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The Zero-Turn Mower Battle Again

I

in-too-deep

Well-known Member
Wife and I are considering upgrading to a used zero-turn. Maybe. Gosh, they're expensive.

I thought we had agreed to get a front-mount Grasshopper or Woods for trimming under fences
and shrubs and stuff. That's what I have put the most hours on, and know the capabilities.
However, last night we got to looking at the mid-mounts where you sit on top of the deck.
She likes the look of those better, but I'm not so sure. Smaller machine footprint, though.
And better on hills and rough terrain than front-mount?

Looking for the advantages to the mid-mount machines, because I don't have experience with them. Thank you for you thoughts.
 
Love my old front mount grasshopper. Lost a transmission and had to go back to the tractor. Messed up the hood because I got so used to mowing under things. Trying to decide between a newer used mower or new transmissions for the old mower.

I think the front mount gives a more uniform cut. And mowing under trees, bushes, and fuel tanks is nice.
 
If you have trees and shrubs to mow under stick with the front mount. I chose grasshopper when I bought last partially due to the number of dealers in my area. Another brand worth considering is Walker. I looked at them and it would have been a contender but only one active dealer in my area and he is 60 miles away.

jm2cw

jt
 

I have been mowing for five years with a Ferris commercial mower that was twelve years old when I got it. It had come from a city septic treatment plant so it had not been used real heavily. I am a firm believer in old style heavy construction like most things were made before the big box stores started pushing the light weight consumer stuff. For my money buying a ten year old twenty-five year machine is way ahead of a new five year machine.
 
I have only driven one mid-mount in my life. It belongs to a friend who only cleans under the deck if the blades won't turn. It is easier to maneuver without hitting things than my front mount Grasshopper. My machine has electric tilt on the deck and I power wash under it after every mowing. It was worth learning how to drive the front mount to me. Most of the metal under my deck shines like a steel plow all through the summer.

If my wife would agree to keep the deck clean on a mid-mount, I might think about one.
 
Have a Woods front mount with a 62" deck and powered by a Kubota diesel. Awesome machine.
Son has a JD mid-mount with a similar size gasoline engine. JD is a little faster on straightaways, but ride is far rougher. Traction is an issue with either machine on steep slopes. Have to plan your angle of approach with any tractor. We also have a couple hydro lawn/garden tractors, and you can get into trouble with them as well.
 
I have a Scag Cheetah that I bought new last year to replace a Bush Hog brand front mount. The Bush Hog was great for hanging the deck over ditch banks, and getting under fences, but was not good for steep slopes or if the ground was wet. The Scag does everything as well or better except hanging the deck over ditch banks which isn't possible with a mid mount. Both have 72 in decks. The Bush Hog was a diesel and very heavy built so it weighed a lot. The Scag is faster, a lot easier to maneuver, and due to the suspension seat more smooth and comfortable. There are pluses and minuses to both, but for me the mid mount had a lot more pluses. The Scag was expensive, but it's been worth every penny and should last me a long time (hopefully the last one I will have to buy unless we downsize at some point). Hope that helps.
 
Mills Fleet Farm has what appears to be a pretty decent quality Troybuilt machine with a fabricated deck for $3,000. It has I believe a 48" deck? They also have a 60" machine, but it is $4,000. I'm strongly considering a purchase of the 48" model............just haven't done it yet.........
 
Exmark.... hands down. I have two of them, older, but awesome machines. I have never bought new. Too cheap for that.
 
Between the two places I can end up cutting 15 acres a week because I mow all my lanes to minimize the risk of deer ticks. I lucked into a top of the line floor model Exmark a few years back. Never looked back. For the price, it better out live me. :)
 
I've never used a midmount. I've put several hundred hours on a front mount Grasshopper with a Kubota diesel. Those things a re almost bullet proof. I mowed some pretty steep slopes with it, you just have to pay attention what you are doing.
 
We are not real impressed with our new zero-turn JD on hills and ditch banks! the deck doesn't float over rough ground as
well as our old Husqvarna lawn tractor. We ordered it online from HD and the JD dealer from Grand Rapids delivered it, he
wasn't too happy about it. It seems like a slap in the face to the dealer!
 
We have 2 - both front mounts. Deere F525 and a Woods 6200. Wife loves the Deere, I like both. Woods has at least a 5 ft deck, 4 ft on Deere. Decks on both are offset and we have our landscaping set up for that -- left edges of the decks ride over top of bricks used as borders on flower beds. Haven't used a weed whacker in 5 years since we got a front-mount mower with the offset deck (okay... we do have a DR string trimmer on steroids for deep stuff...). The first one was the F525. Had a second 525 and traded that and a 165 Deere garden tractor plus a little $$ on the Woods. My vote: Front mount.
 
Hustler hands down and Exmark hands down...I've run out of hands! : ) I know those are both good brands, but I don't Exmark makes a front-mount. Keep the comments comin! Thanks!
 
i have a front mount hustler with a 72 deck. it is a great flat land mower. not worth a dip on steeper hills. i even switched to chevron style ag tires. . mid mounts are a little better on hills but not much. i have two riding mowers set up for steep ditches, a jd L-110 auto with a 42 deck, that one is running atv knobbies on the rear. the other is a jd gt 245, that one has 5 suitcase weights on the back. (they are the jd 50 pounders i think. on rough ground, you need bigger diameter tires so you dont toss your kidneys out some body orofice!! i use my farmall cub, 240 utility and this year am putting the new to me fergie to-20 on a woods rm600 rear mount for mowing duties. for my extreme steep ditches i have a swisher 60 inch trailing mower i pull behind the farmall cub with a side extended drawbar. i have some pretty steep road ditches. rolled the little l-110 over sideways twice and once over backward!! that was a ride!! stay thirsty my friend !!! and dont mow like i do!!!
 
