for the hills. Try out a few different ones at different dealers before you buy,they are not all the same.
 
I have a Z930M and it will cut as fast as you can hang one. Never had a problem in the 7 years i have had it.
 
Picked up a z530m last fall with a 60 inch deck and really enjoy it. It has almost 80 hours on it now with no problems. The Comfort Glide seat is very nice. Not much difference in it and the suspension seat on my Toro ZMaster. I'm 6'4" and fit on it nicely. Unless your yard has a moderate slope go with the zero turn. You will wonder why you didnt do it sooner.
 
I had a 2002 797ZT with the Kawi injected engine, and it worked well.
http://www.wwdsltd.com/files/Deere797ZT.jpg
Deere797ZT.jpg



It was switched for a Z997R in 2006 with the Yanmar. It's a beast. As suggested earlier, get the seat with the adjustable ride control (for operator weight) and still hang on...
http://www.wwdsltd.com/files/2006DeereZ997R02.jpg
2006DeereZ997R02.jpg
 

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