(quoted from post at 10:05:00 03/30/17) Mills Fleet Farm has what appears to be a pretty decent quality Troybuilt machine with a fabricated deck for $3,000. It has I believe a 48" deck? They also have a 60" machine, but it is $4,000. I'm strongly considering a purchase of the 48" model............just haven't done it yet.........
Click to expand...

I would do my homework carefully before getting a Troy built the name isn't what it used to be. The pump on my friend's pressure washer was rated to last only fifty hours and it went no where near that long.
 
Bought my Grasshopper in 1997- great mower, not perfect, and you had better be able to wrench on it yourself, the parts alone are crazy expensive.

Replaced it with a used JD 1435 front-mount. The 72inch deck cut mowing time so much that I mow even more now. Has been only routine maintenance so far, and the diesel is nice on fuel.
 
Ray, I was wondering about ride quality between the two. Had a tiny mid-mount Dixon for awhile that would beat you to death. Front-mount rides nicer?
 
(quoted from post at 14:05:42 03/30/17) I second the Walker these things are almost bullet proof.
Click to expand...

Yes I will add to that. My landscaper friends have a bunch of them. When you look really closely at how they are built they make the Exmark and Hustler look like the big box store JDs. Definitely Walker hands down!
 
I think a Deere 935 with the diesel motor would be perfect. I have used one in the past that we put about 100 hours on it every year. Most trouble free mower we ever had, good ride I think.
 
My son has a mid mount Kubota, and I have a front mount Grasshopper. Both good mowers. We are neighbors, and both of us have steep hills in our yards. His Kubota can go straight up a hill that my Grasshopper will spin out on. My Grasshopper can go forward down a hill without scooting, but his Kubota is out of control when the nose is pointed downhill. You have to make the Kubota wheels turn faster than your travel speed in order to steer, and that is not what your instincts are telling you. I can nose down to a ditch bank and back away without a thought, but the Kubota will scoot right over the edge. After saying all that - both of us get our yards mowed just fine. You learn to pick the battles that you can win.
 
look for a Walker Super B...it has the bigger frame and wheels of a mid mount zero turn with the deck still out front and no collection system..you can get a 60 or 62 inch deck....they are available in 25 to 38 hp and both gas and diesel. They are awesome mowers and all I will ever own. They are completely American made by a family owned company in Ft Collins Colorado. Once you get used to the steering, you won't want anything else.
 


I have a front mount Grasshopper with a diesel and a Gravely HD series mid mount.
The Grasshopper is great for mowing under things and over the top of banks but it sets low and gets stuck easily in wet spots, I've also boxed myself into corners where the tail wheels wouldn't let the deck swing clear. One hydro motor went out a couple years ago and I haven't bothered to fix it, wife does most of the mowing and likes the Gravely mid mount better.
The Gravely mid mount rides better and doesn't get stuck as often, goes up hills better but does slid going down hill.
Traded our old Gravely for the new improved HD model with larger tires and a better seat, the wife mowed with it today for the first time, after two hours she came into the house smiling so I did good.
I will say I like the independent front suspension of a Farris but it was higher and they where running a special on the Gravely.
 
Both my ZTs had ZERO springs under the seat: Hustler Fastrak 44 and a DR PRO Z.

Everybody doesn't have a lush estate lawn to mow but the mfgrs. don't cow to that necessarily. Both are fixed now. Pair of Cub Cadet springs for 6 bucks apiece from www CC parts store. Was walking into a TSC store one day and CC was sitting next to the door. Have been fighting the back problem for years and one of the things I do is check for-sale mowers to see what they have. CC springs were large overall diameter, small wire diameter, few coils. Really nice. I have the part number around here someplace.
 
"Gosh they're expensive..."

Well, yeah, they are. You've got to remember that even on the cheapest homeowner versions, you're getting TWO transmissions, which is the most expensive part of the machine.

Most zero turn mowers are also a grade above the typical box store stamped steel junk. Sure you can get a tractor-style mower for around $1000, but it's made of tin foil by comparison. How long will it last?
 
The best quietest mower I've ever been on. I've had one for years. sReplaced the mower switch a couple times and the deck bearings once.
 
If you can find one used, something like this is nice. I've had it for 8 years and with FWD, handles damp grass and slopes great. Also nice in the winter. Mine was a 1988 with 600 hours on it and I gave $7,000 for it with the snowblower and cab. I do wish it had the mower deck that stood straight up like the Grasshopper though, but I wouldn't trade that for FWD.
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(quoted from post at 15:46:28 03/30/17) Wouldn't be opposed to a Walker if they can be had in my price range without the collector.
Click to expand...

Buy a ten year old from a landscaper for roughly the same price as a new consumer unit. It will last you for fifteen years instead of five for the consumer mower.
 
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